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leatherman
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I read today that, 40 years ago, Ted Simmons finally signed his contract for that season. He played 2/3 of the season WITHOUT a contract! Think anyone today would do that?
He had refused to sign the contract the Cardinals offered him at the beginning of the year, so he decided to play without one until it was worked out. He ended up making the All Star team, and setting the records for HRs and RBIs in a season by a Cardinals' catcher.
He is one of the most talked about players in the "Best player not in the HOF" discussions, but he didn't even receive 5% of the vote on his first ballot (1994), and was dropped. A switch hitting catcher with a .285 career BA, 2472 hits, and the most HRs by a NL switch-hitter (since broken) will do that for a guy. His 2472 hits and 483 doubles were the MLB records for a catcher before they were broken by Ivan Rodriguez, and his 1389 RBIs are still 2nd all time.
Through his age 30 season, Simmons batted .298 with 172 HRs and 929 RBIs and a 127 OPS+, with five 20 HR seasons and six 90 RBI seasons.
Joe Mauer, 29 this year, is batting .323 with 91 HRs and 558 RBIs and a 134 OPS+, with only one 20 HR season and one 90 RBI season.
He had refused to sign the contract the Cardinals offered him at the beginning of the year, so he decided to play without one until it was worked out. He ended up making the All Star team, and setting the records for HRs and RBIs in a season by a Cardinals' catcher.
He is one of the most talked about players in the "Best player not in the HOF" discussions, but he didn't even receive 5% of the vote on his first ballot (1994), and was dropped. A switch hitting catcher with a .285 career BA, 2472 hits, and the most HRs by a NL switch-hitter (since broken) will do that for a guy. His 2472 hits and 483 doubles were the MLB records for a catcher before they were broken by Ivan Rodriguez, and his 1389 RBIs are still 2nd all time.
Through his age 30 season, Simmons batted .298 with 172 HRs and 929 RBIs and a 127 OPS+, with five 20 HR seasons and six 90 RBI seasons.
Joe Mauer, 29 this year, is batting .323 with 91 HRs and 558 RBIs and a 134 OPS+, with only one 20 HR season and one 90 RBI season.
