Worst Players with MLB Careers Greater than 15 Years

[tpeichel]

In the HOF discussion thread, [MENTION=3754]MansGame[/MENTION] commented that longetivity doesn't guarantee the HOF, but I countered that you can't play the game for a long time if you suck. It made me wonder who were the worst players that were able to stay in the game for more than 15 years. I can't think of anyone off-hand, so I'll have to do a little research. Post a player and I'll start a list.

I think I'll use average WAR/season as the criteria since it will give some value to Defense as I am guessing this list will be heavy on defense and relief pitchers.

 

[DeliciousBacon]

Rance Mulliniks. Played in parts of 16 seasons and ended with less than 1000 career hits; career WAR of 17.2.

 

[tpeichel]

First guy I found was Clayton, but he was a decent player so I think he'll eventually get bumped down the list.

 

[tpeichel]

Rance Mulliniks. Played in parts of 16 seasons and ended with less than 1000 career hits; career WAR of 17.2.

Good one, first place on the list.

 

[MansGame]

There has to be a TON of players who make this list. I bet there is a ton of guys no one has heard of.

As for our convo in my thread, I agree that if you "suck" you won't last long int he MLB but you don't have to be "great" to last 15+ years. Hell, if you're in the right situation and team, then you might just float through the system and never be great or amount to anything. Essentially a bench warmer.

 

[tpeichel]

Matt Stairs placed 19 seasons and put up total WAR of 14.3

 

[MansGame]

Kid Gleason - Played 22 seasons... didn't amount to anything. WAR 8.9?

 

[MansGame]

Deacon McGuire - 26 seasons, nothing to show for it. 31.2 WAR

 

[DeliciousBacon]

Miguel Batista - pitched in parts of 18 seasons, WAR of 14.3.

 

[MansGame]

Okay, let's get away from guys who played in the 1800s... and who aren't pitchers I guess...

Rick Dempsey - 24 seasons, 25.3 WAR.
Bill Buckner - 22 seasons, 14.8 WAR.
Tim McCarver - 21 seasons, 28.5 WAR.
Mickey Vernon - 20 seasons, 34.5 WAR.

 

[DeliciousBacon]

I don't think you can really count Gleason or McGuire, with the difficulty of compiling complete 19th century stats.

Dishonorable mention - Bill Bergen, played 1901-1911 with a WAR of -15.

 

[tpeichel]

Jose Molina lasted 15 years and put up a career WAR of 3.7. Ouch

 

[UMich92]

Mansgame is on the right track thinking of catchers but needs to take it further as the back-up catcher is usually a solid-defense no-hit good teammate kind of player. In that vein, I submit Henry Blanco. Through 2013, Blanco has 3087 plate appearances that amounted to an OPS+ of 67 and a WAR of -0.0 (negative but rounds to 0).

 

[Nate Colbert 17]

Thd guy once got his tongue frozen to an exceptionally cold bat and tried to catch a fly ball with an oven mitt!

 

[Nate Colbert 17]

I don't think you can really count Gleason or McGuire, with the difficulty of compiling complete 19th century stats.

Dishonorable mention - Bill Bergen, played 1901-1911 with a WAR of -15.

Check out Bill Bergen's brother, Marty.

 

[Sig40cal]

Did Randy Velarde play long enough to qualify?

 

[Austin]

Okay, let's get away from guys who played in the 1800s... and who aren't pitchers I guess...

Rick Dempsey - 24 seasons, 25.3 WAR.
Bill Buckner - 22 seasons, 14.8 WAR.
Tim McCarver - 21 seasons, 28.5 WAR.
Mickey Vernon - 20 seasons, 34.5 WAR.

Mickey Vernon won 2 batting titles, had 2,500 hits and 1,300 rbi, was a 7-time all-star and led first basemen in fielding percentage 4 times.
Of those 20 seasons, only 11 were over 140 games played and he still had 2,500 hits despite all the injuries.
Ted Williams called him a Hall of Famer.
Vernon is a perfect example of why WAR is totally flawed and not an accurate tool for measuring greatness.

 

[tpeichel]

Holy Crap!

Chris Gomez - 16 Seasons: Career WAR of -1.3... Total career earnings $16.3 million!

 

[tpeichel]

Did Randy Velarde play long enough to qualify?

Yes!
16 Years
Career WAR of 24.9
A pretty good hitter for a middle infielder, he slashed, .276/.352/.408

Never made as much money as Chris Gomez though!

 

[DaClyde]

I was gonna throw out Rafael Belliard and his 0.1 over 17 seasons, but he is the definition of a backup infielder and doesn't really have but 7 seasons worth of games across those years. Similar is Dave Bergman with a 7 over parts of 17 seasons. Also, Juan Beniquez, with a 10 over 17 seasons. Then there's Jose Vizcaino, Manny Trillo...

For guys like this, I really have to wonder, after they've been around some 10 years, was there no one in the minor league systems of the teams that signed them that could do any better?