By Patrick Languzzi
Dwight Evans is the only player in history to win eight Gold Gloves
in his career, while also leading his league (American) for an entire decade (80s) in home
runs (256), and all of Major League Baseball in runs created (1067) and extra base hits (605).
During
his 20-year major league career (’72-’91), no player reached base more than Dwight
Evans (3890). In that time period, ONLY
Reggie Jackson hit more home runs in the American League.
When Evans retired in 1991 (pre-PED era), he ranked in the Top 10 as
an American League right-handed hitter in HR (385, 4th), extra base hits
(941, 4th), base on balls (1,391, 4th), times
on base (3,890, 4th), runs created (1,612, 4th), total bases (4,230, 6th), runs produced (2,469, 7th) and RBI (1,384, 9th).
From the inception of the
American League in 1901, until Evans retired in 1991, Evans ranks among HOF’ers
Jimmie Foxx, Al Kaline and Harmon Killebrew, as the four best right–handed hitters
in league history.
Among all hitters, Evans finished
20th All-Time in base on balls, 27th in extra base hits,
29th in HR, 29th in times on base, 33rd in
runs created, 40th in total bases, 47th in RBI, 55th
in runs produced and 78th in base hits.
Selected to the ’80s All-Decade Team, Evans
finished as a three-time All Star and two-time Silver Slugger. He won eight
Gold Gloves in 10 seasons, (including five straight ’81-’85), and was selected by
Major League Baseball (MLB) as having one of the nine greatest outfield arms.
Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski said it best: “Dewey was a great offensive player and one of the greatest right fielders to play the game; there’s no doubt in my mind that he belongs in the Hall of Fame.”
Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski said it best: “Dewey was a great offensive player and one of the greatest right fielders to play the game; there’s no doubt in my mind that he belongs in the Hall of Fame.”
Evans played in the shadow of Hall of Fame teammates Jim
Rice, Carl Yastrzemski and Wade Boggs. Despite being considered the greatest
right fielder of his era, Evans still went underrated, and his offensive skills
were often overshadowed by his own defensive exploits.
Bill James wrote, “Dwight Evans is also one of the most underrated players in baseball history, because he did many things well, rather than having one central skill that people could use to explain his excellence.”
Bill James wrote, “Dwight Evans is also one of the most underrated players in baseball history, because he did many things well, rather than having one central skill that people could use to explain his excellence.”
Dwight Evans led Major League Baseball during the ’80s in runs created (1,067), ahead
of HOFers Ricky Henderson, Eddie Murray, Robin Yount and Mike Schmidt. He was first in extra base hits (605) ahead
of Yount, Murray, Schmidt and Brett. He hit more HR (256) than any other AL
player, and was the only player to hit 20 or more in nine consecutive seasons
(’81-'89).
Since the turn of the century, all players listed below to lead their
respective decade in extra base hits (with the exception of Evans) have been inducted in
Cooperstown.
Extra Base Hit Leaders by Decade
1900s
– Honus Wagner
1910s
– Tris Speaker
1920s
– Babe Ruth
1930s
– Jimmie Foxx
1940s
– Stan Musial
1950s
– Stan Musial
1960s
– Hank Aaron
1970s
– Reggie Jackson
1980s
– Dwight Evans
Dwight Evans led all right fielders in MLB during the ’80s in HR, RBI,
walks, runs, runs created, extra base hits, times on base, runs produced, OPS
and doubles, as well as four top 10 finishes in the MVP voting.
Dwight Evans also led all major league outfielders in runs produced, extra base hits, OPS and runs created a head of HOF'ers Henderson, Winfield and Dawson.
Dwight Evans also led all major league outfielders in runs produced, extra base hits, OPS and runs created a head of HOF'ers Henderson, Winfield and Dawson.
Dwight Evans compares well to Hall of Fame “similars”
Mathews, Perez and Williams, as well as Dawson and Rice (from his era).
Offensive HOF Player Similarities – Player
Comparisons
Player Name
|
AVG
|
OBP
|
SLG
|
OPS
|
Runs
|
Hits
|
HR
|
RBI
|
BB
|
.272
|
.370
|
.470
|
840
|
1470
|
2446
|
385
|
1384
|
1391
|
|
.271
|
.376
|
.509
|
885
|
1509
|
2315
|
512
|
1453
|
1444
|
|
.279
|
.341
|
.463
|
804
|
1272
|
2732
|
379
|
1652
|
925
|
|
.290
|
.361
|
.492
|
853
|
1410
|
2711
|
426
|
1475
|
1045
|
|
.279
|
.323
|
.482
|
805
|
1373
|
2774
|
438
|
1591
|
589
|
|
.298
|
.352
|
.502
|
854
|
1249
|
2452
|
382
|
1451
|
670
|
David Laurila of FanGraphs writes, “Evans has the same OPS+ as Rickey Henderson
[127], higher one than Ernie Banks, Johnny Bench, Yogi Berra, Paul Molitor
and Kirby Puckett. Evans’ WAR [62.8] is higher than Andre
Dawson, Harmon Killebrew, Willie Stargell, Billy Williams and
Dave Winfield”.
And, according to John Tuberty, "when you look past just his [Evans'] traditional stats and focus on his career .370 OBP, 62.8 WAR, and 127 OPS+, the former Red Sox slugger is on par with the BBWAA inductees of the last thirty years".
And, according to John Tuberty, "when you look past just his [Evans'] traditional stats and focus on his career .370 OBP, 62.8 WAR, and 127 OPS+, the former Red Sox slugger is on par with the BBWAA inductees of the last thirty years".
Evans Compared to the Average Hall of Fame hitter
Avg HOF Runs Hits 2B HR RBI BB SLG OPS
Hitter 1275 2313 395 202 1168 858 .459 .834
Dwight Evans 1470 2446 483 385 1384 1391 .470
.840
*Evans averages higher
in runs, hits, doubles, HR, RBI, base on balls, slugging and OPS.
Among the top 10 most games played in right field, Dwight
Evans ties for highest fielding percentage at .987, is 2nd All-Time
in Gold Gloves with eight, 3rd All-Time in putouts, 6th All-Time in
games played and 10th All-Time in assists.
Dwight Evans was the best right fielder of his era. For two decades (1970-1989), no right fielder in Major League Baseball won more Gold Gloves than Dwight Evans.
Evans was clutch in the post-season as well. In 14 World Series games (two series, ‘75, ‘86) Evans hit
.300, 15 hits, three HR, 14 RBI, seven walks, seven runs, .397 OBP, .580 SLG,
.977 OPS and 29 total bases.
"I think he belongs in the Hall of Fame, and that's just the offense, and then you got the eight Gold Gloves. I think he belongs in there, I truly do." - Former Red Sox Hitting Coach, Walt Hriniak
"I think he belongs in the Hall of Fame, and that's just the offense, and then you got the eight Gold Gloves. I think he belongs in there, I truly do." - Former Red Sox Hitting Coach, Walt Hriniak
*Read how and why I became involved in the case for Dwight Evans at: Boston Sports Then and Now
SOURCES: Baseball-reference, Baseballcube, Whatever Happened to The Hall of Fame, by Bill James, Red Sox Magazine, First Edition 2010. 2012 NESN Documentary - Dwight Evans Biography
**A Special thanks to Tom Catlin of the Boston Red Sox for his contributions to this piece**
*Evans’ case was
presented to SABR on January 19, 2012 at their winter meeting, see link for recap. http://cooksportsresearch.wordpress.com/2012/01/19/hot-stove-cool-speakers-a-recap-of-sabr-bostons-winter-meeting/
Please Note: Post originally written for Baseball: Past and Present on February 14, 2012 and has since been modified.
Post last updated on July 3, 2014
