gold star for USAHOF

80. Vada Pinson

  • Published in Baseball
  • Read 21455 times
  • Rate this item
    (7 votes)
80.  Vada Pinson
  1. General
  2. Awards
  3. Career Stats
  • Born: August 11, 1938 in Memphis, TN USA
  • Weight: 170 lbs.
  • Height: 5'11"
  • Bats: L
  • Throws: L
  • Debut: April 15, 1958
  • Final Game: September 28, 1975
  • Gold Glove - 1961
  • MVP - 1959
  • MVP - 1960
  • MVP - 1961
  • MVP - 1963
  • MVP - 1964
 
ABRHHRRBISBAVG
19290273155145122339610 0.286
 

The start of Vada Pinson’s career showed promise of a Hall of Fame career as he was a five-tool baseball player.  So just how does a player who had this much promise, still compile over 2,700 hits and yet have what was considered a journeyman career?

The easy answer may be that Vada Pinson had many seasons that were very good, but nothing that could be considered great.  He racked up many hits (four times he compiled over 200 in a season), but wasn’t always considered a clutch hitter as shown when he batted .091 in his lone World Series in 1961.   He had decent speed but never led the league in steals.  He could field, but only had one Gold Glove.  He had a great Batting Average but barely walked giving him a relatively low On Base Percentage.

Pinson was durable and lasted a long time and socked a lot of hits in his career.  He was very good for a long time (far longer than most), but without that one season of being great, the case for Vada Pinson’s Hall of Fame candidacy becomes a tough sell.

Should Vada Pinson be in the Hall of Fame?

Definitely put him in! - 73.7%
Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 14.7%
Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 7.8%
No opinion. - 0.5%
No way! - 3.2%

The Bullet Points

  • Country of Origin: Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.A.
  • Eligible In: Thursday, 01 January 1981
  • Position: Outfield
  • Played For: California Angels, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals
  • Major Accolades and Awards: World Series Rings (None)
    All-Star (2) (1959 & 1960)
    Gold Glove (1) (NL) (1961)
    Most At Bats (2) (NL) (1959 & 1960)
    Most Plate Appearances (2) (NL) (1959 & 1960)
    Most Runs (1) (NL) (1959)
    Most Hits (2) (NL) (1961 & 1963)
    Most Doubles (2) (NL) (1959 & 1960)
    Most Triples (2) (NL) (1963 & 1967)
    Most Singles (1) (NL) (1961)
    Most Outs Made (1) (NL) (1960)
    Most Double Plays Turned by a Leftfielder (1) (NL) (1972)
    Most Putouts by a Centerfielder (3) (NL) (1959, 1960 & 1961)
    Most Assists by a Centerfielder (3) (NL) (1959, 1960 & 1961)
    Most Double Plays Turned by a Centerfielder (1) (1961)
    Most Putouts by an Outfielder (3) (NL) (1959, 1960 & 1961)
    Most Total Zone Runs by a Centerfielder (1) (NL) (1961)
    Highest Range Factor per Game by a Centerfielder (1) (NL) (1961)
    Highest Fielding Percentage by a Centerfielder (1) (NL) (1965)
    Highest Fielding Percentage by a Rightfielder (1) (NL) (1969)
    Highest Fielding Percentage by an Outfielder (2) (NL) (1965 & 1969)
  • Other Points of Note: Top Ten MVP Finishes
    (NL: 1961, 3rd) & (NL: 1963, 10th)
    3 Top Ten Finishes (bWAR for Position Players)
    6 Top Ten Finishes (Offensive bWAR)
    1 Top Ten Finish (Defensive bWAR)
    4 Top Ten Finishes (Batting Average)
    1 Top Ten Finish (On Base Percentage)
    3 Top Ten Finishes (Slugging Percentage)
    2 Top Ten Finishes (OPS)
    2 Top Ten Finishes (OPS+)
    7 Top Ten Finishes (Runs Scored)
    7 Top Ten Finishes (Most Hits)
    7 Top Ten Finishes (Total Bases)
    8 Top Ten Finishes (Doubles)
    9 Top Ten Finishes (Triples)
    2 Top Ten Finishes (Runs Batted In)
    10 Top Ten Finishes (Stolen Bases)
    6 Top Ten Finishes (Singles)
    6 Top Ten Finishes (Extra Base Hits)
    9 Top Ten Finishes (Power-Speed #)
    3 Top Ten Finishes (Win Probability Added)
    2 Top Ten Finishes (Championship Win Probability Added)
    1 Top Ten Finish (Total Zone Runs)
  • Notable All Time Rankings: 17. Putouts by an Outfielder: 5,097
    32. Putouts by a Centerfielder: 3,616
    32. Assists by a Centerfielder: 114
    37. Outs Made: 7,304
    38. Power-Speed #: 278.4
    42. At Bats: 9,645
    43. Fielding Percentage by a Rightfielder: .986
    56. Hits: 2,757
    61. Plate Appearances: 60
    66. Total Bases: 4,264
    68. Games Played: 2,469
    70. Singles: 1,889
    79. Doubles: 485
    80. Extra Base Hits: 868
    84. Assists by an Outfielder: 172
    87. Triples: 127
    99. Championship Win Probability Added: 35.7
  • Vote Percentage Received for the Hall of Fame: 1981: 4.5
    1982: 1.4
    1983: 3.2
    1985: 4.8
    1986: 10.1
    1987: 11.6
    1988: 15.7
    1989: 7.4
    1990: 8.1
    1991: 6.8
    1992: 8.4
    1993: 9.0
    1994: 10.1
    1995: 7.0
    1996: 10.9
  • Should be Inducted As A: Cincinnati Red

Should Vada Pinson be in the Hall of Fame?

Definitely put him in! - 73.7%
Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 14.7%
Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 7.8%
No opinion. - 0.5%
No way! - 3.2%

Comments powered by CComment