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237. Mark Belanger

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237. Mark Belanger
  1. General
  2. Awards
  3. Career Stats
  • Born: June 8, 1944 in Pittsfield, MA USA
  • Weight: 170 lbs.
  • Height: 6'1"
  • Bats: R
  • Throws: R
  • Debut: August 07, 1965
  • Final Game: October 02, 1982
  • Gold Glove - 1969
  • Gold Glove - 1971
  • Gold Glove - 1973
  • Gold Glove - 1974
  • Gold Glove - 1975
  • Gold Glove - 1976
  • TSN All-Star - 1976
  • Gold Glove - 1977
  • Gold Glove - 1978
  • MVP - 1969
  • MVP - 1973
  • MVP - 1974
 
ABRHHRRBISBAVG
115681352263240778334 0.228
 

Mark Belanger wasn't a great hitter, but his fans never claimed that he was.  What Belanger did well, and perhaps better than anyone other than Ozzie Smith, was play defense, and when you play at Shortstop, you can't ask for much more.

Belanger first cracked the Orioles’ roster in 1965, but it was not until 1968 where he was Baltimore's starting Shortstop.  The O's knew they had a really good defensive player, but his hitting could be a liability, although it was not until the 80s where good hitting Shortstops became a viable possibility for many teams.  Still, in the 1970 ALCS, Belanger batted .333 and hit a Home Run, and that season the Orioles won the World Series.

As we said, though, his glove was his calling card, and he would win eight Gold Gloves, and he led the American League in Defensive bWAR six seasons in a row (1973-78).  He also led the AL in Total Zone Runs three times, was second four times, and led his position in that metric eight times.  He was also first amongst American League Shortstops in Fielding Percentage three times and was in the top-four seven other times. 

Again, Belanger was only a lifetime .228 hitter with 20 Home Runs, but he was such a defensive legend that he belongs on this list.  As of this writing, he is second all-time in Defensive bWAR and third in Total Zone Runs, and we don’t see anyone displacing him in those ranks anytime soon.

The Bullet Points

  • Country of Origin: Pittsfield, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
  • Eligible In: Monday, 01 January 2007
  • Position: Short Stop
  • Played For: Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers
  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    World Series Rings (1) (Baltimore Orioles, 1970) 
    All-Star (1) (1976)
    Gold Glove (8) (AL) (1969, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977 & 1978)
    Highest Defensive bWAR (6) (AL) (1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977 & 1978)
    Most Sacrifice Hits (2) (AL) (1973 & 1975)
    Most Total Zone Runs (3) (AL) (1975, 1977 & 1978) 
    Most Assists (3) (AL) (1973, 1974 & 1976)
    Most Assists by a Shortstop (3) (AL) (1973, 1974 & 1976)
    Most Double Plays Turned by a Shortstop (1) (AL) (1975)
    Most Total Zone Runs by a Shortstop (8) (AL) (1968, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977 & 1978)
    Highest Range Factor per Game by a Shortstop (1) (AL) (1974)
    Highest Fielding Percentage by a Shortstop (3) (AL) (1974, 1977 & 1978)

  • Other Points of Note:

    Top Ten MVP Finishes: 
    (AL: 1994, 5th)
    1 Top Ten Finish (bWAR for Position Players)
    9 Top Ten Finishes (Defensive bWAR)
    7 Top Ten Finishes (Total Zone Runs)

  • Notable All Time Rankings:

    2. Defensive bWAR: 39.5
    2. Total Zone Runs by a Shortstop: 238
    3. Total Zone Runs: 241
    30. Double Plays Turned by a Shortstop: 1,054
    32. Assists by a Shortstop: 5,786
    42. Fielding Percentage by a Shortstop: .977
    43. Putouts by a Shortstop: 3,005
    54. Assists: 5,831

  • Vote Percentage Received for the Hall of Fame:

    1988: 3.7%

  • Should be Inducted As A: Baltimore Oriole

Should Mark Belanger be in the Baseball Hall of Fame?

Definitely put him in! - 100%
Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 0%
Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 0%
No opinion. - 0%
No way! - 0%

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