Starting off in an outfield with Fred Lynn and Jim Rice, Evans was essentially the number three man in the outfield but became a huge contributor with his defensive play in the field. Year by year, his offensive numbers slowly began to improve and by the 1980s, Evans was contributing with power and a huge amount of walks leading to very high On Base percentages. That patience at the plate may have cost him sexy Batting Average numbers but he showed such a complete mastery of the game that this should be overlooked.
Evans was a very good player and posted excellent career numbers, but like so many on this list, he is the victim of being in the shadows of others and not having a monster year. Evans quietly left the ballot in 1999, and despite high sabremetrical numbers, there seems to be little reason to think that Evans will be strongly looked at by the Veteran’s Committee. This is too bad, as he at least deserves that glance.
Comments
Evans did things over a decade (which is the min req for induction into the HOF) both offensively and defensively combined that may never be duplicated. For example, 5 consecutive GG, Led the American league in HRs. Led ALL of MLB in extra base hits and times on base. ONLY player in MLB during the 80s to hit 20 or more HRs in 9 consecutive years.
Check out Evans' case at www.calltothehall.com
Drove in runs and scored them.
Excellent right fielder, although baseball-ref erence puts him at -4.6 for dWAR; Total Zone runs above average is 66 for all positions--p laying first base hurt him, but eight Gold Gloves might not.
I think he is a better overall candidate than Jim Rice, and JAWS ranks him at 15th for RF, just behind Tony Gwynn and ahead of Dave Winfield, Gary Sheffield, and others.
The Expansion Era Committee is already overtaxed, and Evans will probably continue to be overlooked. One of those guys who defines "bubble."
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