MLB - Players Who Played "Forever" But You Don't Think of as Being Great

[pfister1]

In case the title isn't clear, I was thinking about players who had very LONG careers but aren't really among the all time greats. Guys that just seemed to hang around forever. I'll start......

Ron Reed RHP - Not only did Ron have a 19 year major league career, but he played for 4 different teams, played in both leagues. Was a pitcher, yet hit .300 or better in 4 of those seasons, never hit a home run in those 19 seasons, but did have a triple.

 

[Shawn91111]

Steve Finley - Had some good seasons, good fielder, but just played a long time

 

[orangefog]

How about Darrell Evans?

 

[br801]

How about Darrell Evans?

Except he was really good, had many tremendous seasons, and put together a borderline Hall of Fame career.

 

[Toga]

Roy White

 

[sutomcat]

Jaime Moyer
Jesse Orosco
Jose Quintana
Julio Franco
Hoyt Wilhelm
Charlie Morton
Octavio Dotel
Jesse Chavez
Justin Turner
Justin Wilson

 

[jordville]

Jamie Moyer comes to mind…
played 25 seasons (1986-2012)..
1 time All Star (2003 Seattle)..
1 World Series (2008 Philly)..
8 teams

 

[orangefog]

Except he was really good, had many tremendous seasons, and put together a borderline Hall of Fame career.

Really good, but not great. 2 all star appearances in 21 years. Never higher than 12th in MVP. Career batting average of .248.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Harold Baines….yeah he’s a HOF’er, but come on…

Raul Ibanez

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

Except he was really good, had many tremendous seasons, and put together a borderline Hall of Fame career.

Yeah. Evan’s is a guy who I would think the old timers committee would look at. Not enough credit is given for defense for corner outfielders. You didn’t run on Evans. He was also a bit overshadowed by Rice and Lynn. Paul O’Neil is along the same lines.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

That Ken Griffey seemed to play FOREVER!!

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

Al Oliver came to mind. 17 years, 2700 plus hits

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

Here is a list. An amazing number of guys who played 20+ years. Most Seasons Played | Baseball-Reference.com

 

[orangefog]

Yeah. Evan’s is a guy who I would think the old timers committee would look at. Not enough credit is given for defense for corner outfielders. You didn’t run on Evans. He was also a bit overshadowed by Rice and Lynn. Paul O’Neil is along the same lines.

You are thinking of Dwight Evans. We were talking about Darrell Evans, I don't think he was much of a defender and played mostly DH.

 

[HastingsCuse]

Jim Kaat

 

[jncuse]

My first though was lefty relievers who hung around seemingly forever as lefty specialists, Serviceable, and some impactful seasons, but overall journeyman for much of their career, who changed teams often especially at the end.

Rick Honeycutt - 21 seasons, until age of 43, changed teams 8 times
Darren Oliver - 21 seasons, until age of 42, changed teams 12 times
Jesse Orosco - 24 seasons, until age of 46, changed teams 12 times

The righthanded version was Latroy Hawkins (21 seasons, 43 years old, changed teams 14 times)

 

[jncuse]

Really good, but not great. 2 all star appearances in 21 years. Never higher than 12th in MVP. Career batting average of .248.

His OBP was a very good .361. He was a walk machine. That's much more meaningful than his .248 batting average. That being said, I don't think he is close to a hall of famer either way. He would just be viewed more favourably today, and probably would have made a few more than 2 all star teams.

He didn't have much defensive value or speed.

 

[UnknownOrange]

Immaculate grid legend LaTroy Hawkins
Julio Franco

 

[jncuse]

Seems to be some confusion on Darrell Evans and Dwight Evans. But both Evans would be viewed as better players in today's era than when they played. And that is because of walks and OBP.

Some may view this as a crazy statement but in modern times, its almost certainly correct Lets move 1989 to 2025. In the Red Sox outfield "today" on July 9, 2025, we have a 36 year old (Jim Rice) and a 37 year old (Dwight Evans) who are winding down their careers. In this scenario, on July 9, 2025, more people would be talking about Dwight Evans as a potential Hall of Famer then Jim Rice. Although both would probably be viewed as falling short, at least until the Vet Commitee. Jim Rice playing today, with modern HOF voters and metrics, is not getting into the Hall.

In the scenario above, as of "July 9, 2025"
Jim Rice has a 48 Career WAR. Dwight Evans has a 66 Career WAR.
Jim Rice has a career OPS+ of 128. Dwight Evans has an OPS+ 130.
Dwight Evans has 8 golf gloves.
Dwight Evans would have won the MVP award in 2017 (1981) with modern voters,

These 2 players would be viewed entirely differently in terms of who was better if they were playing now.

 

[orangefog]

Seems to be some confusion on Darrell Evans and Dwight Evans. But both Evans would be viewed as better players in today's era than when they played. And that is because of walks and OBP.

Some may view this as a crazy statement but it is almost certainly correct Lets move 1989 to 2025. In the Red Sox outfield "today" on July 9, 2025, we have a 36 year old (Jim Rice) and a 37 year old (Dwight Evans) who are winding down their careers. In this scenario, on July 9, 2025, more people would be talking about Dwight Evans as a potential Hall of Famer then Jim Rice. Although both would probably be viewed as falling short, at least until the Vet Commitee. Jim Rice playing today, with modern HOF voters and metrics, is not getting into the Hall.

In the scenario above, as of "July 9, 2025"
Jim Rice has a 48 Career WAR. Dwight Evans has a 66 Career WAR.
Jim Rice has a career OPS+ of 128. Dwight Evans has an OPS+ 130.
Dwight Evans has 8 golf gloves.
Dwight Evans would have won the MVP award in 2017 (1981) with modern voters,

These 2 players would be viewed entirely differently in terms of who was better if they were playing now.

Seems excessive and wasteful.

 

[jncuse]

Seems excessive and wasteful.

He had very sweaty hands.

 

[M2MPrinciples]

Bartolo Colon
Mark Grudzielanek
Jesse Chavez
Fernando Rodney
Charlie Morton
Rich Hill
Adrian Beltre
Matt Stairs

 

[upperdeck]

baseball loves guys who can play just pretty good and stay mostly healthy. Teams need 4-5th starters who eat innings and guys who can be solid in that 7-9 hole.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

You are thinking of Dwight Evans. We were talking about Darrell Evans, I don't think he was much of a defender and played mostly DH.

Ahh. You are correct. Mea Culpa.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

Seems to be some confusion on Darrell Evans and Dwight Evans. But both Evans would be viewed as better players in today's era than when they played. And that is because of walks and OBP.

Some may view this as a crazy statement but in modern times, its almost certainly correct Lets move 1989 to 2025. In the Red Sox outfield "today" on July 9, 2025, we have a 36 year old (Jim Rice) and a 37 year old (Dwight Evans) who are winding down their careers. In this scenario, on July 9, 2025, more people would be talking about Dwight Evans as a potential Hall of Famer then Jim Rice. Although both would probably be viewed as falling short, at least until the Vet Commitee. Jim Rice playing today, with modern HOF voters and metrics, is not getting into the Hall.

In the scenario above, as of "July 9, 2025"
Jim Rice has a 48 Career WAR. Dwight Evans has a 66 Career WAR.
Jim Rice has a career OPS+ of 128. Dwight Evans has an OPS+ 130.
Dwight Evans has 8 golf gloves.
Dwight Evans would have won the MVP award in 2017 (1981) with modern voters,

These 2 players would be viewed entirely differently in terms of who was better if they were playing now.

How would Paul O'Neill fair? I always viewed him as a boarderline guy. (Not a Yankee or REds fan, he was just a good player.)