WHY I THINK CESAR CEDENO SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN
By- Damien
When you look back and remember how Cesar Cedeno played the game of baseball, one word immediately pops into your head: speed. You’ll remember the blazing speed that he used to stretch a single into a double, to make daring, diving catches in centerfield, or to steal one of his 550 career bases. Cedeno was also a fine hitter with a .285 lifetime batting average and 199 homers, and additionally was a five time Gold Glove award winner in centerfield. Cedeno didn’t provide valuable defense in center alone; he also played a good amount of first base as well. Cesar Cedeno started his career with the Astros in 1970 with a .310 average in 90 games, which was good for fourth place in the NL Rookie of the Year Award voting. In 1971, he slumped to .264 but in 1972 he became the second player in MLB history to reach 20 home runs and 50 stolen bases in the same season, a feat that he accomplished every year until 1975 (Hall of Famer Lou Brock first did it in 1967). Cedeno retained good batting averages and stolen base totals over 50 until 1978, when he was limited to only 50 games with a torn knee ligament. He slumped a little in 1979 with hepatitis but batted .309 with 48 steals in 1980 to lead the Astros to the division title. Cedeno slumped to just over .270 in 1981 before being traded to the Reds. He started to decline as a hitter in Cincinnati, providing offense that was above average but not Hall of Fame worthy. Cedeno was dealt over to the Cardinals in August of 1985 and finished out his career with the Dodgers in 1986. Cesar Cedeno was a great hitter, a fine fielder, and an exciting baserunner. He was so skilled at every part of the game that the only way to truly acknowledge him is by honoring him with a spot in the Hall of Fame.
LIFETIME STATISTICS
Games career: 2,006 season high: 161 in 1971
At Bats career: 7,310 season high: 611 in 1971
Hits career: 2,087 season high: 179 in 1972
Doubles career: 436 season high: 40 in 1971 led NL: 40 in 1971, 39 in 1972
Triples career: 60 season high: 8 in 1972, 1977 and 1980
Home Runs career: 199 season high: 26 in 1974
Runs career: 1,084 season high: 103 in 1972
Runs Batted In career: 976 season high: 102 in 1974
Stolen Bases career: 550 season high: 61 in 1977
Walks career: 664 season high: 66 in 1980
Strikeouts career: 938 season high: 103 in 1974
Batting Average career: .285 season high: .320 in 1972 and 1973
On Base Percentage career: .347 season high: .385 in 1972
Slugging Percentage career: .443 season high: .537 in 1972 and 1973
Total Bases career: 3,240 season high: 300 in 1972
Sacrifice Hits career: 32 season high: 4 in 1984
Fielding Percentage career: .985 season high: .997 in 1977 led NL CF: 1.000 in 1971, .997 in 1977 led NL OF: .997 in 1977
Double Plays career: 179 season high: 79 in 1979 led NL CF: 5 in 1976, 3 in 1980
Putouts career: 5,984 season high: 948 in 1979 led NL CF: 436 in 1974 led NL OF: 446 in 1974
Assists career: 195 season high: 35 in 1979 led NL CF: 14 in 1977
DID YOU KNOW?
-was a four time all-star
-hit for the cycle in both 1972 and 1976
-went 2-for-5 on his MLB debut as a young 19 year old
-finished sixth in the NL MVP Award voting in 1972, 11th in 1973, 13th in 1980, 16th in 1974, and 25th in 1976
-led the NL in stolen base percentage in 1978 and in sacrifice flies in 1979
-won two NL Player of the Month awards and two NL Player of the Week awards
-finished second in the 1973 NL batting race
-led NL centerfielders in games in 1974 (157) and 1976 (146)
-was the youngest player in the NL in 1970
-ranks 27th in career stolen bases
-also played 139 games in leftfield, 142 in rightfield, 104 as a pinch hitter, and 11 as a pinch runner
I think the big reason why Cedeno is not in the Hall is that he is perceived as not having lived up to his potential. In a pitcher's park, in a pitcher's era, he hit .310 at 19, .320 at 21 and 22. It was not unreasonable to expect that he might hit .350 when he matured. Looking at his career as a whole, he would not be a bad Hall of Famer, but I think there's the perception that he should have been way better.
ReplyDeleteLooking back at the career of Cedeno it seems to be lacking in one thing in particular. He made virtually no impact, in the few post season games that he was involved in.
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