WHY I THINK JOHN OLERUD SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK JOHN OLERUD SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

By- Damien 

John Olerud was one of the best players in baseball for his entire career. Largely overlooked because he wasn’t primarily a power hitter, Olerud was a genuine superstar and a clean player in the midst of the steroid era. He may have been the finest pure hitter of his time (not excluding Tony Gwynn) because he hit for average (two seasons over .350), power (500 doubles and 255 home runs), and took his walks (over 1,200 of them). He also played for a relatively low salary, providing financial value to his team, and played remarkable defense at first base. John Olerud started his career with the Blue Jays in 1989, batting .375 in six games. He had suffered a brain aneurysm in January of that year, which required surgery, and he was allowed to wear a helmet in the field. He played his first season as a full time regular in 1993, which was also the best season of his career. That year, Olerud batted .363 with 24 homers and 107 RBI’s, leading the AL in batting, doubles, OBP, and OPS. Olerud slumped to .297 in 1994 and stayed in the .290 range with moderate power until 1998, when he came back with a .354 mark for the Mets. In 1999, he set the Mets’ single season franchise record for walks (125). He signed with the Mariners in December of 1999 and became a force in Seattle, posting two .300 seasons and winning three Gold Glove awards with the club. He played a little bit with the Yankees in 2004 and finished up in 2006 with 87 games for the Red Sox. John Olerud was a great defensive first baseman, a team leader, and one of the most skilled hitters in recent years. For all of his accomplishments and for staying productive throughout his entire career without really spindling off at the end like most players do, John Olerud gets my vote for the Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, most people who are apparently more qualified than I am to make that decision didn’t think so. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS

Games career: 2,234 season high: 162 in 1999 led NL: 162 in 1999 

At Bats career: 7,592 season high: 581 in 1999 

Hits career: 2,239 season high: 200 in 1993 

Doubles career: 500 season high: 54 in 1993 led AL: 54 in 1993 

Triples career: 13 season high: 4 in 1998 

Home Runs career: 255 season high: 24 in 1993 

Runs career: 1,139 season high: 109 in 1993 

Runs Batted In career: 1,230 season high: 107 in 1993 

Stolen Bases career: 11 season high: 3 in 1999 and 2001 

Walks career: 1,275 season high: 125 in 1999 

Strikeouts career: 1,016 season high: 96 in 2000 

Batting Average career: .295 season high: .363 in 1993 led AL: .363 in 1993 

On Base Percentage career: .398 season high: .473 in 1993 led AL: .473 in 1993 

Slugging Percentage career: .465 season high: .599 in 1993 

Total Bases career: 3,530 season high: 330 in 1993 

Sacrifice Hits career: 12 season high: 3 in 1991 

Fielding Percentage career: .995 season high: .998 in 1996, 2003, and 2004 led AL 1B: .996 in 2000, .998 in 2004 

Double Plays career: 1,581 season high: 154 in 2000 led AL 1B: 122 in 2002 

Putouts career: 16,165 season high: 1,344 in 1999 

Assists career: 1,418 season high: 132 in 2000 led AL 1B: 132 in 2000, 121 in 2001, 125 in 2003 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-cousin of Dale Sveum 

-was nicknamed “Johnny O” 

-was a two time all-star (in 1993 and 2001) 

-finished fourth in the AL Rookie of the Year Award voting in 1990 

-finished third in the AL MVP Award voting in 1993 and 12th in the NL MVP voting in 1998 

-went 1-for-1 in his MLB debut

-twice led the AL in sacrifice flies 

-won two World Series rings with the famous Blue Jays dynasty in 1992 and 1993 

-was a regular with the 2001 Seattle Mariners who won a record 116 games 

-won the 1993 Hutch Award, two career Player of the Month awards, and five Player of the Week awards 

-made over 1,000 putouts eleven times, over 100 double plays ten times, and over 100 assists seven times 

-among MLB first basemen, he ranks 17th in career games, 20th in fielding percentage, 16th in double plays, 34th in putouts, and 13th in assists 

-had career postseason totals of 66 games, 35 runs scored, 66 hits, ten doubles, nine home runs, 34 RBI’s, one stolen base, 31 walks, and a .278 batting average 

-had two career cycles 

-also played 133 games as a DH, 102 as a pinch hitter, and one as a pinch runner

-was inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007

-has an award named after him: the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award (he pitched in college, further attesting to his playing abilities)

-skipped the minor leagues entirely, making his professional debut with the Blue Jays