WHY I THINK MICHAEL YOUNG SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK MICHAEL YOUNG SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN 

By- Damien 

Michael Young should have been an easy Hall of Famer. Most of the players who I advocate for have pretty marginal cases, but Young was obviously one of the greatest players of all time. First of all, he was one of the most valuable defensive players in history. He started out as a second baseman, and was superb. After three seasons as the Rangers’ regular second sacker, they moved him to shortstop, and he not only hung on, but became one of the best defensive shortstops in baseball. In 2009, the Rangers moved him again - this time to third base to make way for Elvis Andrus - and (you guessed it) he handled the hot corner incredibly well. Secondly, he was a fantastic hitter who collected 2,375 hits (plus 36 more in the postseason) and won the AL Batting Title in 2005. Michael Young made his MLB debut on September 29, 2000, and made but two plate appearances (0-for-2) before the season’s end. In 2001, his age 24 season, Young attained rookie status but struggled at the plate until 2003, when he batted .306, the first of five straight .300 seasons out of seven overall. He led the AL in batting (.331) and hits in 2005 and drove in 103 runs in 2006. He slumped to .284 in 2008 but won his only Gold Glove award, at shortstop. He bounced back to .322 with 22 homers in 2009 and batted .338 with 106 RBI’s in 2011. He had one more quality season with the Rangers in 2012 and played his last season in 2013, splitting the season between the Phillies and the Dodgers. He batted .279 in 147 games. He was granted free agency on October 31, and that marked his last season in the Big Leagues. Michael Young was not only a top hitter, but one of the best and most versatile infielders in history. He was easily one of the best players of his time on both offense and defense, and aren’t those the players who are supposed to get inducted into the Hall of Fame? 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games career: 1,970 season high: 162 in 2006 led AL: 162 in 2006 

At Bats career: 7,918 season high: 691 in 2006 

Hits career: 2,375 season high: 221 in 2005 led AL: 221 in 2005, 213 in 2011 

Doubles career: 441 season high: 52 in 2006 

Triples career: 60 season high: 9 in 2003 and 2004 

Home Runs career: 185 season high: 24 in 2005 

Runs career: 1,137 season high: 114 in 2004 and 2005 

Runs Batted In career: 1,030 season high: 106 in 2011 

Stolen Bases career: 90 season high: 13 in 2003 and 2007 

Walks career: 575 season high: 58 in 2005 

Strikeouts career: 1,235 season high: 115 in 2010 

Batting Average career: .300 season high: .338 in 2011 led AL: .331 in 2005 

On Base Percentage career: .346 season high: .385 in 2005 

Slugging Percentage career: .441 season high: .518 in 2009 

Total Bases career: 3,491 season high: 343 in 2005 

Sacrifice Hits career: 25 season high: 13 in 2002 

Fielding Percentage career: .979 season high: .988 in 2002 led AL SS: .984 in 2008 

Double Plays career: 1,014 season high: 118 in 2003 led AL 2B: 97 in 2002, 117 in 2003 led AL SS: 113 in 2006 and 2008 

Putouts career: 3,090 season high: 406 in 2012 

Assists career: 4,319 season high: 492 in 2006 led AL 2B: 420 in 2002 led AL SS: 492 in 2006 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-batted .308 in seven career all-star games and was the MVP of the 2006 contest 

-finished eighth in the AL MVP Award voting in both 2004 and 2011, 11th in 2005, 16th in 2009, and 30th in 2006 

-won three career AL Player of the Week awards 

-left the Rangers as their all time leader in career games, at bats, hits, doubles, triples, runs scored, total bases, and extra-base hits 

-had five straight 200 hit seasons from 2003 through 2007 and six overall 

-had four seasons with over 20 home runs 

-led the AL in singles (155) in 2011 

-batted .259 with four doubles and a home run in the 2011 World Series 

-led the AL in assists at any position in 2006 

-led AL second basemen in games in 2003 and AL third basemen in 2010 

-among MLB shortstops, ranks 39th in career fielding percentage 

-also played 111 games at first base, 167 as a DH, 22 as a pinch hitter, and six as a pinch runner 

-was inducted into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame and his number 10 was retired by the club in 2019