from Amazon
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Best 12 Years
The proponents of Jim Rice are arguing for a “best consecutive 12 year” performance. I don’t necessarily disagree with looking at it that way. Using the Win Shares file that studes posted (I don’t care for Win Shares, but it’s there, so I’m using it), the best 12 years is by Babe Ruth (500 win shares, ending in 1928).
Jim Rice is 173rd all time (262 win shares, ending in 1986). There’s about 200 players in the Hall of Fame, so, he’d qualify under this 12-year criteria. But, it’s certainly not overwhelming. Among players whose 12 year peak period started in 1964 or later, Rice is 73rd. Recent nonpitchers around him are:
Brett Butler, 264
Jose Cruz, 264
Dwight Evans, 263
Dale Murphy, 262
Alan Trammell, 261
Amos Otis, 261
John Olerud, 260
So, according to Win Shares, those 7 players, at their 12-year consecutive best, are equal to Jim Rice.
Tim Raines (1982-1993) is #16 among those recent players, at 313, between George Brett at 314 and Frank Thomas at 311.
If you want to talk about 12-year peak, using Win Shares, Dick Allen is #10 at 327.