Underrated?

Just a few great forgotten or underrated players from my lifetime:

C - Ted Simmons, St. Louis
Lifetime: .285 - 248 HR - 1,389 RBI in 21 seasons.
162 Game Ave.: .285-16-92.
My word: Six times among the Top 10 in hitting and RBI. Led league in intentional walks twice. A great doubles hitter, ranking 57th in history with 483. Compare his numbers to Hall of Famer Gary Carter. Of the catchers in the Hall, only Yogi Berra drove in more runs.

1B - Cecil Cooper, Milwaukee
Lifetime: .298 - 241 HR - 1,125 RBI in 17 seasons.
162 Game Ave.: .298-21-96.
My word: Coop was one of my favorite players as a kid. Two-time Gold Glove winner and four-time Top 10 finisher in MVP voting. Led AL in RBI twice and was second once. Sweet swing.

2B - Jeff Kent, Los Angeles
Lifetime: .289 - 302 HR - 1,207 RBI in 13 seasons entering '05.
162 Game Ave.: .289-28-110 with 95 R.
My word: Bobby Grich, who averaged .266-18-70 and won four Gold Gloves, was my initial choice until I started thinking about how little recognition Kent receives. He was NL MVP in 2000 and entered this season ranked 13th in RBI among active players.

SS - Alan Trammell, Detroit
Lifetime: .285 - 185 HR - 1,003 RBI in 20 seasons.
162 Game Ave.: .285-13-71 with 87 R and 17 SB.
My word: You knew he would be here. Four-time Gold Glove winner, World Series MVP, three-time Silver Slugger winner. Three times in Top 10 for MVP. Four times in top five for batting average. Twice led league in sacrifices. Did everything. The man Ripken and A-Rod patterned themselves after.

3B - Bill "Mad Dog" Madlock, Pittsburgh
Lifetime: .305 - 163 HR - 860 RBI - 174 SB in 15 seasons.
162 Game Ave.: .305-15-77 with 83 R and 16 SB.
My word: This was the toughest position to fill. Four-time batting champion who hit better than .300 in 9 of his first 11 seasons.

OF - Brett Butler, Dodgers
Lifetime: .290 - 54 HR - 578 RBI - 1,359 R - 558 SB in 17 seasons.
162 Game Ave.: .290-4-42 with 99 R and 41 SB.
My word: Led the NL in triples four times. If you were the opposing team, this guy was a big-time pain in the butt. Especially because you always felt he was overachieving. Greatest bunter of his time, maybe of all time.

OF - Amos Otis, Kansas City
Lifetime: .277 - 193 HR - 1,007 RBI - 341 SB in 17 seasons.
162 Game Ave.: .277-16-82 with 89 R and 28 SB.
My word: Won three Gold Glove awards. Finished in the Top 10 for MVP four times. A great blend of power and speed. Batted .295 with 18 HR, 90 RBI, 100 R and 30 SB in 1979. Would make him worth about $9 million a year today.

OF - Harold Baines, White Sox
Lifetime: .289 - 384 HR - 1,628 RBI in 22 seasons.
162 Game Ave: .289-22-93.
My word: One of the most underrated players of his day, without question. Another personal favorite. Just a steady professional hitter, much like …

DH - Rafael Palmeiro, Baltimore
Lifetime: .289 - 551 HR - 1,775 RBI in 19 seasons.
162 Game Ave: .289-33-106.
My word: The new version of Eddie Murray, steady, consistent and overlooked. Will probably be the member of the 500-HR club that no one will be able to name five years from now. Not to mention he will end his career with 3,000 hits.