Friday, June 20, 2008

Berkman in rare air

Lance Berkman is dominating the NL at a historic level, at least when using OPS+ as the measuring stick. Berkman's at 201. The only NL players to finish the season with a mark above 200 in recent years are Bonds, McGwire and Bagwell (and all three were linked to PEDs at some point in their careers).

Otherwise, you have to go back to Willie McCovey in 1969 to find a NL player to accomplish the feat. In addition to McCovey, the NL players since 1900 to reach 200 are Honus Wagner (1908), Rogers Hornsby (1922, 1924, 1925, 1928), and Stan Musial (1948). So, if Berkman can remain in that stratosphere, it's very impressive company.

And someone else finally realized Berkman shares an uncanny resemblance to Tony Stewart.

In the AL, players to reach 200 since 1900 are Frank Thomas, George Brett, Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, Lou Gehrig, Jimmy Foxx, Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, and Nap Lajoie.

No comments: