(05-22-2023, 10:55 AM)cardcrimson Wrote: (05-22-2023, 08:06 AM)terry Wrote: The last player on this list is Todd Helton.
Here's the full list of players who played the majority of their career after 1940 and who averaged .315 or bettter:
.344 Ted Williams
.338 Tony Gwynn
.331 Stan Musial
.328 Wade Boggs
.328 Rod Carew
.325 Joe DiMaggio
.318 Kirby Puckett
.318 Vlad Guerrero
.317 Roberto Clemente
.316 Todd Helton
Helton is the only one of these players who is not in the Hall of Fame. But he received 72% of the vote in the last HOF election, so he's virtually assured of making it.
If I had picked a lower cut-off point, the next player on this list would have been Jackie Robinson (.313).
Helton, makes one wonder if he would have had the same numbers playing anywhere else? He hit .345 at Coors, .287 elsewhere. Clemente, just above him, hit .329 at home, and .306 on the road. Ted Williams hit .361 at Fenway, and .328 elsewhere. Methinks Helton is a product of altitude.
Helton was a great hitter. Sure, he got a boost when at Coors. There is also, however, the downside. First, it’s tougher physically altitude, long games. Second, there is the reverse Coors effect on the road. Especially first series. Pitchers look that much better - especially with movement.
Look at Arenado. He’s doing just fine away from Coors.
Helton also was the starting QB at Tennessee his junior year. Until he got hurt in game 3 and was replaced by a Freshman. Peyton Manning.