For those who disliked my July 27 story in regards to the Fashionable Period’s finest shortstops, you’ll positively detest at this time’s entry in regards to the prime left fielders.

Many readers have been sad that my 10-part components established Alex Rodriguez as baseball’s preeminent shortstop in the course of the interval from 1961 via 2022. The identical score process has now proclaimed the No. 1 left fielder to be Barry Bonds, who (like Rodriguez) was extensively accused of utilizing performance-enhancing medicine.

Main League Baseball hasn’t flagged, altered, or eradicated the statistical data of suspected PED abusers, and I’ve adopted MLB’s lead. Rodriguez and Bonds have been handled precisely as the identical as their opponents in these rankings, a lot to the displeasure of a few of you.

Right now’s standings doc an enormous victory for Bonds over the opposite 160 gamers who spent no less than 40 % of their time in left discipline and made greater than 2,500 plate appearances in the course of the Fashionable Period. The components analyzed every participant’s full physique of labor, together with any stats he may need accrued at positions aside from left discipline. (Click on right here to study extra in regards to the score course of.)

No person else within the group of 161 left fielders got here near Bonds’s profession stats for slugging common (.607), bases per out (1.265), wins above substitute (162.8), and complete runs generated (3,461). And, in fact, no one at any place ever blasted as many residence runs because the 762 that Bonds hit throughout his 22-year profession with the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants.

Manny Ramirez, who was twice suspended for PED abuse, is the runner-up within the rankings of left fielders. (Bonds’s report, it needs to be identified, is freed from steroid-related suspensions or convictions.) Ramirez performed 19 seasons with 5 golf equipment, primarily the Cleveland Indians and Boston Purple Sox.

Rounding out the highest 5 are Rickey Henderson of the Oakland Athletics (and eight different groups), Carl Yastrzemski of the Boston Purple Sox, and Luis Gonzalez of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Houston Astros, and 4 different golf equipment.

Bonds, because the frontrunner on the place, was assigned a rating of 1,000 factors, with the figures for all different candidates being decided by their relative performances. The huge hole between Bonds and runner-up Ramirez (653 factors) displays the large distinction of their statistical data.

That is the sixth story in my weekly evaluate of the period’s biggest gamers. Comply with these hyperlinks to learn earlier installments in regards to the prime catchers, first basemen, second basemen, shortstops, and third basemen.

Statistical breakdowns for the Fashionable Period’s prime 5 left fielders will be discovered beneath, adopted by a listing of the following 15.

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• Rating: 1,000 factors

• WAR: 162.8 complete, 6.5 per 500 PA, 7.6 defensive

• Averages: .298 BA, .607 SLG, 1.265 BPO

• Scoring: 3,461 R generated, 137 per 500 PA

• Totals: 2,986 G, 2,935 H

• Notes: The stats are merely mind-boggling. Bonds received seven Most Precious Participant Awards within the Nationwide League, together with 4 in a row from 2001 to 2004. He earned a pair of batting crowns with averages of .370 in 2002 and .362 in 2004. He set the single-season report of 73 residence runs in 2001. And he was so feared that he drew greater than 100 walks in 14 seasons.

• Rating: 653 factors

• WAR: 69.3 complete, 3.6 per 500 PA, -21.7 defensive

• Averages: .312 BA, .585 SLG, 1.059 BPO

• Scoring: 2,820 R generated, 144 per 500 PA

• Totals: 2,302 G, 2,574 H

• Notes: Ramirez by no means received an MVP Award, however he was a constant contender. He completed among the many American League’s prime 9 vote-getters each season between 1998 and 2005. Ramirez drove residence greater than 100 runs in 12 completely different seasons — peaking at 165 in 1999 — and he hit greater than 40 residence runs on 5 events.

• Rating: 648 factors

• WAR: 111.2 complete, 4.2 per 500 PA, -2.3 defensive

• Averages: .279 BA, .419 SLG, .985 BPO

• Scoring: 3,113 R generated, 117 per 500 PA

• Totals: 3,081 G, 3,055 H

• Notes: Henderson bounced round (enjoying for 9 franchises over his 25-year profession), however he was no journeyman. He topped the American League 12 instances in stolen bases and 5 instances in runs scored. He stays MLB’s all-time chief in each classes with totals of 1,406 steals amd 2,295 runs. Henderson earned the American League’s MVP trophy in 1990.

• Rating: 646 factors

• WAR: 96.5 complete, 3.5 per 500 PA, 1.0 defensive

• Averages: .285 BA, .462 SLG, .845 BPO

• Scoring: 3,208 R generated, 115 per 500 PA

• Totals: 3,308 G, 3,419 H

• Notes: Yastrzemski had the sad destiny of following the immortal Ted Williams in left discipline for the Purple Sox, a seemingly unattainable job that he mastered. He received three American League batting titles. His biggest season was 1967, when he was named the AL’s Most Precious Participant after capturing the Triple Crown with 44 homers, 121 RBIs, and a .326 BA.

• Rating: 502 factors

• WAR: 51.6 complete, 2.5 per 500 PA, -0.7 defensive

• Averages: .283 BA, .479 SLG, .844 BPO

• Scoring: 2,497 R generated, 119 per 500 PA

• Totals: 2,591 G, 2,591 H

• Notes: Gonzalez was nothing particular throughout his first 9 seasons with the Astros, Chicago Cubs, and Detroit Tigers. He batted .268 and hit 107 homers between 1990 and 1998. However he really blossomed after becoming a member of the Diamondbacks in 1999. He pushed his common above .300 4 instances for Arizona, and he launched as many as 57 homers in a single season (2001).