Under-the-Radar Superstar

[Rob]

The latest Sporting News has an article about Lance Berkman and some of the numbers comparing him to all-time greats were amazing:

 

Career OPS:

1. Babe Ruth 1.164

5. Albert Pujols 1.044

9. Todd Helton 1.007

10. Manny Ramirez 1.001

11. Lance Berkman .982

 

Career OPS, switch hitter:

1. Berkman .982

2. Mickey Mantle .977

3. Chipper Jones .957

 

Career ABs/RBI:

1. Babe Ruth 3.80

7. Manny Ramirez 4.41

25 Lance Berkman 4.96

 

Career OBP, active players:

1. Todd Helton .430

2. Albert Pujols .423

3. Frank Thomas .420

4. Lance Berkman .415

 

When you talk about superstars and future HOFers, I would venture that hardly anyone thinks of Berkman, but his numbers should put him in those discussions.

 

Those are all rate stats, and he's still young enough that he hasn't gone through the inevitable decline phase yet. Don't get me wrong, he's a helluva player, but wake me when he's somewhat close to retiring age and I'll take a look at his HOF credentials then.