The Best Baseball Players Born on January 17
Here’s a subjective rating of the highest 5 for January 17:
Porter had a heck of a profession, however as time passes it looks like he’s misplaced within the shuffle amongst all-time best catchers. Porter ranks twenty third all-time amongst catchers with 40.8 WAR, in line with Baseball Reference. For comparability’s sake, Buster Posey (44.9) and Yadier Molina (42.1) rank simply forward of him, however are in all probability ticketed for the Hall of Fame. Porter received World Series and NLCS MVP Awards with the Cardinals in 1982, serving to St. Louis beat the Brewers in seven video games. He completed third for AL Rookie of the Year with Milwaukee in 1973. He made the 1974 AL All-Star staff with the Brewers and the AL All-Star staff for 3 consecutive seasons (1978-80) with the Royals. He even completed within the prime 10 for AL MVP in 1979 and 1980.
Davis was an indicator of consistency and manufacturing in a 19-year profession that spanned nearly everything of twenty years (1981-99). He received World Series with the Twins (1991) and Yankees (1998-99). He made NL All-Star groups with the Giants (1984, 1986) and an AL All-Star staff with the Angels (1994). Davis by no means posted decrease than a .755 OPS within the last 16 years of his profession. He by no means posted decrease than a 108 OPS+, and that was his last season as a 39-year-old in 1999. Davis appeared to roll off the bed each season and be good for 25 house runs and 95 RBIs, slashing a profession .274/.360.451.
If you utilize WAR as your sole measuring stick, then there are a handful of higher gamers born on January 17 than Zimmer. But Zimmer was far more than a participant, though he had a pleasant 12-year profession. He received World Series with the Dodgers in 1955 and 1959. He is credited with two All-Star appearances, though they each got here in 1961. (Baseball performed two All-Star Games from 1959-62). But whereas some people bear in mind Zimmer’s taking part in profession, most right this moment bear in mind him from his managerial and training careers. He managed the Padres, Red Sox, Rangers and Cubs over elements of 13 seasons. He was Joe Torre’s longtime right-hand man with the Yankees. Oh, he was one in every of baseball’s all-time best characters and baseball thoughts’s, too.
Bauer received the 2020 NL Cy Young with the Reds, going 5.4 with a 1.73 ERA in 11 begins within the pandemic-shortened 60-game season. He completed tenth for NL MVP that season, too. Bauer additionally made the AL All-Star staff with the Indians in 2018, when he went 12-6 with a 2.21 ERA in 28 appearances (27 begins). He completed sixth for AL Cy Young and received a couple of MVP votes, too.
Leiber made three NL All-Star groups throughout his 10-year profession (1933-42): 1938 with the Giants and 1940-41 with the Cubs. He performed within the 1936-37 World Series, dropping twice to the Yankees. According to his obituary, Leiber, who died in 1993, had his profession reduce brief after he twice received hit within the head with pitches, together with as soon as by Bob Feller.
The different gamers born on January 17 to make an All-Star staff are Kyle Tucker and Joe Jimenez. Tucker made it to the Midsummer Classic with the Astros in 2022, and was born in 1997. Jimenez, who was born in 1995, made the AL All-Star staff with the 2018 Tigers. … Eri Yoshida will get a point out right here. Born in 1992, she was a right-handed, side-armed knuckleballer who pitched in impartial ball with Chico and Maui from 2010-12.
