The best baseball players born on Feb. 12

Here’s a subjective rating of the highest 5 for Feb. 12:

1) Chet Lemon (1955)
You could be questioning how Lemon may high this record. Or, you may even be questioning who Lemon is. Well, this sweet-swinging, swish middle fielder has probably the most profession WAR of anybody born on this date, 55.6, which additionally occurs to be greater than, oh, David Ortiz, Joe Mauer and Hall of Famers Hank Greenberg and George Sisler. After a short callup in 1975, Lemon performed 15 extra seasons with the White Sox and Tigers, surpassing 100 video games performed in 14 of them. He was a three-time All-Star and his finest season statistically was 1979, when he hit .318 with an AL-leading 44 doubles. But the head of his profession got here in 1984, when he was the beginning middle fielder for the traditionally nice Tigers crew that received the World Series. Lemon made a catch in Game 3 in opposition to the Padres that really drew comparisons to Willie Mays. Finally, Lemon recorded at the very least 400 outfield putouts 5 occasions, which stays an AL file.

2) Dom DiMaggio (1917)
The youngest of three brothers who fashioned one of many nice households in baseball historical past, DiMaggio spent 11 seasons within the bigs, all with the Red Sox within the Forties and ’50s, albeit interrupted by a three-year stint within the Navy throughout World War II. The middle fielder/leadoff hitter was a seven-time All-Star who exceeded 700 plate appearances 4 occasions. His finest season was 1950, when he hit .328 and led the AL in runs (131), triples (11) and stolen bases (15). DiMaggio, nicknamed “The Little Professor,” all the time performed within the shadow of huge brother Joe with the Yankees (Vince was the third brother). But Red Sox teammate Johnny Pesky known as Dom “the almost perfect ballplayer, so smart and so talented.”

3) Chick Hafey (1903)
Hafey is noteworthy not just for being a Hall of Famer however for getting the primary hit in All-Star Game historical past, because the cleanup hitter for the National League within the inaugural 1933 Midsummer Classic. The left fielder performed 13 seasons with the Cardinals and Reds within the Twenties and ’30s, successful two World Series with St. Louis. Hafey hit at the very least .330 4 straight seasons with the Cardinals and received the NL batting title at .349 in 1931, when he completed fifth in MVP voting.

4) Todd Frazier (1986)
The “Toddfather” has spent greater than a decade as a Major League third baseman with six groups, principally with the Reds. But he could be most identified for successful the 1998 Little League World Series and what adopted quickly after. Frazier completed third in 2012 NL Rookie of the Year voting received by Bryce Harper and was a two-time All-Star with Cincinnati. He additionally received the 2015 Home Run Derby in entrance of his house followers at Great American Ball Park.

5) Don Wilson (1945)
The right-hander performed his total nine-year profession with the Astros within the Nineteen Sixties and ’70s and received greater than 100 video games (104). Wilson’s finest season was 1971, when he went 16-10 with a 2.45 ERA and made his lone All-Star crew.

Others of observe:
Joe Garagiola (1926)
The longtime catcher, notably with the Cardinals within the late Forties, is understood extra for his profession as a broadcaster and show-business character. Garagiola was the analyst for years alongside Curt Gowdy on NBC’s Saturday “Game of the Week,” then ventured past baseball with stints on “The Today Show.” and as co-host of the annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, and a lot extra. His son Joe Jr. previously was the D-backs’ basic supervisor and remains to be within the crew’s entrance workplace.

Pat Dobson (1942)
Dobson was a part of the famed 1971 Orioles rotation by which all 4 starters received 20 video games. He was an All-Star for the one time the subsequent season. The right-hander performed for six groups throughout 11 seasons and received 122 video games.