Feb
7
2013

Who Was The Best Player To Never Win A World Series?

An article by Satish Ram

“There are bad ways to win– and good ways to lose. What’s interesting and troubling is that it’s not always clear which is which. A flipped coin doesn’t always land heads or tails. Sometimes it may never land at all…”

piazza

Is it not quite interesting that humans love to classify everything into black and white categories? It makes it all easier by watering everything down. When it comes down to it, the vast majority of players who have touched MLB grass have never played in a World Series, let alone won one, if you play by the percentages. Some of the best players in the history of the game never won a World Series, and this goes to show just how much of a team game baseball really is. With that being said, who do you believe is the best player to never win a World Series?

Should I acknowledge the elephant in the room and point out that Barry Bonds has never won a ring? Some people are willing to look past his tainted past to give him credit as one of the best hitters of all time… myself? Not so much. On the topic of sluggers, however, you can look down the line at Harmon Killebrew and Willie McCovey, who each failed to win a World Series.

You could move closer to this time period and take a look at Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Piazza, my two favorite players in MLB history, who also fell short. Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell? Yep, they never picked up the rings either. And if your interest happens to be pitchers, what about Gaylord Perry or Don Sutton? And do I even need a segway into mentioning the names Ty Cobb and Ted Williams? Believe it.

When it comes down to it, I could make an all-star team based on the players that never won a World Series…so when it comes to it, who do you think is the best player to never win a World Series?

For kicks, here’s that all-star team I just mentioned…

C : Mike Piazza

1B: Willie McCovey

2B: Nap Lajoie

3B: Ron Santo

SS: Ernie Banks

OF: Ty Cobb, Ted Williams, Ken Griffey Jr.

P: Gaylord Perry, Don Sutton, Juan Marichal, Fergie Jenkins, Early Wynn, Robin Roberts, Lee Smith

Bench: George Sisler, Harmon Killebrew, Carl Yastrzemski, Carlton Fisk, Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell, Ralph Kiner, Ryne Sandberg, Nellie Fox, Barry Bonds.

About the Author: Satish Ram

I am a Senior Writer and Editor here at MetsMerized - where I specialize in Minor League coverage. I have been on the staff since 2007 and I am currently in my third semester of college in New York City. You can find me at www.facebook.com/SatishRam or @SilverHeatMMO. Feel free to message me - I love talking about the Mets or baseball overall with anybody.

16 Comments + Add Comment

Alex68 February 7, 2013 at 8:14 am

Hands down Ted Williams, but for this generation i think Ken Griffey JR. There’s sentiment on good players i saw as well who never won it, like dale murphy, dick allen, andre dawson, robin yount, mccovey, rod carew, tony gwynn, etc… but arguably williams was the greatest amongst them.
Met Maniac February 7, 2013 at 8:18 am

David Wright? Bwahh haaa haaa haaa
- Alex68 February 7, 2013 at 8:23 am
  
  Lmao…. Good one maniac.
jessep February 7, 2013 at 8:18 am

There are a ton more probably….how about Gwynn, dawson, and yount? mattingly and rod carew?
Fonzie13 February 7, 2013 at 8:30 am

Actually Don Sutton was on the 88 Dodgers. He didn’t pitch in the postseason but he did get a ring.
- Alex68 February 7, 2013 at 8:38 am
  
  well, i thought he stopped pitching and retired midway no? I could be wrong.. i do remember him pitching a game against us.. not sure
- Perseus February 7, 2013 at 12:30 pm
  
  I’d make my argument for Cobb, and for this generation, definitely Griffey JR.
- Perseus February 7, 2013 at 12:31 pm
  
  Sorry, above comment wasn’t supposed to be a reply lol.
  
  In reply to you, however… I believe you’re right but I’m not sure about that. Because he didn’t pitch the post-season, I had him listed as not winning a world series.
Metstheory22 February 7, 2013 at 8:56 am

Wow, that outfield is amazing. Anyone of Cobb, Williams or Griffrey Jr. could be picked. Griffrey and Williams are two of my favorite players of all time.
- Alex68 February 7, 2013 at 9:01 am
  
  Theory, I didn’t see williams play, on players like that you have to go by the numbers i guess, but i tell you, Griffey was something special to watch…
  - Metstheory22 February 7, 2013 at 10:11 am
    
    I did not see Williams play either, just reading and videos. To ME, Mays and Griffrey were the best I have seen. If Griffrey had been healthy during his REDS years, he would have had HR records.
  - TRS86 February 7, 2013 at 12:33 pm
    
    Personally I would have loved to see Cobb play. After reading multiple books including one that was a semiautobio what an interesting man (or arse pending your definition).
    - Perseus February 7, 2013 at 12:38 pm
      
      I share your sentiment.
      
      I was making an argument for him over Williams on Facebook the other day… He might have been an ass, but damn, he could play.
      - TRS86 February 7, 2013 at 12:50 pm
        
        I could not put this book down:
        http://www.amazon.com/Cobb-A-Biography-Al-Stump/dp/1565121449
        
        Absolutely the best autobio I have ever read.
L.J. Phipps February 8, 2013 at 6:07 am

Ted Williams
Hamball00 February 10, 2013 at 4:45 pm

Smith, Williams, Fisk, Yaz..heck, you can make an all-star just out of Red Sox players..

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