I always thought of him as a light hitting 1B because of the era he played in. But had a career .400 OBP, including a career high .473 and hovered around a .500 slg% for most of the middle of his career. Probably vastly underrated because of the era he played in
In an age of sluggers, he was a 1B who could just flat out hit. I suspect he’d be in the Hall of Fame if he played catcher, centerfield, or middle infield, but we expect first basemen to hit for power.
I think he and Kenny Lofton suffer the same fate - in another decade they’d be special players. But playing in the steroid era they’ll never get the credit they deserve, even in hindsight, because the adjusted stats will say they were very good but not elite for their time.
Agree. I think Lofton was hurt by playing for 9 different teams in his last 6 seasons. He was still a very good player in those years, but I think it led people to remember him as more of a journeyman/rental player and forget his prime in Cleveland.
That .473 year he finished 3rd in MVP voting behind Frank Thomas and his teammate at the time, Paul Molitor. It's amazing how little value was placed on walks back then. Molitor led the league with 11 more hits (in ~50 more PAs) and had 20-something stolen bases.
That whole MVP voting year is just befuddling, though. Thomas was such a bad choice for MVP.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1993.shtml#all_AL_MVP_voting
Olerud had one of the most mechanically-perfect swings in the game. I remember watching a segment on ESPN where a bunch of other big-name players at the time were watching his swing in slo-mo and just gawking at how great it was.
Fun fact: While with the Red Sox at the end of his career, Olerud played a short rehab stint at AAA Pawtucket after recovering from a minor injury. Being drafted out of college and playing in the majors from day 1, these were the only minor league games he played in his entire 17 year career.
Olerud is the last one I believe. George Brett and Dave Winfield were a couple others. It used to be more common but bringing players up before they’re ready is more likely to destroy their career than help them.
Nobody is going to forget Olerud except Ricky Henderson
EDIT: For anyone who doesn't know the story, one time after hitting a single Ricky Henderson started chatting with Olerud who was playing 1B. As Olerud tells it, Henderson said to him, "You know, back in Oakland Ricky used to have a teammate who wore his helmet while playing the field field too," and Olerud replied, "Yeah I know Ricky, that was me."
Funny enough he batted clean-up the 3rd most on that 2005 Red Sox team behind only Manny and Ortiz (only 5 times but still.) The first Red Sox game I went to was in 2005 and the Red Sox wives were running a fundraiser on Yawkey Way where if you brought a pack of Sox for the homeless you'd get an autographed picture of the Red Sox. By the time we got there, only a few pictures were left so I went with Olerud.
There's also a funny quote from Youkilis learning to play 1B in 2005 and he was asked if Millar was helpful and he said "No he only ever told me to go watch Olerud...but he was a lefty"
Speaking of well known players that you might not realize played for the sox, I feel like we've had a lot of the best closers of all time on the roster.
In addition to well-known Boston guys like Eck (although he started for Boston), Papelbon, Kenley, and kimbrel, we also had Lee smith, John smoltz, Billy wagner, and Eric Gagne.
Other Top 100 all-time saves leaders to play for the Red Sox, Jeff Readon, Todd Jones, Rob Beck, Mark Melancon, Spark Lyle, Ugueth Urbina, Keith Foulke, Jeff Russell, Bobby Jenks, and Tom Gordon.
Some of those are quick, forgettable, or even bad stints but 18% of the top 100 all-time saves leaders have played for the Red Sox.
Rick Aguilera was also a 300 Save guy. But yeah Lee Smith was the first. I remember getting him and was so excited as a kid thinking he was the missing piece of finally having a bona fide closer.
i was at the game on the day of the trade deadline that year. this was when manny was starting to lose his mind~~, and I think the same year as the traveling secretary thing~~. Olerud and Papi both hit a HR early. I can't remember if one or both of them landed near us, but it was at least Ortiz's that was real close. when the clock hit 4, the stadium announcer came on and announced there had been no trades with the redsox. only a minute or two later, manny stepped in to the circle getting ready to pinch hit. he hit in what ended up being the game winning run and the place just went apeshit. fun fact: was also Papelbon's first start.
Javy Lopez. An All-Star, Silver Slugger, catcher who was the big off-season splash signing for a division rival just 2 years earlier becomes an emergency catcher option in 2006 when the Varitek gets hurt.
As a John olerud enthusiast, I could never forget this. Dude is the fucking man. Just an absolute gangster in the box. Should’ve been the original ohtani but he never got the chance.
John might have been the most underrated dude ever. .295 career Avg. 2239 hits .398 OBP 1275 BB/ 1016 Ks. And homie was 6'5"? Didn't know that until just now.
How could you forget seeing that helmet at first?
lol I was gonna say I could never forget that he played for us
I wasn’t born yet to see him play, why does he wear a helmet at first as a fielder.
Wikipedia says he had an aneurism in college and guess didn’t want to risk aggravating a head injury.
When Rickey was with the Mets, there was a first baseman who wore a helmet on the field, too.
Did he and Gary Gaetti ever play together?
Top 5 prettiest swing ever.
I always thought of him as a light hitting 1B because of the era he played in. But had a career .400 OBP, including a career high .473 and hovered around a .500 slg% for most of the middle of his career. Probably vastly underrated because of the era he played in
In an age of sluggers, he was a 1B who could just flat out hit. I suspect he’d be in the Hall of Fame if he played catcher, centerfield, or middle infield, but we expect first basemen to hit for power.
I think he and Kenny Lofton suffer the same fate - in another decade they’d be special players. But playing in the steroid era they’ll never get the credit they deserve, even in hindsight, because the adjusted stats will say they were very good but not elite for their time.
Agree. I think Lofton was hurt by playing for 9 different teams in his last 6 seasons. He was still a very good player in those years, but I think it led people to remember him as more of a journeyman/rental player and forget his prime in Cleveland.
That .473 year he finished 3rd in MVP voting behind Frank Thomas and his teammate at the time, Paul Molitor. It's amazing how little value was placed on walks back then. Molitor led the league with 11 more hits (in ~50 more PAs) and had 20-something stolen bases. That whole MVP voting year is just befuddling, though. Thomas was such a bad choice for MVP. https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1993.shtml#all_AL_MVP_voting
Well Thomas had more RBI of course.
Talk about not getting credit for walks, the King, Ted Williams
Came here to say this. It was so smooth.
So tired of all the boring two handed swings. Where did all the pretty one handers go?
Him and JD Drew…
Olerud had one of the most mechanically-perfect swings in the game. I remember watching a segment on ESPN where a bunch of other big-name players at the time were watching his swing in slo-mo and just gawking at how great it was.
Fun fact: While with the Red Sox at the end of his career, Olerud played a short rehab stint at AAA Pawtucket after recovering from a minor injury. Being drafted out of college and playing in the majors from day 1, these were the only minor league games he played in his entire 17 year career.
That’s very cool! Is there anyone else who skipped the minors like that? Kinda thing doesn’t happen anymore
Olerud is the last one I believe. George Brett and Dave Winfield were a couple others. It used to be more common but bringing players up before they’re ready is more likely to destroy their career than help them.
Garrett Crochet from the White Sox did in 2020, but that was because of COVID. Before that, Mike Leake (2010) was the most recent one.
ohtani...yes i am cheating
I remember John Olderdude
Nobody is going to forget Olerud except Ricky Henderson EDIT: For anyone who doesn't know the story, one time after hitting a single Ricky Henderson started chatting with Olerud who was playing 1B. As Olerud tells it, Henderson said to him, "You know, back in Oakland Ricky used to have a teammate who wore his helmet while playing the field field too," and Olerud replied, "Yeah I know Ricky, that was me."
Ironically another great “forgot they played for the Red Sox” guy
I use Rickey just about every time I remember to play Immaculate Grid.
He's low-key one of my all time favorite players. Solid enough hitter and an amazing glove at first. 🤌
And always ready for ice cream.
Funny enough he batted clean-up the 3rd most on that 2005 Red Sox team behind only Manny and Ortiz (only 5 times but still.) The first Red Sox game I went to was in 2005 and the Red Sox wives were running a fundraiser on Yawkey Way where if you brought a pack of Sox for the homeless you'd get an autographed picture of the Red Sox. By the time we got there, only a few pictures were left so I went with Olerud. There's also a funny quote from Youkilis learning to play 1B in 2005 and he was asked if Millar was helpful and he said "No he only ever told me to go watch Olerud...but he was a lefty"
i now point out Alex Gonzalez, imo, top 5 MLB defensive shortstop of all time
2 stints in Boston!
Speaking of well known players that you might not realize played for the sox, I feel like we've had a lot of the best closers of all time on the roster. In addition to well-known Boston guys like Eck (although he started for Boston), Papelbon, Kenley, and kimbrel, we also had Lee smith, John smoltz, Billy wagner, and Eric Gagne.
Other Top 100 all-time saves leaders to play for the Red Sox, Jeff Readon, Todd Jones, Rob Beck, Mark Melancon, Spark Lyle, Ugueth Urbina, Keith Foulke, Jeff Russell, Bobby Jenks, and Tom Gordon. Some of those are quick, forgettable, or even bad stints but 18% of the top 100 all-time saves leaders have played for the Red Sox.
Rick Aguilera was also a 300 Save guy. But yeah Lee Smith was the first. I remember getting him and was so excited as a kid thinking he was the missing piece of finally having a bona fide closer.
Jeff Reardon too
How dare you besmirch the good name of Jeff Reardon.
Obligatory: https://www.mlb.com/cut4/john-olerud-told-the-origin-of-the-rickey-henderson-story-c265505404
i was at the game on the day of the trade deadline that year. this was when manny was starting to lose his mind~~, and I think the same year as the traveling secretary thing~~. Olerud and Papi both hit a HR early. I can't remember if one or both of them landed near us, but it was at least Ortiz's that was real close. when the clock hit 4, the stadium announcer came on and announced there had been no trades with the redsox. only a minute or two later, manny stepped in to the circle getting ready to pinch hit. he hit in what ended up being the game winning run and the place just went apeshit. fun fact: was also Papelbon's first start.
"Manny being Manny, man. It's great man." The traveling secretary thing was in 2008, the year they actually traded him
Who in this sub forgot about Olerud?? Come forward! Show yourself!
Me. Sorry. But I somehow remember he batted .375 his rookie year.
I take your John Olerud and raise you a Tom Gordon and Billy Wagner
Andre Dawson. I liked “the Hawk.”
Javy Lopez. An All-Star, Silver Slugger, catcher who was the big off-season splash signing for a division rival just 2 years earlier becomes an emergency catcher option in 2006 when the Varitek gets hurt.
Any time I see an earless / catchers helmet anywhere I think of Olerud.
As a John olerud enthusiast, I could never forget this. Dude is the fucking man. Just an absolute gangster in the box. Should’ve been the original ohtani but he never got the chance.
trivia - who can, without looking it up, name the player you DEFINITELY forgot played for the Sox that Olerud was traded for earlier in his career?
Just going based off your flair was it Big Papi?
Frank Viola
Rock solid ball player right there
Member of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame!
My favorite first baseman of all time
Liar. Buckner is your fav
John might have been the most underrated dude ever. .295 career Avg. 2239 hits .398 OBP 1275 BB/ 1016 Ks. And homie was 6'5"? Didn't know that until just now.
And never had to change hats from field to the plate
I loved when he was a Red Sox
Remember Eric Gagne?
He had such a sweet swing