Greatest offensive season by someone who didn't make it to the HOF

[White Knight]

Ok, let's rule out current players and those who have been up for consideration to the HOF for 5 years or less. Which player had the best offensive year that was rejected by the HOF? Off the top of my head, I'd say Roger Maris' 1961. Don Mattingly's 1985 and 1986 seasons were also exceptional. I'll still take Maris' 1961. However, in 10 years or so, I'll go with Mark McGwire's 1998, or Sammy Sosa's 2001 (IF Sosa doesn't make it to the
Hall, but I believe he will and Mac won't). Thoughts?

[BoSox Rule]

Norm Cash 1961
.361/.487/.662, 201 OPS+, 178 RC

His 201 OPS+ is tops for players not in the Hall of Fame. His total of 178 RC is behind only Babe Herman in 1930 (188 RC). Luis Gonzalez 2001 and Carlos Delgado 2000 will most likely eventually be ahead.

[jjpm74]

Look at Bill Lange's 7 years in the Majors:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/l/langebi01.shtml

He takes the cake, IMO.

[White Knight]

Look at Bill Lange's 7 years in the Majors:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/l/langebi01.shtml

He takes the cake, IMO.

His 1895 season certainly is up there, if you count that era.

[White Knight]

Norm Cash 1961
.361/.487/.662, 201 OPS+, 178 RC

His 201 OPS+ is tops for players not in the Hall of Fame. His total of 178 RC is behind only Babe Herman in 1930 (188 RC). Luis Gonzalez 2001 and Carlos Delgado 2000 will most likely eventually be ahead.

Ahh yeah, forgot about him. Do you think he was robbed that year by Maris?

[BoSox Rule]

No, but Mantle sure was.

EDIT- Actually, Cash may have been robbed of the MVP. Maris had the record so that automatically gave it to him even though he wasn't anywhere near the player that Mantle/Cash was that year. Cash was a very good defender over at 1B that year and Mantle had already started to decline defensively. Mantle probably still deserved it because he was a CF.

[J W]

Rico Petrocelli, 1969:

535 AB, .297/.403/.589, OPS+ 167

Also a range factor way above league average for a shortstop. And yet, only 7th in MVP voting that season.

[m8644]

Please forgive me if I am wrong, but I remember reading a few years back that Cash is on record saying that his 1961 season he used a corked bat.

I'm sorry I have no proof, like I said, I do remember reading something about that a while back.

[philkid3]

I'm with a couple people in here, Cash is the first person who comes to mind.

Clark in '89, as well.

[RuthMayBond]

No Fred Dunlap, Ross Barnes, Pete Browning, Tip O'Neill? ;)

[philkid3]

I always kind've forget Pete Browning isn't in the Hall of Fame.

[Brian McKenna]

My vote goes for Tip O'Neill - led the league in everything.

Lefty O'Doul put up a couple of fine seasons.

[NineWorldSeries]

Zoilo Versalles?

I mean, I don't think it was the greatest offensive year ever, but he simply dominated the league in 1965 as a shortstop. Plus I like saying "Zoilo."

[RuthMayBond]

Zoilo Versalles?

I mean, I don't think it was the greatest offensive year ever, but he simply dominated the league in 1965 as a shortstop. Plus I like saying "Zoilo."I'm not sure he was the best player on his team

[KCGHOST]

The highest RCAA in a single season by a non-HoFer would go to Tip O'Neill in 1887 with 138. Fred Dunlap in 1884 racked up 135 RCAA.

In the modern era Mark McGwire's 118 in 1998 is tops for a non-Hofer.

[RuthMayBond]

In the modern era Mark McGwire's 118 in 1998 is tops for a non-Hofer.

"Ok, let's rule out current players and those who have been up for consideration to the HOF for 5 years or less."

[Frank]

*Hal Trosky*-1936-
Runs-124
Hits-216
2B-45
3B-9
HR-42
RBI-162
AVG-.343
________________
*Ken Williams*-1922-
Runs-128
Hits-194
2B-34
3B-11
HR-39
RBI-155
AVG-.332
SB-37
________________
*George Foster*-1977-
Runs-124
Hits-197
2B-31
3B-2
HR-52
RBI-149
AVG-.320
______________
Here's a few good ones...

[Hack_Miller]

Cy Seymour - 1905 (.377 .429 .559 -- 181 OPS+)

He led the league in AVG, SLG, OPS, 2B, 3B, RC...and was second in the league in HR and OBP. What a fantastic season he had.

[dgarza]

No Fred Dunlap, Ross Barnes, Pete Browning, Tip O'Neill? ;)
This is pretty much the best list out there. Well, maybe add Meyerle. And Caruthers would be an interesting choice. I think Dunlap takes the cake.

[Paul Wendt]

This is pretty much the best list out there. Well, maybe add Meyerle. And Caruthers would be an interesting choice. I think Dunlap takes the cake.

Considering the whole year, batting and pitching including World Series, Caruthers 1886 and 1887 probably must be 1-2, and he must be number one over two and three years too.
But Caruthers 1886 would be a quirky selection for batting alone, akin to those Gold Glove Awards for fielding where you know that voters are influenced by batting too.
Bob Caruthers at baseball-reference (http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/carutbo01.shtml)

[willshad]

Joe Jackson 1911,1912,1913,1920, take your pick.
Kevin Mitchell 1989
Jim Rice 1978
Al Rosen 1953
Dick Allen 1966, 1972

[willshad]

oh and lets not forget albert belle...1994 (or 95,96,98)

[frehleyscomet]

Dave Parker - 1978

[Buzzaldrin]

Caruthers 1886 has to take the cake- 200 OPS+ and 148 ERA+ in the same season. Actually, his 87 was almost as good- both seasons he finished second in the league in slugging while going 30-14 and 29-9 on the mound. You just cannot be a more valuable player.

O'Neill though, did something no one else in big league history has ever done- he led the league in doubles, triples, and homers in the same season. Hornsby and Musial came close but failed- only O'Neill has ever done it.

And as long as we're looking at the 19th c., how about pretty much any season ever by Dave Orr? His career was destroyed by a stroke, but he was a sure shot hall of fame hitter (let's not mention his fielding). In seven full seasons he finished in the league top five in batting seven times. His career OPS+ is till 14th all time, his career BA 11th, and this is a guy who MISSED the free swinging 90s and had to play in the pitcher dominated 80s- his lifetime league BA was .255, he hit .342 with enormous power.

[Go get em Tigers]

*Hal Trosky*-1936-
Runs-124
Hits-216
2B-45
3B-9
HR-42
RBI-162
AVG-.343


Norway, IA is my grandpa's birthplace. Baseball is a religion and a way of life in that town of about 350 residents. The town has something like 9 baseball fields. There was a movie that came out last season about their area high school team. I think it was titled, "The Final Season", or something like that. I still haven't seen it, but it might be a good movie for baseball fans to see. Norway is also the hometown of Mike Boddicker and Bruce Kimm.

[AstrosFan]

Dick Allen 1972, anyone?

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Fred Lynn, 1979
.333/.423/.637, 176 OPS+, 39 HR, 122 RBI, 116 R, 42 doubles, 177 H

Wally Berger, 1933
.313/.365/.566, 172 OPS+, 27 HR, 106 RBI, 84 R, 37 doubles, 165 H

Al Rosen, 1953
.336/.422/.613, 179 OPS+ 43 HR, 145 RBI, 115 R, 27 doubles, 201 H

Pedro Guerrero, 1985
.320/.422/.577/, 181 OPS+, 33 HR, 87 RBI, 99 R, 22 doubles, 156 H

And I nominate for the most forgotten "great season".

George Stone, 1906
.358/.417/.501, 192 OPS+, 71 RBI, 91 R, 25 doubles, 20 triples, 35 SB, 208 H

Stone led the AL in BA, OBP, SLG, OPS, TB, OPS, and OPS+

[zahavasdad]

How can you forget MARIS, That was the greatest offensive acheivement in any season

[mtortolero]

Out of Dick Allen among others not HOF players I don´t think anyone is near to what Frank Howard did between 1968 and 1970 in a pitchers park, in the core of the pitchers era and missing onaly six games in the period :
1968 170 OPS+ 663 PA
1969 178 OPS+ 702 PA
1970 170 OPS+ 706 PA

[leecemark]

How can you forget MARIS, That was the greatest offensive acheivement in any season

--It wasn't even close to the best offensive season that year.

[ElHalo]

And I nominate for the most forgotten "great season".

George Stone, 1906
.358/.417/.501, 192 OPS+, 71 RBI, 91 R, 25 doubles, 20 triples, 35 SB, 208 H

Stone led the AL in BA, OBP, SLG, OPS, TB, OPS, and OPS+

Stone is one of only three Hall-eligible players to have ever led his league in BA, OBP, and SLG in the same season without induction (Larry Walker will make it four once he gets eligibility, sadly). One of the others is Fred Lynn's 1979, already mentioned.

The last is:

.331/.445/.507, 174 OPS+.

He also led his league in runs and RBI, stealing 49 bases and finishing in the top 5 in H, 2B, 3B, HR, SB, BB, and HBP. Give it up for Sherry Magee.

[ElHalo]

--It wasn't even close to the best offensive season that year.

Among Yankee outfielders.

[leecemark]

Among Yankee outfielders.

Or non-Hall of Famers