Ezra Sutton

[Cowtipper]

Ezra Sutton played 18 years in the big leagues (or 13 if you don't consider the NA to be a "big league") and he hit .294 with 1574 hits in 1263 games. To a person who uses modern day statistics and measures to compare and evaluate players, 1263 games in 18 years may not seem very impressive. But, one must remember that from 1871 to 1883, his teams never played more than 100 games in a season.

A third baseman who spent a considerable amount of time at short, Sutton is statistically similar to one Hall of Famer: Hughie Jennings.

He did not lead the league in very many categories - he led the league in hits and singles in 1884 - but he did appear in the top ten in categories a notable amount of times.

What do you think? Should Sutton be in the Hall of Fame?

[Brad Harris]

Best third baseman of the 19th century. Arguably a better player than Jimmy Collins.

[jjpm74]

Easily yes! One of the most underrated players of the 19th century.

[Paul Wendt]

Ezra Sutton played 18 years in the big leagues (or 13 if you don't consider the NA to be a "big league") and he hit .294 with 1574 hits in 1263 games. To a person who uses modern day statistics and measures to compare and evaluate players, 1263 games in 18 years may not seem very impressive. But, one must remember that from 1871 to 1883, his teams never played more than 100 games in a season.
Those games represent 16.3 full seasons equivalent during those 18 years, a little more than 90% of team games on average. That is super because he played only about 60% and 20% in 1887-88.

Sutton was a professional player (salaried) beginning 1870, the second season that the first NA permitted professional clubs.

Yes he belongs in the Cooperstown.
He was elected to the BBFever Hall of Fame this month.