“Incredible” is the only way to describe McCutchen’s performance across a range of stats.
You may have heard the phrase, “Lies, damned lies, and statistics.” There’s no doubt that statistics can undoubtedly be used in many ways to bolster an argument, prove a point, or even make a case seem stronger than it is.
According to baseball-almanac.com, more than 20,000 players have played Major League Baseball. Suppose one uses positive statistical milestones and finds that only eight individuals reached each of those statistics out of more than 20,000. How can this not be impressive and obviously quite exclusive?
Looking at the list of baseball players that have scored 1,000 runs, had 2,000 hits, 400 doubles, hit 50 triples, hit 300 home runs, had more than 1,000 RBIs, walked more than 1,000 times, stole 200 bases, and had a lifetime batting average of .270 or better, only eight players in major league baseball history have reached them all. Eight out of more than 20,000, Andrew McCutchen is the only player who has done so.
Indeed, other ballplayers had the capability and physical tools to accomplish and reach those figures, but they did not.
Those seven other players that reached all those levels before McCutchen were (in alphabetical order): Henry Aaron, Carlos Beltran, Barry Bonds, George Brett, Willie Mays, Frank Robinson and Dave Winfield.
McCutchen’s career comes up short for induction into Cooperstown, but by making the Major League Baseball’s 2010s All-Decade team, winning a league MVP, finishing in the top three of MVP balloting three times, being a five-time All-Star and winning a Gold Glove award, he’s certainly worthy of being inducted into the Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame, and his playing career appreciated a bit more.
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John Baranowski is a sports historian who has contributed to newspapers, sports publications, and sports websites. His articles can be found on John Baranowski’s Blog.
