#1 All-Time Worst Hitter

[Jaycint]

Along the lines of our best pitcher ever thread, I came across this article:

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/ar...he-real-chase/

The Real Chase
by Aaron Gleeman
April 12, 2006

One of the biggest, most-hyped storylines of the 2006 season is Barry Bonds' pursuit of Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, and the all-time home run record. Throughout spring training Bonds made headlines for whatever he did, and sometimes even for what he didn't do. There were frequent updates on everything Bonds, from his batting practice schedule and whether or not he jogged in the outfield before a game to how far he ran to field a fly ball and how ridiculous he looked impersonating Paul Abdul.

However, while Bonds chasing perhaps the sport's most prestigious record receives all the attention, another remarkable chase is going completely unnoticed. Despite being in just his 11th season in the majors, Cubs infielder Neifi Perez has a chance to become arguably the single worst hitter in baseball history. Perez, whom I once compared to the worst doctor in the world, currently holds the record for worst career Runs Created Above Average (RCAA) total among active players:

RCAA
NEIFI PEREZ -329
Royce Clayton -288
Rey Sanchez -247
Mike Matheny -222
Brad Ausmus -207

Much like Bonds, Perez has distanced himself from the rest of the field, coming in at an astounding 329 runs below average during his career while the next-worst hitter, Royce Clayton, is at just -288. When it comes to ineptitude at the plate, beating Clayton is no easy task. That Perez is able to blow him out, along with the rest of the horrible hitters around baseball, is something that should not be overlooked. He is truly a boy among men.

Having a level of incompetence that is unmatched among your peers is impressive, but the real test of offensive inferiority comes in a comparison to the elite out-makers in the sport's history. Like any true great, Perez's resume stands up to the test, as his career RCAA is among the worst in modern baseball history:

RCAA
Ski Melillo -355
Tommy Thevenow -351
NEIFI PEREZ -329
Bill Bergen -312
Tim Foli -309
Larry Bowa -307
Alfredo Griffin -306
Ozzie Guillen -305
Don Kessinger -305
Ed Brinkman -300

Ladies and gentlemen, The Negative 300 Club.

Whereas the spotlight has been on Bonds' climb up the home run leaderboard for years, Perez has quietly crept past the game's most impotent hitters. In fact, with his -27 RCAA in 2005, Perez leaped over Don Kessinger, Ozzie Guillen, Alfredo Griffin, Larry Bowa, Tim Foli, and Bill Bergen. It was a season for the ages, much like when Bonds' 73 homers in 2001 propelled him past all-time greats Eddie Murray, Mel Ott, Eddie Mathews, Ernie Banks, Ted Williams, Willie McCovey, Jimmie Foxx, Mickey Mantle, Mike Schmidt, and Reggie Jackson.

Bonds being within striking distance of Ruth and less than two healthy, productive seasons away from passing Aaron has been well-documented, but Perez has stealthily put himself in a similar position. His RCAA totals for the past three years are -20, -23, and -27, which means all Perez needs to overtake Tommy Thevenow and the immortal Ski Melillo for the top spot is a typically awful season of -26 RCAA. With manager Dusty Baker's help, Perez can get there.

Unfortunately, he's off to a good start. After being benched in favor of Todd Walker early on, Perez found himself in the Cubs' starting lineup for the first time Friday. He responded by going 3-for-4 with a double against the Reds, and afterward told reporters:

It was a lucky day. Any time I get three hits it's a lucky game. I'm not a great hitter.


I've yet to come across an official list of the biggest understatements in the history of mankind, but I've got to think that would crack the top five. Hypothetically, I believe it would rank just slightly ahead of me telling someone, "I think Jessica Alba is kind of cute," and just slightly behind the person replying, "Your chances of dating her are pretty slim."

Now that bolded quote is laugh out loud funny my friends.

[max venable]

All-time best hitter:

[M2]

Career OPS+

Neifi Perez - 65
Juan Castro - 59

Sure, Neifi owns the counting stats, but Castro's a monster on the percentages.

[macro]

What?! No mention of this guy?!

[Jaycint]

Originally Posted by macro

What?! No mention of this guy?!

Wow, Mario hit every single branch on the long fall down out of that ugly tree didn't he? Benito Santiago even thinks that guy is ugly.

[RedFanAlways1966]

Originally Posted by macro

What?! No mention of this guy?!

My first thought too, macro, after reading the article! Hell, when you get a futility-line named after ya... that has to count for something!

[Moosie52]

Whoever he is, the worst hitter in baseball history can't be that bad, because if he were, he wouldn't have lasted long enough to be remembered.

[westofyou]

Worst vs the league in RC/27 since 1900(in a season)

The second one has higher standards

The First one
AVERAGE < .200
OBA < .300
SLG <= .350
AT BATS >= 400

RUNS CREATED/GAME             YEAR     DIFF   PLAYER   LEAGUE     AVG      OBA      SLG      AB       OPS    
1    Jim Levey                1933    -3.51     1.77     5.28     .195     .237     .240      529     .477   
2    John Gochnauer           1902    -3.41     2.17     5.59     .185     .247     .237      459     .485   
3    Bill Hallman             1901    -3.23     1.92     5.15     .185     .238     .235      464     .473   
4    Frankie Crosetti         1940    -2.83     2.70     5.53     .194     .299     .273      546     .572   
5    Coco Laboy               1970    -2.64     2.26     4.89     .199     .254     .299      432     .552   
6    Eddie Zimmerman          1911    -2.60     2.19     4.79     .185     .249     .264      417     .513   
7    Pete Childs              1902    -2.48     1.94     4.42     .194     .256     .206      403     .462   
8    Bob Lillis               1963    -2.47     1.64     4.10     .198     .229     .237      469     .466   
9    Skeeter Webb             1945    -2.38     1.91     4.28     .199     .254     .238      407     .492   
10   Ed Brinkman              1965    -2.31     1.91     4.21     .185     .251     .257      444     .508  

Since 1995
AVERAGE < .250
OBA < .320
SLG <= .350

RUNS CREATED/GAME             YEAR     DIFF   PLAYER   LEAGUE     AVG      OBA      SLG      AB       OPS    
1    Cristian Guzman          1999    -2.99     2.41     5.40     .226     .267     .276      420     .543   
2    Cesar Izturis            2002    -2.84     2.18     5.02     .232     .253     .303      439     .556   
3    Alex Cora                2001    -2.73     2.54     5.27     .217     .285     .306      405     .591   
4    Dave Howard              1996    -2.70     2.84     5.55     .219     .291     .305      420     .595   
5    Deivi Cruz               1997    -2.67     2.45     5.13     .241     .263     .314      436     .577   
6    Ozzie Guillen            1995    -2.61     2.58     5.19     .248     .270     .318      415     .588   
7    Cristian Guzman          2005    -2.60     2.47     5.07     .219     .260     .314      456     .574   
8    Rey Ordonez              1998    -2.56     2.53     5.09     .246     .278     .299      505     .577   
9    Gary DiSarcina           1997    -2.56     2.56     5.13     .246     .271     .326      549     .597   
10   Mike Bordick             1997    -2.55     2.57     5.13     .236     .283     .318      509     .601

Eddie Brinkman had his career saved by Teddy Ballgame, otherwise he would have gone the Ray Oyler route.

Ray Oyler has to be mentioned, 1265 MLB at bats and this line:

.175/.258/.251/.508

[Chip R]

Originally Posted by Moosie52

Whoever he is, the worst hitter in baseball history can't be that bad, because if he were, he wouldn't have lasted long enough to be remembered.

Good point.

[Falls City Beer]

The de la Hoz Award.

Pat Watkins?

Motolla?

[westofyou]

Originally Posted by Moosie52

Whoever he is, the worst hitter in baseball history can't be that bad, because if he were, he wouldn't have lasted long enough to be remembered.

If most of us knew the worst player in MLB chances are pretty good that he'd be the best baseball player we ever knew.

[Yachtzee]

Originally Posted by macro

What?! No mention of this guy?!

Didn't he cross the picket line to help Hunt Stevenson save the Assan Motors plant in Hadleyville?

[chicoruiz]

Mention needs to be made in this thread of Casey Wise, a Braves infielder of the 1950s, who spent four years in the majors compiling this line: .174/.243/.240.

And I don't know where this fits in, but my favorite negative batting stat of all time belongs to Enzo Hernandez of the 1971 Padres: 549 ABs, 12 RBIs.

[Spitball]

Back in the 1960's, pitcher Hank Aguirre (pronounce: ah-gary) was reputed to be the worst hitter ever. He really had a feeble swing, but I do believe he had a hit or two in his career. Dean Chance and Gaylord Perry had pretty pathetic swings, also.

[BuckeyeRedleg]

Mike Matheny -222


This certainly takes the luster off of his two K's against me in HS, back in '88.

Typical. I owned Mike Matheny. That will get me far with the ladies.