Cooperstown Chronicles: Maury Wills

Dougvantyle, a friend of mine from Sporting News, wanted me to profile Maury Wills. Here are my findings. 

The Numbers
1942 Games
7588 At Bats
.281 Batting Average
1067 Runs
2134 Hits
177 Doubles
77 Triples
20 HRs
458 RBI
586 SB (19th All-time)

Playoffs: 21 Games, 19 for 78 (.244), 6 Runs, 3 Doubles, 4 RBI, 6 SBs

Awards
1962 MVP
1962 All-Star MVP
5 All-Star Appearances
2 Gold Gloves
MVP Votes in 8 Seasons

Top Ten Finishes
Batting Average - Twice
Games - Once (Led league in 1962)
At Bats - Seven Times (Led league in 1961 & 1962)
Runs - Three Times
Hits - Five Times
Triples - Five Times (Led league in 1962)
Stolen Bases - 11 Times (Led league in ‘60, ‘61, ‘62, ‘63, ‘64, ‘65)

Maury Wills was an amazing basestealer, but he didn’t do enough of anything else. His double total is pathetic for such a speedy runner. He hit .300 twice and scored 100 runs twice. His style of play did help the Dodger win three World Series titles so I have no problem with him being in the Dodgers Hall of Fame. I can put him in a Basestealing Hall of Fame, but Cooperstown is a nice place for him to visit.

References
Baseball Reference

Past Chronicles
Bert Byleven
Andre Dawson
Dale Murphy
Mark McGwire
Bobby Matthews
Tommy John
Buck O’Neill & Minnie Minoso
Jim Rice
Ted Simmons
Lee Smith
Jack Morris
Al Oliver
Steve Garvey
Jim Kaat
Pete Ro$e
Shoeless Joe Jackson
Dave Concepcion
Lou Whitaker
Alan Trammell
Ron Santo
Ron Guidry
Gil Hodges
Dave Parker
Tony Mullane
Keith Hernandez
Don Mattingly
Dwight Evans
Ralph Houk (Manager)
Jimmie Dykes (Player/Manager)
Charlie Grimm (Player/Manager)
Billy Martin (Player/Manager)
Harold Baines
Gene Mauch (Manager)
Whitey Herzog (Manager)
Tom Kelly (Manager)
Joe Carter
Rusty Staub
Gary Gaetti
Jimmy Ryan
George Van Haltren
Roger Maris
Lance Parrish
Mo Vaughn
Mark Grace
Dennis Martinez
Chuck Finley
Fred McGriff
Wes Parker
Steve Finley
Orlando Cepeda
Albert Belle
Willie Randolph
Graig Nettles
Luis Gonzalez
Lefty O’Doul
Rocky Colavito
Boog Powell
Jerry Koosman
Mike Cuellar
Edgar Martinez
Brooks Robinson
Roberto Alomar
Dave Stieb
John Franco