MLB Power Rankings: The Most Underrated Player In Each MLB Franchise's History

This offseason, one of the most underrated players in recent memory, Adrian Gonzalez, finally made it out of the shadows of San Diego and will take his impressive power to one of the biggest markets in baseball in Boston, somewhere he may finally get the recognition he deserves.

Through baseball history there have been a number of great players that were not properly appreciated, and many of those players are consistently argued for enshrinement into the Hall of Fame, an honor bestowed on a select few.

So I have named what I feel is the most underrated player in the history of each MLB franchise, 30 players who deserved better during their time in the league.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Steve Finley

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MILWAUKEE, WI - APRIL 22: Center fielder Steve Finley #12 of the Arizona Diamondbacks readies for a pitch during a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on April 22, 2004 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Diamondbacks defeated the Brewers 11-9 in

Years With Team: 1999-2004

Career Stats
BA: .271
OBP: .332
SLG: .442
H: 2,548
HR: 304
RBI: 1,167
R: 1,443

Finley took a while to get his career rolling, as he really didn't breakout until he got to the Padres in 1996 at the age of 31. However, once he broke out he did it in a big way, averaging .274 BA, 26 HR, 87 RBI from 1996-2004, while also playing stellar defense and winning a number of Gold Gloves.

Finley was a complete player and one who played well into his late 30s. He was at his best during his time with Diamondbacks. While his accomplishments may have been overshadowed on the team by Luis Gonzalez as well as Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling, Finley was integral in the Diamondbacks success and largely overlooked.

Atlanta Braves: Wally Berger

Years With Team: 1930-1937

Career Stats
BA: .300
OBP: .359
SLG: .522
H: 1,550
HR: 242
RBI: 898
R: 809

Berger burst onto the scene with one of the best rookie seasons in baseball history in 1930, posting a line of .310 BA, 38 HR, 119 RBI as a 24-year old rookie. He went on to average .305 BA, 28 HR, 103 RBI over the first seven seasons of his career, as he was one of the best power hitters of the 1930s.

However, a shoulder injury in 1936 led to his trade when he struggled to open the 1937 season, and he never again approached his prime numbers, retiring at the age of 34 following the 1940 season. So while his career was cut short and his career numbers may not reflect it, for a time Berger was among the best hitters in all of baseball.

Baltimore Orioles: Ken Singleton

Years With The Team: 1975-1984

Career Stats
BA: .282
OBP: .388
SLG: .436
H: 2,029
HR: 246
RBI: 1,065
R: 985

Singleton made a consistent impact in the middle of the Orioles lineup for the better part of a decade after coming over from the Expos in the trade that sent pitcher Dave McNally out of town,

Singleton averaged a line of ,284 BA, 18 HR, 77 RBI during his time in Baltimore, and his best season came in 1979 when he hit .295 while posting career highs with 35 HR and 111 RBI. He helped lead the Orioles to the World Series that season.

Boston Red Sox: Luis Tiant

Years With Team: 1971-1978

Career Stats
Wins: 229
Losses: 172
ERA: 3.30
ERA+: 115
WHIP: 1.199
Ks: 2,416

Tiant often gets overlooked, largely because of the era in which he pitched, as the 1970s truly were the golden age of pitching. However, his quirky delivery netted him an impressive 142 wins during the 1970s alone.

With four 20-win seasons to his credit and a pair of ERA titles in which he posted a sterling 1.60 ERA and 1.91 ERA, Tiant was dominant when he was at his best. Had it not been for a terrible three-year stretch from 1969-1971 in which he went just 17-30 with an ERA of nearly 4.00, he would almost certainly be a Hall of Famer.

Chicago Cubs: Ron Santo

Years With Team: 1960-1973

Career Stats
BA: .277
OBP: .362
SLG: ..464
H: 2,254
HR: 342
RBI: 1,331
R: 1,138

Santo has been consistently overlooked by the Hall of Fame committee through the years, and a case can be made that he is the best eligible player not currently enshrined. While he is a legend in the city of Chicago, he is largely underrated by the rest of the baseball world.

For his career, Santo ranks in the top 10 among third baseman in hits, home runs and RBI. He was also a great defender, winning five straight Gold Glove Awards as well. Overall, Santo was a consistent middle-of-the-order producer, and he is one of the most underrated and undervalued players in baseball history.

Chicago White Sox: Billy Pierce

Years With Team: 1949-1961

Career Stats
Wins: 211
Losses: 169
ERA: 3.27
ERA+: 119
WHIP: 1.260
Ks: 1,999

Pierce was a central figure in the White Sox rivalry with the Yankees during the 1950s, as he and Whitey Ford were arguably the two best left-handed pitchers of the decade and faced each other consistently.

While Ford gets the bulk of the attention, Pierce was not without his own accolades, as he was named the AL Pitcher of the Year by the Sporting News in 1956 and 1957. In total, he won double-digit games 11 times in the span of 12 seasons, and the seven-time All-Star is one of the most underrated pitchers in baseball history.

Cincinnati Reds: Vada Pinson

Years With Team: 1958-1968

Career Stats
BA: .286
OBP: .327
SLG: .442
H: 2,757
HR: 256
RBI: 1,170
R: 1,366
SB: 305

Pinson was an ultra-athletic player whose combination of power and speed made him made him one of the most exciting players of the 1960s, and one of the best players in Reds history. In 18 big league seasons, he put together a fantastic but often overlooked career.

He broke into the league as a 20-year-old rookie in 1959, making the All-Star team and hitting .316 BA, 20 HR, 84 RBI, 21 SB while leading the NL in doubles (47) and runs (131). From there he posted seven seasons with at least 20 HR and nine with at least 20 SB. In the end, his career numbers reflected those of a player who was good at a lot of different things but great at none, but still a career worth recognizing.

Cleveland Indians: Omar Vizquel

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CLEVELAND - MAY 27: Shortstop Omar Vizquel #13 of the Cleveland Indians waits for the pitch during the MLB game against the Detroit Tigers at Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio on May 27, 2002. The Tigers defeated the Indians 4-1. (Photo by Matthew Stockman

Years With Team: 1994-2004

Career Stats
BA: .273
OBP: .338
SLG: .354
H: 2,799
HR: 80
RBI: 936
R: 1,414
SB: 400

There is little question that Ozzie Smith is the best defensive shortstop in baseball history, but that would make Vizquel number 1A. He won nine straight Gold Gloves during the 1990s and had an impressive .985 career fielding percentage.

Aside from the defense, however, Vizquel is an above average hitter as well, thriving in the Indians potent lineup and helping set the table along with speedster Kenny Lofton. Still in the league and coming off of a decent offensive season at the age of 43, he has an outside shot at 3,000 hits. Regardless, he should be a first ballot Hall of Famer and he should get the respect he deserves.

Colorado Rockies: Dante Bichette

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22 Jul 1999: Dante Bichette #10 of the Colorado Rockies stretches his arms as he warms up during the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The Rockies defeated the Dodgers 4-1.

Years With Team: 1993-1999

Career Stats
BA: .299
OBP: .336
SLG: .499
H: 1,906
HR: 274
RBI: 1,141
R: 934

While the fact that he was playing in Coors Field certainly had some influence on his numbers, it is hard to argue with the stats that Bichette put up in his seven seasons in Colorado, as he averaged a line of .316 BA, 29 HR, 118 RBI while hitting in baseball's most potent lineup.

However, despite his offensive prowess, he was largely overlooked during his time with the Rockies, as guys like Larry Walker, Andres Galarraga, Vinny Castilla, and Ellis Burks stole at least a good amount of the spotlight. Still, as his .340 BA, 40 HR, 128 RBI season in 1995 showed, he was capable of carrying an offense, and he still managed to be underrated.

Detroit Tigers: Norm Cash

Years With Team: 1960-1974

Career Stats
BA: .271
OBP: .374
SLG: .488
H: 1,820
HR: 377
RBI: 1,103
R: 1,046

Cash did not become a full-time player until the age of 26, or he could have made a legitimate run at 500 home runs. But he still put up great career numbers as one of the most feared sluggers of the 1960s, and while Roger Maris stole the show in 1961, Cash had a monster season in his own right.

With a line of .361 BA, 41 HR, 132 RBI en route to winning a batting title, Cash officially announced his place among the American League's top hitters, and he went on to hit 20 or more home runs in nine of the next 11 seasons. His 278 long balls during the 1960s were the seventh most during that span.

Florida Marlins: Ivan Rodriguez

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MIAMI - OCTOBER 4: Catcher Pudge Rodriguez #7 of the Florida Marlins connects with a San Francisco Giants pitch during the National League Division Series at Pro Player Stadium on October 4, 2003 in Miami, Florida. Marlins defeated the Giants 7-6. (Pho

Years With Team: 2003

Career Stats
BA: .298
OBP: .334
SLG: .466
H: 2,817
HR: 309
RBI: 1,313
R: 1,340

To clarify, this is not to say that Rodriguez has been underrated during his career, but instead that his Marlins career will be largely underrated in the eyes of history once his great career is over.

During his one year in Florida, Rodriguez became the emotional leader of the team and put up fantastic numbers of .297 BA, 16 HR, 85 RBI, 90 runs. He was even better in the playoffs, taking home the NLCS MVP with a .321 BA, 2 HR, 10 RBI during the thrilling seven game series with the Cubs. So while his career may not be underrated, his time in Florida is largely overlooked.

Houston Astros: Cesar Cedeno

Years With Team: 1970-1981

Career Stats
BA: .285
OBP: .347
SLG: .443
H: 2,087
HR: 199
RBI: 976
R: 1,084
SB: 550

Cedeno burst onto the scene as a 19-year-old rookie in 1970, hitting .310 BA, 7 HR, 42 RBI, 17 SB, and he improved on those numbers quickly. From 1972-1974, he averaged .302 BA, 24 HR, 85 RBI, 56 SB per year.

A consistent source of both power and speed during his time in Houston, Cedeno ended his career 26th on the all-time stolen base list, and he goes down as one of the most exciting players of the 1970s and one of the best outfielders in Astros history.

Kansas City Royals: Dennis Leonard

Years With Team: 1974-1983, 1985-1986

Career Stats
Wins: 144
Losses: 106
ERA: 3.70
ERA+: 107
WHIP: 1.262
Ks: 1,323

While his career was a relatively short one, Leonard was among the best pitchers in all of baseball during the late 1970s and early 1980s. He only spent eight seasons as a full-time member of the Royals rotation, but during those eight seasons, he averaged 16 wins per season.

A winner of 20 or more games three times, including an AL-best 20 in 1977, Leonard was a workhorse, as he led the league in starts three times. He is often forgotten among all of the other great pitchers of the 1970s, but he was a force during his prime, and one of the Royals best pitchers ever.

Los Angeles Angels: Bobby Grich

Years With Team: 1977-1986

Career Stats
BA: .266
OBP: .371
SLG: .424
H: 1,833
HR: 224
RBI: 864
R: 1,033

In an era when second base was a position primarily played by light hitting, smooth-fielding slap hitters, Grich was a middle of the order run producer while still filling the role of slick fielder.

In total, Grich topped the double-digit home run mark an impressive 12 times, leading the AL during the strike shortened 1981 season with 22 long balls in just 352 at bats. Although he did not have the numbers of his contemporary Hall of Famers such as Joe Morgan and Rod Carew, he was still a great second baseman and one who is often overlooked.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Gil Hodges

Years With Team: 1943, 1947-1961

Career Stats
BA: .273
SLG: .359
OBP: .487
H: 1,921
HR: 370
RBI: 1,274
R: 1,105

Buried on a roster that featured future Hall of Famers Roy Campanella, Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese, Duke Snider, Sandy Koufax, and Don Drysdale, Hodges is often overlooked in the eyes of history, but he was as integral a part of the success of those teams as anyone.

During his prime, Hodges put together seven consecutive 100-RBI seasons, while topping the 30 HR mark six times, and playing above average defense at first base. Hodges is worthy of enshrinement just like his bevy of teammates, and he is the most underrated player in Dodgers history.

Milwaukee Brewers: Geoff Jenkins

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MILWAUKEE - MAY 20: Geoff Jenkins #5 of the Milwaukee Brewers stands ready at bat against the Minnesota Twins on May 20, 2007 at Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Brewers defeated the Twins 6-5. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Years With Team: 1998-2007

Career Stats
BA: .275
OBP: .344
SLG: .490
H: 1,293
HR: 221
RBI: 733
R: 688

Jenkins was quietly one of the more effective run producers of the 2000s, and he is often lost in the shuffle due in large part to playing for some bad Brewers teams. However, with at least 20 HR seven different times and at least 80 RBI five times, he still managed to put up good numbers.

His best season came in 2000, and was a good indication of his poor supporting cast, as he hit .303 with 34 home runs, but only managed 94 RBI while scoring 100 runs. His career ended in Philadelphia, but he should be remembered as the top Brewers player of the 2000s, and an underrated slugger.

Minnesota Twins: Jim Kaat

Years With Team: 1959-1973

Career Stats
Wins: 283
Losses: 237
ERA: 3.45
ERA+: 108
WHIP: 1.259
Ks: 2,461

Kaat was the 1960s and 1970s version of Jamie Moyer, as he pitched into his mid-40s over the span of 25 seasons. For his career, Kaat made a total of 898 appearances and 625 starts, as he made the 17th most starts in baseball history.

During his career, Kaat won 14 or more games an impressive 11 times, including three seasons of 20 or more wins. More impressively, perhaps, was the fact that he went eight seasons between his first and second 20-win season. Aside from his longevity on the mound, he also won a staggering 16 Gold Gloves, as he set the standard defensively at his position.

New York Mets: Edgardo Alfonzo

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

19 Jul 2001: Edgardo Alfonzo #13 of the New York Mets at bat during the game against the Florida Marlins at Shea Stadium in Flushing, New York. The Marlins defeated the Mets 8-3.Mandatory Credit: Ezra Shaw /Allsport

Years With Team: 1995-2002

Career Stats
BA: .284
OBP: .357
SLG: .425
H: 1,532
HR: 146
RBI: 744
R: 777

On a Mets teams that featured a bevy of big-name players like Mike Piazza, Robin Ventura, Mike Hampton and Al Leiter. Much of the time Alfonzo was overlooked, but he was possibly the best offensive second baseman in the NL outside of Craig Biggio during the 1990s.

For eight straight seasons from 1997-2004, he tallied double-digit home runs, while also hitting over .300 four different times, and from 1999-2000 he averaged a .313 BA, 26 HR, 101 RBI line, as he was a force in the middle of a good Mets lineup.

New York Yankees: Roger Maris

Years With Team: 1960-1966

Career Stats
BA: .260
OBP: .345
SLG: .476
H: 1,325
HR: 275
RBI: 850
R: 826

Maris was the home-run king for 27 years until his throne was taken by Mark McGwire, and he played in a city that scrutinizes over its baseball, winning back-to-back MVP awards in his first two seasons with the team, and yet...he is largely overlooked.

Even during his playing days, he was buried in the shadow of Mickey Mantle, who not only the city of New York, but the entire baseball world, was in love with. His three-season stretch from 1960-1962 is among the best three-year stretches in all of baseball, as he hit 133 HR with 353 RBI. All in all, Maris was under appreciated in his playing days, and he still is today.

Oakland Athletics: Gene Tenace

Years With Team: 1969-1976

Career Stats
BA: .241
OBP: .388
SLG: .429
H: 1,060
HR: 201
RBI: 674
R: 653

Tenace is often overlooked due to his consistently poor batting averages, as he never hit over .270 in any full season and hit under .240 on a number of occasions. However, that often clouds the fact that he was actually a solid hitter with a great batting eye.

With a career OBP a whole .147 higher than his career batting average, Tenace had a knack for drawing walks, and also displayed above average power. He recorded over 100 walks six different times, and despite his poor averages, deserves far more recognition than he receives.

Philadelphia Phillies: Dick Allen

Years With Team: 1963-1969, 1975-1976

Career Stats
BA: .292
OBP: .378
SLG: .534
H: 1,848
HR: 351
RBI: 1,119
R: 1,099

Allen, despite being one of the more controversial players in baseball history, was also one of the most feared sluggers of the 1960s and early-1970s. He hit at least 20 HR in nine straight seasons from 1964-1972, as he was a consistent performer.

He burst onto the scene in 1964 as NL Rookie of the Year, putting together one of the best rookie seasons of all-time with a line of .318 BA, 29 HR, 91 RBI while leading the league with 125 runs and 13 triples. He took home more hardware in 1972, leading the AL with 37 HR, 113 RBI, 99 BB, .420 OBP, and .603 SLG as he won AL MVP in his first season with the White Sox.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Babe Adams

Years With Team: 1912-1924

Career Stats
Wins: 194
Losses: 140
ERA: 2.76
ERA+: 118
WHIP: 1.092
Ks: 1,036

This one was a tough choice, as it came down to a pair of starting pitchers who were also teammates in Adams and Wilbur Cooper. While Cooper is the Pirates leader in career wins, Adams won some huge games with the team and also had better secondary numbers.

Despite not joining the rotation full time until the age of 27, Adams still managed to win the second most games in team history. However, he is best remembered for the 1909 World Series, when he pitched three complete games, winning all three and giving up just four earned runs over the three starts, as the Pirates took home the title.

San Diego Padres: Adrian Gonzalez

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SAN FRANCISCO - MAY 13: Adrian Gonzalez #23 of the San Diego Padres bats against the San Francisco Giants during an MLB game at AT&T Park on May 13, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Years With Team: 2006-2010

Career Stats
BA: .284
OBP: .368
SLG: .507
H: 900
HR: 168
RBI: 525
R: 488

Chances are, Gonzalez will finally get the recognition he deserves now that he has made his way to the significantly larger market that is the Red Sox. However, for the past several seasons, he has been far and away the most underrated player in all of baseball.

While he does strike out a little more than you would like, he has fantastic power and he draws plenty of walks. His biggest downfall was the players around him in the Padres lineup, evidenced by the fact that he launched a career high 40 HR in 2009 but drove in under 100 runs. He should take the next step towards being a star in 2011, but up to this point, he has been very underrated.

San Francisco Giants: Darrell Evans

Years With Team: 1976-1983

Career Stats
BA: .248
OBP: .361
SLG: .431
H: 2,223
HR: 414
RBI: 1,354
R: 1,344

Largely overshadowed throughout his career by Mike Schmidt at third base, Evans received a mere eight votes for Hall of Fame induction his only time on the ballot, despite his 414 career home runs, which puts him at 44th all-time.

Many baseball people have trouble moving past his .248 career average, but he more than made up for that with a great eye, tallying 1,605 walks in his career, 12th most all-time. His .361 OBP is respectable. These oversights led baseball historian Bill James to name Evans the most underrated player in baseball history.

Seattle Mariners: Edgar Martinez

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

SEATTLE - APRIL 8: Designated hitter Edgar Martinez #11 of the Seattle Mariners at bat during the game against the Anaheim Angels on April 8 2004 at Safeco Field in Seattle, Washington. The Angels won 5-1. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Years With Team: 1987-2004

Career Stats
BA: .312
OBP: .418
SLG: .515
H: 2,247
HR: 309
RBI: 1,261
R: 1,219

Martinez will always have to answer to the fact that he spent the majority of his career as a designated hitter, but despite the fact that he did not play in the field, his offensive numbers should speak for themselves.

While he lacks the classic Hall of Fame standards of 500 HR or 3,000 hits, he is one of only eight players in baseball history to post a career .300 BA, .400 OBP, and .500 SLG. His .418 career on base percentage puts him at 22nd on the all-time list, and that in itself should be enough to overlook the lack of milestones.

St. Louis Cardinals: Ted Simmons

Years With Team: 1968-1980

Career Stats
BA: .285
OBP: .348
SLG: .437
H: 2,472
HR: 248
RBI: 1,389
R: 1,074

Simmons is one of the best offensive catchers in baseball history, and a strong case can be made for his inclusion in the Hall of Fame. He was as consistent as they come with double-digit home runs 12 different times and over 75 RBI in 13 different seasons.

As for his place in history, he had a better batting average than Bench and Fisk, more home runs than Campanella and Hartnett, and more RBI than every Hall of Fame catcher other than Berra. All in all, worthy of enshrinement.

Tampa Bay Rays: Aubrey Huff

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SEATTLE, WA- JULY 13: Infielder Aubrey Huff #19 of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays keeps an eye on the ball as he moves to first base against the Seattle Mariners during the game on July 13, 2003 at Safeco Field in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners defeated the

Years With Team: 2000-2006

Career Stats
BA: .283
OBP: .345
SLG: .476
H: 1,556
HR: 229
RBI: 838
R: 754

Huff made a name for himself last season as the cleanup hitter on the World Series-winning Giants team. However, he has been one of the game's more underrated run producers for some time now, and he was the first really good homegrown player the Rays had.

After bouncing between the majors and minors, Huff finally stuck after a call-up in 2002, as he hit .313 BA, 23 HR, 59 RBI in just 454 at bats. Over the next three seasons, he averaged a .290 BA, 28 HR, 101 RBI line, before being dealt midway through the 2006 season for a young Ben Zobrist. While his time in Tampa was brief, he deserved more recognition while he was there.

Texas Rangers: Rusty Greer

Rick Stewart/Getty Images

2 Mar 1998: Rusty Greer #29 of the Texas Rangers in action during a spring training game against the Detroit Tigers at the Joker Merchant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida. The Tigers defeated the Rangers 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewart /Allsport

Years With Team: 1994-2002

Career Stats
BA: .305
OBP: .387
SLG: .478
H: 1,166
HR: 119
RBI: 614
R: 643

Greer had a short career in the majors, playing just six full seasons, and he became a fan favorite for being a hard-working player who did a little bit of everything. He was an underrated run producer in the middle of a potent Rangers lineup.

From 1996-1999, the prime seasons of his career, Greer averaged .315 BA, 20 HR, 99 RBI, hitting over .300 each season and driving in over 100 runs three times. However, due to his aggressive play, he suffered a number of injuries, and they caught up with him quick, as a rotator cuff injury resulted in eventual Tommy John surgery, and his career was done.

Toronto Blue Jays: Dave Stieb

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1990: Pitcher Dave Stieb of the Toronto Blue Jays throws a pitch during a game. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allsport

Years With Team: 1979-1992, 1998

Career Stats
Wins: 176
Losses: 137
ERA: 3.44
ERA+: 123
WHIP: 1.245
Ks: 1,669

Stieb was as consistent as they come, and his 140 wins during the 1980s are second only to Jack Morris. He won double-digit games in all but one season during the decade, topping the 15-win mark five times in the process.

He is the winningest pitcher in Blue Jays history, and his 123 ERA-plus puts him in the top 100 all-time. The fact that he was out of baseball for four seasons before returning to the Blue Jays for one last season at the age of 40 was impressive in itself.

Washington Nationals: Tim Raines

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Outfielder Tim Raines of the Montreal Expos drops his bat and prepares to run.

Years With Team: 1979-1990, 2001

Career Stats
BA: .294
OBP: .385
SLG: .425
H: 2,605
HR: 170
RBI: 980
R: 1,571
SB: 808

A legitimate argument can be made that, after Rickey Henderson, Raines is the best leadoff hitter in baseball history. When he first entered the league, there were few players in the league that were more exciting to watch than Raines.

As a 21-year-old rookie, he stole 71 bases in just 88 games, beginning a string of six straight seasons in which he tallied at least 70 thefts. Later in his career, he would also take home a batting title, and he hit over .300 seven different times in his career. And yet he still is not a Hall of Famer, something that will hopefully be rectified soon.