A good debate: Is Cal Ripken Jr overrated? Some think so

[Chubz]

I hear a good debate a few weeks ago on sports talk radio. A lot of people say Jeter is overrated, but could Ripken actually be the most overrated?

SEASON	TEAM	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
1981	Bal	23	39	1	5	0	0	0	0	1	8	0	0	.128	.150	.128	.278
1982	Bal	160	598	90	158	32	5	28	93	46	95	3	3	.264	.317	.475	.792
1983	Bal	162	663	121	211	47	2	27	102	58	97	0	4	.318	.371	.517	.888
1984	Bal	162	641	103	195	37	7	27	86	71	89	2	1	.304	.374	.510	.884
1985	Bal	161	642	116	181	32	5	26	110	67	68	2	3	.282	.347	.469	.816
1986	Bal	162	627	98	177	35	1	25	81	70	60	4	2	.282	.355	.461	.816
1987	Bal	162	624	97	157	28	3	27	98	81	77	3	5	.252	.333	.436	.769
1988	Bal	161	575	87	152	25	1	23	81	102	69	2	2	.264	.372	.431	.803
1989	Bal	162	646	80	166	30	0	21	93	57	72	3	2	.257	.317	.401	.718
1990	Bal	161	600	78	150	28	4	21	84	82	66	3	1	.250	.341	.415	.756
1991	Bal	162	650	99	210	46	5	34	114	53	46	6	1	.323	.374	.566	.940
1992	Bal	162	637	73	160	29	1	14	72	64	50	4	3	.251	.323	.366	.689
1993	Bal	162	641	87	165	26	3	24	90	65	58	1	4	.257	.329	.420	.749
1994	Bal	112	444	71	140	19	3	13	75	32	41	1	0	.315	.364	.459	.823
1995	Bal	144	550	71	144	33	2	17	88	52	59	0	1	.262	.324	.422	.746
1996	Bal	163	640	94	178	40	1	26	102	59	78	1	2	.278	.341	.466	.807
1997	Bal	162	615	79	166	30	0	17	84	56	73	1	0	.270	.331	.402	.733
1998	Bal	161	601	65	163	27	1	14	61	51	68	0	2	.271	.331	.389	.720
1999	Bal	86	332	51	113	27	0	18	57	13	31	0	1	.340	.368	.584	.952
2000	Bal	83	309	43	79	16	0	15	56	23	37	0	0	.256	.310	.453	.763
2001	Bal	128	477	43	114	16	0	14	68	26	63	0	2	.239	.276	.361	.637
Total	--	3001	11551	1647	3184	603	44	431	1695	1129	1305	36	39	.276	.340	.447	.787

Seasonal Averages (per 162 games played)
YEARS	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
18.52	162	624	89	172	33	2	23	91	61	70	2	2	.276	.340	.447	.787

He did have over 3000 hits, and over 400hrs. He did play in the most consecutive games and played 20 seasons. What is everyones take on this? I dont think he was a great player like some say. He was an average hitter by todays standards. He was exceptional in the field during his prime as well. I think im on the fence on hom being overrated

[cruzg24]

I think Cal was a pretty good player. Idk if he was overrated or not, but he played great defense and always came to work. I dont think I can go right out and say he was overrated.

[jstchilln120]

Good, consistent player, but terribly overrated.

[D Day]

He was a mediocre player at the plate who excelled in the field and showed up to the stadium every night. He's not one of the top 10 players ever or anything like that, but if I was putting together a team of 25 players, he would more than likely make my roster. That's not even saying that he was one of the top 25 players ever to play, hell, not even one of the 25 best position players ever, but there is something to say about a guy who plays year after year, is extremely consistent and you know isn't going to make an excuse about why he can't make it out onto the field today. He's playing.

PS. I think the recently passed steroid era and the diluting of pitching because of expansion also play a factor in people not seeing his batting as good as it possibly was. The last 15 or so years of baseball have really changed the way that we look at players at the plate, whether that be for the better or for worse.

[Kristen]

I'm getting sick of all his endorsements.

[Viking]

His hitting stats won't jump out at you, but his fielding was good and he was Mr. Reliable. 3000 hits, over 400 HR's in 20 seasons, not overrated but very consistant. I think he deserves the attention.

[D Day]

Originally Posted by Kristen

I'm getting sick of all his endorsements.

Well unfortunately for you he is one of the most easily liked and well known faces in baseball and he was credited in large part for bringing back baseball after the strike and many fans had abandoned the game.

That and the fact that the 2 other people credited with bringing back the game and deeply rooting in the center of the steroid era and their names and stats have been completely tarnished.

[cruzg24]

That and the fact that the 2 other people credited with bringing back the game and deeply rooting in the center of the steroid era and their names and stats have been completely tarnished.

Is anything more true than that..... I think not.

[newten]

Originally Posted by jstchilln120

Good, consistent player, but terribly overrated.

True but it might be that the standards he played by during the times he played helped to raise the bar for the players we have now. I am sure a good but of the hype is that he was one so many took too almost instantly....

[D Day]

Originally Posted by newten

True but it might be that the standards he played by during the times he played helped to raise the bar for the players we have now.

Thats also true. By todays standards, Ozzie Smith was also overrated.