Here’s one other MLB file that one feels fairly comfy saying won’t ever be damaged: Ernie Banks’ 2,528 video games performed with out ever reaching the postseason. Banks, after all, was unlucky to play nearly his whole profession in an period when solely the league champions made the postseason (which consisted of solely the World Series), in addition to taking part in that whole profession with the then-moribund Chicago Cubs. Due to the expanded playoff format, it’s in all probability honest to say nobody goes to method that mark any time quickly.
The actual measure for a protracted profession developing simply in need of the ultimate degree of anybody’s profession, then, might be going to should be an old school one: Did you ever win a World Series? Last 12 months, we got here up with a reputation for these nice gamers who by no means fairly damaged by way of: The Marinos. These are top-shelf gamers with distinguished careers — perhaps even Hall of Fame careers sometime — who’ve by no means been capable of earn a hoop.
Throughout baseball historical past, there are a variety of these guys. Ted Williams by no means gained one. Neither did Ken Griffey Jr., Ty Cobb, Tony Gwynn, Barry Bonds or Harmon Killebrew. You’d wish to see the all-time greats get a World Series title. Half the enjoyable of the Dodgers’ championship a few years in the past revolved round Clayton Kershaw including that remaining line to his Hall of Fame resume.
Today, we take a look at eight energetic gamers who’ve had the perfect, most storied careers however have but to win a World Series … and, most vital, have an opportunity to take action this 12 months — which is why you gained’t see Mike Trout or Nolan Arenado right here. (And given the Guardians’ current slide, José Ramírez was a late reduce.) We’re additionally limiting this to gamers who’ve performed at the least 10 years within the Majors, to deal with guys who — like Kershaw — would actually really feel like they’re ending a drought.
Any considered one of these eight gamers reaching the World Series would immediately develop into one of many greatest storylines of the Fall Classic. (Players listed so as of profession WAR, in keeping with Baseball Reference.)
Votto is a nationwide treasure in each the United States and his native Canada, and has develop into much more in order his profession has wound down. He is now within the remaining 12 months of that huge contract he signed with the Reds again in 2014 (this assumes the Reds decline his ’24 possibility), and he’s working his approach again off the injured record for a crew that has an opportunity to make the playoffs after a full season for the primary time since 2013. It certain can be one thing to see him end (?) his Reds profession with a World Series, which might be the primary of his 17-year profession. The postseason has by no means been Votto’s showcase time: In 11 profession postseason video games (unfold out between 2010, ’12, ’13 and ’20), he has batted .244 with no extra-base hits. Can you think about the ovation for him in Cincinnati if he takes a plate look this October? Can you think about one within the World Series?
Longoria is actually no stranger to postseason play: His Rookie of the Year season in 2008 ended up within the World Series, the primary ever postseason look for the Tampa Bay franchise. Longoria has solely 4 extra bites of the postseason apple since then, together with 2021 in San Francisco, a season during which he put up Rays-level numbers on the age of 35. He’s 37 now and has put up the bottom batting common of his profession. But it’d be a terrific story to see him taking part in for a championship in his baseball twilight, and a great approach for the best participant in Rays historical past to complete it off.
This is maybe most blatant identify on this record. Harper lastly reached the World Series in his fifth postseason try final 12 months, successful an NLCS MVP with a 1.250 OPS towards the Padres within the course of. Harper’s postseason legacy will all the time be sophisticated, after all, by the truth that the Nationals gained a championship the 12 months after he left. That wasn’t his fault, after all — he was their greatest participant for a number of years main as much as that 12 months, and has gained an MVP since — however it has to nonetheless stick in his craw that he doesn’t have a hoop of his personal. He appears effectively on his approach towards Hall of Fame standing at this level — he has two MVPs and simply hit his three hundredth homer, and he’s famously signed in Philadelphia by way of 2031 — however that plaque certain would look so much sharper with a “World Series champ” line on it.
Speaking of men who’re ever underappreciated, Semien has been improbable from the get-go of his profession and is all the time trying a bit higher in superior metrics than he would possibly in conventional stats. How significantly better? Here’s a enjoyable truth: He’s tied with Aaron Judge for twenty eighth in WAR amongst energetic gamers (per Baseball Reference), and fourth among the many gamers listed right here. He has been completely important for the Rangers this 12 months and, in contrast to his fellow free-agent Rangers infielder Corey Seager … he has by no means gained a World Series earlier than. He has really by no means even reached the LCS.
(Note: You might additionally embody Jacob deGrom, Semien’s teammate, on this record, as he’s in his tenth season. But given how little he has pitched this 12 months — and the truth that he’s out till late subsequent season on the earliest — it doesn’t precisely really feel the identical.)
Realmuto lastly cracked the highest 10 in MVP voting final 12 months, however he’s lengthy been thought-about some of the important gamers in baseball to his groups, and quietly cobbling collectively a profession that can profit, narratively, from the delicate elements we regularly give catchers on the finish of their careers. (He’s nice in what we will measure too, from pop time to profession WAR, the place he’s really first amongst energetic catchers.) If his crew have been to win a World Series, he’d immediately be thought-about one of many main the reason why, and with good trigger. And don’t look now: Despite a considerably “down” 12 months offensively, he has been among the best Phillies hitters of late, selecting up his recreation simply in time.
Yelich won’t have turned out to be the perpetual MVP candidate and franchise participant he seemed like he is perhaps again in 2018-19, however to assail him for what he’s not is to disregard what he’s: An glorious on-base man, a significant velocity risk (he’s doubtless going to set a profession excessive in steals this 12 months), a strong defender and the form of dependable participant that has helped the Brewers make themselves right into a sleeper October contender this 12 months. And for what it’s value, he’s hitting the ball tougher than he has shortly, together with his highest slugging and OPS since that 2019 season. This is his eleventh 12 months within the Majors, and can doubtless be his fourth postseason look. He’ll be the man you see within the all of the pregame promos when the Brewers play.
Say what you’ll about this primary season with the Astros, however this man did win an MVP simply three years in the past and is among the greatest gamers ever to come back from Cuba. Until this 12 months, he’s been a dependable mainstay, and generally fairly a bit much more. He has been coming round a little bit of late, and, once you take a look at this Astros roster, he’s the basically the one man who has not gained a World Series at this level.
Remember when Gray was struggling with the Yankees about throwing all these sliders again within the day? It seems that Gray could have identified what he was doing. He made his third All-Star crew this 12 months and goes to earn himself some Cy Young votes for a crew that, for all of your discuss concerning the AL Central, goes to host a playoff sequence. He’ll be the No. 1 starter after they do.
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