MLB Number 50s

Okay, now it is time to put our knowledge to work and pick the greatest players that wore number 50 in MLB history based on performance stats. We do not have all of the players from some of the Negro Leagues in place yet but when we do we will certainly update the list so please excuse us on this. The criteria is simple we pulled stats from Baseball-Reference and Stat-Head on some important numbers. Is the player in the Hall of Fame? What were the Wins After Replacement or the team victories gained or lost after they entered the lineup versus the player they replaced? Where do they rank in the following categories in history: Home Runs, Runs Produced, Strike Outs, ERA. We mash this information up and see how many of the criteria rankings they have and then multiply that number (0-6) times the number of years they wore the particular uniform number we are discussing and then add it to bonus points if in the Hall of Fame and for earning any Gold Glove Awards and/or Cy Young Awards. We call that calculated number our Ranked Formula and use it as a basis of Comparison to give you the Top Fifteen at the uniform number. 

1. Adam Wainwright
2. Chris Carpenter
3. Jamie Moyer
4. Chris Chambliss
5. Mike Marshall
6. Mookie Betts
7. Pete Vuckovich
8. Sid Fernandez
9. LaMarr Hoyt
10. John Candelaria
11. Claude Osteen
12. J.R. Richard
13. Dave Concepcion
14. John Danks
15. Jose Bautista

The stats may not be placing this group in order of importance but what it does do is identify the top 25

Here are our stats and findings:

The picture in the banner above is from the Wikipedia Commons photo collection of the Public Domain of a cropped installment of 1920 batting helment concept- A concept drawing of a batting helmet in 1920. Ray Chapman had been struck in the head and killed by a pitch from Carl Mays on August 16, 1920. Following that incident, there were calls for baseball players to wear protective headgear.

Special thanks to Baseball-Reference.com, Stathead.com and the most wonderful book by Larry Lester and Wayne Stivers, The Negro Leagues Book, Volume 2.