By JT 
Jim Busby (l) and Johnny Logan (r)
Using Sean Smith's Defensive WAR and Rtot, Michael Humphrey's DRA, Bill James's FiWS, Pete Palmer's FR, Clay Davenport's FRAA, Tom Thress' net fielding wins and other indicators, I've awarded "Virtual" Gold Gloves to the most deserving players.
1953 Virtual Gold Gloves
NL
C-Del Crandall, (next Wes Westrum), then Roy Campanella1B-Gil Hodges, Bilko
2B- Red Schoendienst; Hamner
SS- Johnny Logan and Roy McMillan a close, super-tight race
3B-Eddie Matthews, Hank Thompson, O'Connell though not very high in metrics
OF-Richie Ashburn, Bill Bruton, Monte Irvin
AL
C-Sammy White, Yogi Berra, Loller1B-Fain, Dropo, Mickey Vernon
2B-Bobby Avila and next is Twilliger and Nellie Fox
SS-Hunter, Strickland; Carrasquel,
3B- Al Rosen, Gil McDougald, Boone
OF- Jim Busby, Jimmy Piersall, Minnie Minoso, and then Tom Umphlett,
Platinum Gloves AL - Busby; NL - Logan
Perhaps someone else can re-evaluate the NL shortstop stats... hard to know who was really number one.
Agree or disagree? Let me know. In fact, I'd love someone better to do this.
I like to look at road fielding splits (available at retrosheet) to see if a players fielding stats are unduly helped or harmed by his home park, which does happen more than most people think.
ReplyDeleteTurns out that McMillan had a 5.45 RF/9 at home and a 5.22 on the road. Not too extreme. Logan meanwhile had a 4.86 RF/9 at home and a surprising 5.60 in road parks.
My vote would go to Logan, based on how much his fielding stats were depressed by his home ballpark.
Interesting---good info
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