We all have one beloved underdog.
Before we get into the theme of today’s post, I know I’m going to catch flak for using the term “bad” here. So, as a caveat to that phrasing, please know that I am aware for any player to reach and stay at the major league level, they are in an elite class of skilled athletes. They are very, very good at baseball.
That said, there are players who stick around, sometimes for only one season (I’ll never forget you, Quintin Berry), and guys who make it a lot longer (ahem, Don Kelly), who are not superstars. They are beloved by fans because of their quirks, or because of a few clutch moments, or simply for being the most reliable utility players on the bench.
These are not superstars. They are not going to sell a ton of jerseys (I, admittedly, do own a Mikie Mahtook shirsey from Players’ Weekend and I regret nothing). Yet, despite having career batting averages around .230 and a sub-1.0 WAR, we still love them.
So in our open thread today, we want to know who your favorite “bad” player is. Or perhaps, to phrase it differently: “Which player do you love, despite their less-than-memorable stats?” And what made them so memorable to you?