History Comp - Harmon Killebrew vs Willie McCovey

[StanMarsh51]

Killebrew:
.256 AVG, 143 OPS+, 573 HR, 1584 RBI, 2086 H, 71.3 WAR
Harmon Killebrew Statistics and History - Baseball-Reference.com

McCovey
.270 AVG, 147 OPS+, 521 HR, 1555 RBI, 2211 H, 71.6 WAR
Willie McCovey Statistics and History - Baseball-Reference.com

 

[MilkSpiller22]

I would say willie mccovey... it seems like they nearly have identical career numbers... But it looks like McCovey's best seasons were better than killebrews... and since the end career is so close i have to go entirely with who was better at their best...

 

[Wazmankg]

Flip a coin. I went with McCovey.

 

[broncosmitty]

What's the word on their defensive comparisons? Both were done before I was around. Can't say I can see a distinct advantage for one over the other on offense.

 

[MilkSpiller22]

What's the word on their defensive comparisons? Both were done before I was around. Can't say I can see a distinct advantage for one over the other on offense.

according to defensive war(the only way i know of to measure defense)

McCovey was around -22
Killebrew was around -18

So both were bad and neither was significantly better than the other, so i did not use it as a factor...

 

[broncosmitty]

So Killebrew doesn't earn any bump for playing some third?

 

[MilkSpiller22]

So Killebrew doesn't earn any bump for playing some third?

That is a much deeper conversation... and an answer that i have no clue how to answer... At the end of the day though dont you have to be good defensively for it to matter??

Again, not much of a difference between -21.8 and -18.8... Dont think position should be taken into account unless we were talking about a significant position difference like SS-1B or C-1B...

 

[broncosmitty]

I could give a guy credit for manning a spot during a championship run.(fill in, moving to keep their bat in the order, etc.) Even if manning that spot at a so-so clip. But neither of these guys won championships. (I don't value defensive numbers)

 

[obxyankeefan]

To close to call so I went with Killebrew. Only reason was53 more homets in 134 more PAs.

 

[Brahmsian]

I didn't watch either much but would give McCovey the edge on defense

Defensive stats in almost every sport are less reliable than offensive ones.

 

[jalopy]

I went with Killibrew and I don't think it is that close. His AVG was low but his OBP was slightly higher. More HR and led the league 6 times. Hard to believe a team with McCovey and Mays only made it to the WS once.

 

[Nosferatu]

I'm going with Killer because i'm a homer! But seriously it's real close. One thing that stood out a little for me was Killer hit 40+ home runs eight times McCovey did it twice. I am a homer but I wouldn't blame anyone for taking Willie their numbers are so close in nearly everything...

 

[MilkSpiller22]

I'm going with Killer because i'm a homer! But seriously it's real close. One thing that stood out a little for me was Killer hit 40+ home runs eight times McCovey did it twice. I am a homer but I wouldn't blame anyone for taking Willie their numbers are so close in nearly everything...

I like how you admit you are a homer, while using Homers as the reason that supports your homerism... Nice double Homerism...LOL

 

[navamind]

I like how you admit you are a homer, while using Homers as the reason that supports your homerism... Nice double Homerism...LOL

If only his name was Homer.

 

[MilkSpiller22]

and for you WAR people it is not close because even though their end of career WARs are similar, McCovey significantly beats Killebrew in WAR7 and JAWS...

Killebrew 38.1 WAR7 and 49.2 JAWS

McCovey 44.8 WAR7 and 54.6 JAWS


WAR is not a good Career measure because it doesnt take into account the player at his best...
JAWS is a combination of WAR and WAR7- which i think is a much better measure...

I am not a WAR fan, but i just wanted to share that...

 

[steveringo]

This is awesome.... My first thought - based on reputation - was Killer... Now, looking at thier stats, I am amazed at how similar they career total are (right down to "22 years")...

Upon further review, I am voting for Willie McCovey. As Mike's stated and JAWS illustrates, he had a better peak. From the ten years starting in 1965, he put up a 165 ERA+ (including a 209 in his MVP season!)... Killebrew only had two seasons higher than 165.

Both great careers....

 

[MilkSpiller22]

If only his name was Homer.

This is a funny statement said by someone with a simpsons avatar... Good job!!!

 

[Omar 382]

This is awesome.... My first thought - based on reputation - was Killer... Now, looking at thier stats, I am amazed at how similar they career total are (right down to "22 years")...

Upon further review, I am voting for Willie McCovey. As Mike's stated and JAWS illustrates, he had a better peak. From the ten years starting in 1965, he put up a 165 ERA+ (including a 209 in his MVP season!)... Killebrew only had two seasons higher than 165.

Both great careers....

I think you're mistaken.

 

[Lemon Harang Pie]

and for you WAR people it is not close because even though their end of career WARs are similar, McCovey significantly beats Killebrew in WAR7 and JAWS...

Killebrew 38.1 WAR7 and 49.2 JAWS

McCovey 44.8 WAR7 and 54.6 JAWS


WAR is not a good Career measure because it doesnt take into account the player at his best...
JAWS is a combination of WAR and WAR7- which i think is a much better measure...

I am not a WAR fan, but i just wanted to share that...

I think WAR is a dumb stat but I don't see how WAR7 and JAWS are any better. Peak is certainly important but so is the rest of the career and looking at the best 7 seasons seems awfully arbitrary.

 

[steveringo]

I think you're mistaken.

D'oh!

THAT would put him way ahead of Killebrew!