NAME: John Valentin
POSITION: Shortstop, Third Base, Second Base
WHY IS HE HERE? Valentin is the only Major League player to have a three homer game, hit for the cycle and turn an unassisted triple play. He was a Silver Slugger winner at shortstop in 1995 and had a 20/20 season. He led the league in doubles with 47 in 1997. He was one of just a few active players to make it into this set and one of just three still with Boston.
WOULD I PUT HIM IN IN 2001? Maybe? I am a big fan of Valentin, but the notoriety was never really there for him. He did win a Silver Slugger, but was never an All Star. He is one of the most underrated Red Sox players of my lifetime.
ANY BETTER CHOICES IN 2001? Looking at infielders that did not appear in the set, there is Freddy Parent (a star shortstop in the early years of the franchise) and Larry Gardner (Deadball Era third-baseman) from a time period that is underrepresented here. There is also Marty Barrett from the 1980's. Valentin does probably deserve to be here over a couple of others that I will get to soon.
WOULD I PUT HIM IN NOW? I'm still stuck on maybe.
ANY BETTER CHOICES NOW? Valentin's Red Sox career was over after 2001, which was an injury-plagued season, so his numbers did not really improve. Left-side infielders since have included Bill Mueller (batting title and Silver Slugger in 2003), Mike Lowell (World Series MVP in 2007), Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers.
He was one of those guys advanced stats would have loved. Between 1993-1998 he averaged 5.1 WAR, and his 8.3 WAR in 1995 was second only to Randy Johnson.
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