Hall of Stats

Dwight Evans

Position

Right Fielder

Years

1972-1991

Hall Rating

122

Hall of Stats

Inductee

Peak

52%

Longevity

48%

It’s not that Dwight Evans was a unique hitter. His 352.5 (Baseball-Reference) WAR Batting Runs have been matched by 89 other players. His fielding skills weren’t very unique, either. 194 players have more WAR Fielding Runs than Evans’ 66.3. But only 18 players in the history of the game have surpassed him in both categories.

Bill James referred to this combination of skills when he wrote an Open Letter to the Hall of Fame about Dwight Evans. He touched upon other reasons the Sox right fielder has been overlooked—such as his low batting average (with high OBPs), his defensive value (which is still hard for many voters to wrap their heads around), and the fact that his best offensive seasons came in his 30s (when his reputation was already established). You can add that his best season was actually a strike-shortened one. In 1981, Evans led the league (or tied) in homers, walks, total bases, and OPS. His legacy might be a bit different if he had another season with MVP-caliber numbers.

Articles Mentioning Dwight Evans

• Personal Hall of Fame, Part 1: Time to Commit • Feb 14, 2013
• 50 Best Players Not in the Hall of Fame—and the 8 Best Not in the Hall of Stats • Jan 14, 2013
• Vote: 50 Best Players Not in the Hall of Fame • Dec 2, 2012

Rankings by Hall Rating

• 146th All Time (Top 0.8%)
• 14th among Right Fielders
• 125th among Hall of Stats

Franchise Contributions by Hall Rating

• BOS 122 (6th)
• BAL 0 (620th)

Career Statistics