Hazen Shirtly "Kiki" Cuyler (now THATS A HoF name)
Bats Right, Throws Right, Runs like lightning
1921-1938
.321 Career Average
.386 Career OBP
.474 Slugging %
Before Paul Waner hit town, there was the mercurial Hazen Shirley "Kiki" Cuyler. The Pirates were his team, and a fearsome team it was.
Except for the home run ball, this team -- in the image of Cuyler, its biggest star -- did it all.(the Pirates were even fifth in the league in homers, with only Cuyler and shortstop Glenn Wright in double figures at 18 apiece, but homers were rare; Gabby Hartnett was second in the league with 24).
"At his best, Cuyler was a major impact player, Ichiro with twice the power. " (link below)
2nd to Hornsby in MVP once, top 10 two times
Top 50 ALL TIME batting average
4 Time Stolen Base Leader, top 2 Seven Times
Three Time Power Speed Leader!
3 Time Leader Times on Base
2 Time Runs leader, 4 Times top 5
3 Time top two in doubles (Led Once)
4 Time top four in triples (Led Once)
5 Time top ten in RBI
I need a leadoff hitter. Ideally, a righter, to go R/L with Nellie Fox, however that was not most important. What was important:
Get on base.
Hit for VERY high average
Have speed - less for stealing, although I needed someone to steal on occasion, but more to get on base and then score when Griffey, Mize, Arod etc. come up to bat.
Extra base hits - often a leadoff guy will come up to the plate, two outs, man on second (#7 or 8 hitter get on base, pitcher bunts over). To have some pop at leadoff gives you the chance to score that run.
Known for playing with reckless abandon (when motiavated) - ran into numerous outfield walls and teamates. ESPN would have loved this guy.
In 1925, Cuyler had an MVP-type season, although he (justly) finished second in the balloting to Rogers Hornsby. Cuyler just did it all: hit .357, slugged .598, a .423 OBP, 18 homers, 43 doubles, 26 triples (!!), a more-than-respectable 58 walks (remember, walks were scarce; the league leader had 86, and 66 was good for fourth place), and 41 steals in just 54 attempts (a 75.9% success rate compared to 56.5% for the league). Kiki also had 21 assists in right field. By the end of the year, Cuyler's career averages were a .352 average, .562 slugging and .410 OBP.
http://www.baseballcrank.com/archives/001828.php