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I believe I would take Hernandez.

Strange to me why so many cry that Mattingly is not in the HOF and so little is said about Hernandez.

Just my opinion.

OldRed wrote: ↑11 Dec 2025 08:29 am I believe I would take Hernandez.

Strange to me why so many cry that Mattingly is not in the HOF and so little is said about Hernandez.

Just my opinion.

FWIW,

Player/fWAR/bWAR
Hernandez: 59.4/60.4
Mattingly: 40.7/42.4

NYCardsFan wrote: ↑11 Dec 2025 08:34 am

OldRed wrote: ↑11 Dec 2025 08:29 am I believe I would take Hernandez.

Strange to me why so many cry that Mattingly is not in the HOF and so little is said about Hernandez.

Just my opinion.

FWIW,

Player/fWAR/bWAR
Hernandez: 59.4/60.4
Mattingly: 40.7/42.4

That’s a lopsided trade. Cards get fleeced.

Hernandez one of the most underrated players of our era. Nobody was smoother at 1b, and he always put the bat on the ball. Hated it when he was traded. Even though we did get..........Rick Ownby!!

RamFan08NY wrote: ↑11 Dec 2025 09:07 am Hernandez one of the most underrated players of our era. Nobody was smoother at 1b, and he always put the bat on the ball. Hated it when he was traded. Even though we did get..........Rick Ownby!!

Wasn’t it Neal Allen?

What is the first name that comes to mind when someone asks 'who is the best defensive 1B of all time?'

That's why Hernandez should be in the HOF.

Both were excellent, but Hernandez was slightly better. His glove was amazing.

OldRed wrote: ↑11 Dec 2025 08:29 am I believe I would take Hernandez.

Strange to me why so many cry that Mattingly is not in the HOF and so little is said about Hernandez.

Just my opinion.

I agree OR

Keith is the G.O.A.T. defensively at 1st base (11 Gold Gloves) as well as being a batting champ, co-MVP and he had a career .384 OB%.

Hall of Fame Statistics

Keith:
JAWS
First Base (22nd):
60.4 career WAR | 41.3 7yr-peak WAR | 50.8 JAWS | 4.7 WAR/162
Average HOF 1B (out of 25):
65.0 career WAR | 42.0 7yr-peak WAR | 53.5 JAWS | 4.8 WAR/162

Mattingly:
JAWS
First Base (40th):
42.4 career WAR | 35.7 7yr-peak WAR | 39.0 JAWS | 3.8 WAR/162
Average HOF 1B (out of 25):
65.0 career WAR | 42.0 7yr-peak WAR | 53.5 JAWS | 4.8 WAR/162



Plus he got to date Elaine on Seinfeld!

swatski wrote: ↑11 Dec 2025 09:17 am

RamFan08NY wrote: ↑11 Dec 2025 09:07 am Hernandez one of the most underrated players of our era. Nobody was smoother at 1b, and he always put the bat on the ball. Hated it when he was traded. Even though we did get..........Rick Ownby!!

Wasn’t it Neal Allen?

Neither. They received Neil Allen and Rick Ownbey.

Mort Gage wrote: ↑11 Dec 2025 11:13 am

swatski wrote: ↑11 Dec 2025 09:17 am

RamFan08NY wrote: ↑11 Dec 2025 09:07 am Hernandez one of the most underrated players of our era. Nobody was smoother at 1b, and he always put the bat on the ball. Hated it when he was traded. Even though we did get..........Rick Ownby!!

Wasn’t it Neal Allen?

Neither. They received Neil Allen and Rick Ownbey.

Although he had a rough go, Neil Allen had one heck of a curveball - quite similar to Waino's

Mattingly had back issues and all of his power was robbed when he hit his late twenties. If it wasn't for that, Mattingly would have well out paced Keith in War due to the difference in power stats alone. But, staying healthy is part of the deal, so Keith's resume comes out ahead.

sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑11 Dec 2025 08:36 am

NYCardsFan wrote: ↑11 Dec 2025 08:34 am

OldRed wrote: ↑11 Dec 2025 08:29 am I believe I would take Hernandez.

Strange to me why so many cry that Mattingly is not in the HOF and so little is said about Hernandez.

Just my opinion.

FWIW,

Player/fWAR/bWAR
Hernandez: 59.4/60.4
Mattingly: 40.7/42.4

That’s a lopsided trade. Cards get fleeced.

It was lopsided but Hernandez didn't get traded due to performance. The team had a drug problem Herzog fixed the problem by trading away the problem. Hernandez was the best defensive first baseman I've seen. We probably win more world series if he was the first baseman but he unfortunately got into drugs and has since admitted it.

But why leave Tino Martinez out of the discussion?

zuck698 wrote: ↑11 Dec 2025 11:46 am Mattingly had back issues and all of his power was robbed when he hit his late twenties. If it wasn't for that, Mattingly would have well out paced Keith in War due to the difference in power stats alone. But, staying healthy is part of the deal, so Keith's resume comes out ahead.

Keith was also a part of 2 World Series Winners. Somehow, Mattingly played 14 years as a Yankees and didn’t win?

BleedingBleu wrote: ↑11 Dec 2025 16:41 pm

zuck698 wrote: ↑11 Dec 2025 11:46 am Mattingly had back issues and all of his power was robbed when he hit his late twenties. If it wasn't for that, Mattingly would have well out paced Keith in War due to the difference in power stats alone. But, staying healthy is part of the deal, so Keith's resume comes out ahead.

Keith was also a part of 2 World Series Winners. Somehow, Mattingly played 14 years as a Yankees and didn’t win?

Not sure if you meant that as a Yankee he should have at least won a WS, or if you are saying that Keith was involved in 2 WS and Don none, and that makes Keith better? I am assuming you meant the former and if so, I agree that his timing was off in reference to what years he played and missed out on all those pinstriped WS teams.

CardFaninGA wrote: ↑11 Dec 2025 11:23 am

Mort Gage wrote: ↑11 Dec 2025 11:13 am

swatski wrote: ↑11 Dec 2025 09:17 am

RamFan08NY wrote: ↑11 Dec 2025 09:07 am Hernandez one of the most underrated players of our era. Nobody was smoother at 1b, and he always put the bat on the ball. Hated it when he was traded. Even though we did get..........Rick Ownby!!

Wasn’t it Neal Allen?

Neither. They received Neil Allen and Rick Ownbey.

Although he had a rough go, Neil Allen had one heck of a curveball - quite similar to Waino's

He had good stuff, two CG shutouts in his short time in STL. His bad K/BB ratio held him back.

I think Hernandez did enough to make the HOF.