Phil Cavarretta and Ken Griffey, Sr.

Phil Cavarretta is like Ken Griffey, Sr?

The first nine players on Phil Cavarretta’s “Similarity Score” is a bunch of guys from Pre-WWII.

  1. Dixie Walker (915)
  2. Wally Pipp (911)
  3. Sam West (903)
  4. Augie Galan (899)
  5. Harry Davis (891)
  6. Wally Moses (890)
  7. Gee Walker (890)
  8. Ben Chapman (887)
  9. Ed Konetchy (882)
  10. Ken Griffey (880)

But then check out that guy listed at #10. Ken Griffey, Sr.

         Player From  To Yrs  WAR    G   AB    R    H  2B 3B  HR RBI  BB  SO
Phil Cavarretta 1934-1955 22 34.6 2030 6754  990 1977 347 99  95 920 820 598
Ken Griffey     1973-1991 19 34.4 2097 7229 1129 2143 364 77 152 859 719 898

         Player   BA  OBP  SLG  SB CS OPS+
Phil Cavarretta .293 .372 .416  65  0 118
Ken Griffey     .296 .359 .431 200 83 118

The career numbers do compare pretty well. You have the typical difference in strikeouts/homeruns from different eras. But the averages are pretty similar. Griffey stole more bases, but how in the world did Cavarretta never get caught stealing? Was that not a stat back then?

Hat-tip to the Chicago Tribune for running an Instagram photo of Cavarretta. This caught my attention to this under-appreciated Chicago Cub.

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