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.
- Dixie Walker (915)
- Wally Pipp (911)
- Sam West (903)
- Augie Galan (899)
- Harry Davis (891)
- Wally Moses (890)
- Gee Walker (890)
- Ben Chapman (887)
- Ed Konetchy (882)
- 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.