Ed Kranepool...shame.

Who will become the lousiest player to have a franchise record for hits?

Who will become the lousiest player to have a franchise record for hits?

Of the "original 16" franchises from 1901, I nominate Bert Campaneris of the A's.

Of the "original 16" franchises from 1901, I nominate Bert Campaneris of the A's.

Wright doesn't play for one of the original 16. The better comparison is with the other expansion teams of the '60s and '70s.

Franchise Leaders in Hits (current National League franchises)

Stan Musial, St. Louis Cardinals: 3630
Hank Aaron, Atlanta Braves: 3600
Pete Rose, Cincinnati Reds: 3358
Willie Mays, San Francisco Giants: 3187
Robin Yount, Milwaukee Brewers: 3142
Tony Gwynn, San Diego Padres: 3141
Craig Biggio, Houston Astros: 3060
Cap Anson, Chicago Cubs: 3012
Roberto Clemente, Pittsburgh Pirates: 3000
Zack Wheat, Los Angeles Dodgers: 2804
Todd Helton, Colorado Rockies: 2420
Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies: 2234
Tim Wallach, Washington Nationals: 1694
Ed Kranepool/David Wright, New York Mets: 1418
Luis Gonzalez, Arizona Diamondbacks: 1337
Luis Castillo, Florida Marlins: 1273

For the National League, the "original 8" all have Hall of Fame caliber players at the top of the list: Musial, Aaron, Rose*, Mays, Anson, Clemente, Wheat, Schmidt

The expansion franchises of the '60s and '70s are well represented with Yount, Gwynn and Biggio. The weak link here is Tim Wallach (one of my favorite players when I was a kid). However, Wallach beats Tim Raines by only 72 hits so Raines' patience actually hurts him here.

For the newest franchises, Helton and Gonzo are respectable leaders. I'd rate Castillo (94 OPS+, -13 fielding) behind Wallach as the worst team leader. Though, once again, a better option was sitting in second as Hanley Ramirez was roughly one season away from setting the new mark (170 hits behind).

The AL franchises from the '60s and '70s have some less-than-HOF hits leaders (Garret Anderson, Michael Young, Tony Fernandez), but also feature George Brett and Ichiro! (as well as Yount, who has been abducted into the NL after the fact :) Given that Fernandez and Anderson could play a little defense, I am left with the sinking suspicion that Young is the "worst" franchise hits leader of the era. I don't know how he compares to Tim Wallach overall; probably not too badly.

The Padres, Brewers, Royals and Astros all have a (probable) Hall of Famer with more than 3000 hits for the team, so they're out.

Angels - Garret Anderson 2368
Rangers - Michael Young 2220
Mariners - Ichiro! 2533
Natspos - Tim Wallach 1694
Blue Jays - Tony Fernandez 1583

Ryan Zimmerman has 1104.
No one else is vaguely close to breaking any of these marks. Except Vernon Wells who was less than 60 hits away from the Blue Jays record when he was traded - he could always return.

The Indians have impressive names but the leader is Lajoie with just 2046 followed by Speaker with 1965. Pretty low totals and from a long time ago. Vizquel with 1616 is the post-expansion leader.

Franchise Leaders in Hits (current American League franchises)

Ty Cobb, Detroit Tigers: 3900
Carl Yastrzemski, Boston Red Sox: 3419
Derek Jeter, New York Yankees: 3295+
Cal Ripken, Baltimore Orioles: 3184
George Brett, Kansas City Royals: 3154
Sam Rice, Minnesota Twins: 2889
Luke Appling, Chicago White Sox: 2749
Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners: 2533
Garret Anderson, Los Angeles Angels: 2368
Michael Young, Texas Rangers: 2221+
Nap Lajoie, Cleveland Indians: 2046
Bert Campaneris, Oakland Athletics: 1882
Tony Fernandez, Toronto Blue Jays: 1583
Carl Crawford, Tampa Bay Rays: 1480

Wow, not nearly as impressive a list for the AL. Of the original 8, 6 of the 7 retired players are in the Hall of Fame but only 5 are in the Hall of Merit. Jeter will join them 5 years after his last game. Rice is the better pure hitter than Campaneris who provided a lot of value in the field and on the bases so I would agree with the assessment that Bert is the worst hitter to lead one of the original 16 franchises.

The expansion franchises have one Hall of Famer (Brett), one likely Hall of Famer (Ichiro), two Hall of Very Good guys (Crawford and Fernandez) and a couple of guys who probably don't even rate that (Anderson and Young). Anderson and Young are fighting it out with Castillo for the bottom spot. I'd probably give the edge to Castillo. However, the Marlins aren't even 20 years old, so of the older expansion teams, the worst hitter is probably Young (OPS+ of 104 to Anderson and Wallach at 105).

No one else is vaguely close to breaking any of these marks. Except Vernon Wells who was less than 60 hits away from the Blue Jays record when he was traded - he could always return.

The Blue Jays active leader is Adam Lind with 693. Yikes! Then it's Jose Bautista at 474. I'd say that Fernandez is safe for a decade at least.

(as well as Yount, who has been abducted into the NL after the fact :)

That's why I included the "current" in my heading. Next year, Biggio will be at the top of one of the AL franchises. Hmmm. Yount for Biggio. Do you make that trade?

Given that Fernandez and Anderson could play a little defense, I am left with the sinking suspicion that Young is the "worst" franchise hits leader of the era. I don't know how he compares to Tim Wallach overall; probably not too badly.

Wallach played a very good third base: +67 fielding runs and +9.8 dWAR. Considering they were about even with the bat, I'd say that Young's defensive liabilities at any infield position (-129 fielding runs, -8.9 dWAR) puts him well below Wallach as a player.

Yount for Biggio. Do you make that trade?

Without opening up either one's B-Ref page to consult actual facts, I say keep Yount. It's probably more a style thing than anything else. Biggio was a hugely effective creator of runs, but that stupid pine tar helmet, I hate it. Others may not be as sanguine about Yount's 1970s hairstyles as I am, though. I think Yount was a better hitter, and as a peak shortstop, a decidedly better all-round player, but as I say I refuse to consult data to see if I'm right :-D

Without consulting any numbers, I'd take Biggio over Yount. This is likely influenced very much by the fact that I watched Biggio play dozens of times, but never watched Yount. How about the sidekicks, Bagwell versus Molitor?

How about the sidekicks, Bagwell versus Molitor?

Off the top of my head, I'd say Bagwell crushes him.

Let's see, the BB-Ref WAR is a lot closer than I would have though, Bagwell up by less than five. His peak is hugely better--he has five seasons as good or better than Molitor's best--but Bags was basically finished at age 36. Molitor was at least useful through age 40. I'd still take Bagwell.

Garret Anderson, Los Angeles Angels: 2368

I don't think I would have guessed that in a dozen tries.

Yount for Biggio. Do you make that trade?

Well, I did look it up, but would have picked Yount regardless

Yount because better hitter, higher peak in best several seasons, and only a bad defender towards end of career, whereas Biggio was a poor defender almost all of his career.

I don't think I would have guessed [Garret Anderson] in a dozen tries.

Really? Who would you have guessed? Salmon, Downing, Erstad, Guerrero, Fregosi... Carew? Grich? I'm having trouble coming up with enough plausible names to put in front of Anderson.

Hmmm. Yount for Biggio. Do you make that trade?

I trade Yount for Biggio in a heartbeat ... assuming the offer came anytime after 1990!

I don't think I would have guessed [Garret Anderson] in a dozen tries.

Really? Who would you have guessed? Salmon, Downing, Erstad, Guerrero, Fregosi... Carew? Grich? I'm having trouble coming up with enough plausible names to put in front of Anderson.

Well, I guess part of it would be that I don't know Angels players all that well. Just now my first thought would've been Jim Edmonds, but turns out he was with St. Louis longer than the Angels. Erstad, or Salmon most likely. I guess it's just how surprised I was to look up Garret Anderson and see how good a career he actually had.

I was curious to see who had the fewest hits among those with the most career hits with their CURRENT team.

1. Jose Altuve, Hou, 224
2. Emilio Bonifacio, Miami, 393
3. Franklin Gutierrez, Sea, 407
4. Cliff Pennington, Oak, 433
5. Andrew McCutcheon, Pit, 625

Six teams' current leaders have more than 2000 hits, and another 10 teams' leaders have more than 1000.

I was surprised by some of the leaders (Adam Lind, Chris Young) but others were pretty obvious (Joe Mauer, Ryan Braun).

Jeter still has a chance to top Cobb's record for most hits (3900) with one team.

I was surprised by some of the leaders (Adam Lind, Chris Young) but others were pretty obvious (Joe Mauer, Ryan Braun).

Yadier Molina (1019), then Skip Schumaker (703). Wow.