Rod Carew or Kirby Puckett: Who Had the Better Career?

[Trov]

It is hard to compare 2 guys from 2 different eras and one that played a much shorter career and played very different positions.  If you look at just offense Carew was better overall.  However, Puckett played CF.  The metrics may not like him all that much, gold gloves back then went so often to high offense guys that would make a high light play now and again without any major errors.

However, he still played it at least to a point that people felt was above average defender.  Carew played two of the lower defense positions.  1b was the place you stuck a guy because you wanted his offense but defense was lacking so just asking him to mostly catch it.  That to me is where Puckett starts to catch back up.  

Where I decide Puckett would get the edge just barely is what he did in the playoffs.  Even taking away his Game 6 stuff, he was awlays willing to take the big moment and do what he could to carry the team.  He did not buckle under the pressure of post season.  Not saying Carew did, but his numbers were much worse.  

You could not go wrong with either on a team in their prime, if I had to pick one though, Puckett would get the nod just barely for me. 

[Highlander1]

On 1/22/2022 at 12:23 PM, mnfireman said:

As do Hrbek, Gagne, Gladden, Bush, Newman, & Larkin.... 

Griffey Jr. and Trout also have 0 rings.

I don't like using rings for individual player comparisons.

Yea, because playing for second place is what it is all about.