All-Time Since 1980: Air Division
I’ve saved the Air Division for last in my All-Time Since 1980 project because the top-scoring Air sign finishes behind the leaders of all the other divisions. (Water has the top sign, Fire the runner-up, and Earth the number three.) It also helps that Air is the division of the lowest-scoring sign – two out of the bottom three, in fact. If you want to see a full list of the signs’ total points, players, and some fun averages, check out my ATS80 hub post here!
Last time, I talked about all the new 40,000-point pitchers who were added to the database in the 80’s. While Jim Palmer falls about 4,000 points shy of that threshold, he still joins as the top Libra pitcher, ahead of Zack Greinke and the cuspy John Lackey. The top pitcher on the Orioles all-time bWAR leaderboard (and #3 overall), Palmer won three out of four Cy Young Awards from 1973 to ’76. The only other top twenty Scales starter added to the database was lefty Paul Splittorff, who checks in at #7. In the bullpen, no one came close to the dyamic duo of Dennis Eckersley and Trevor Hoffman.
Just behind Palmer on the list of new Libras added to the database is slugging third baseman Mike Schmidt. Schmitty has as many MVP awards as Palmer has CYA’s, and leads the Phillies in about as many career categories as Palmer does the Orioles. Across the infield, Rod Carew wasn’t able to reach Rafael Palmeiro, but if we allow him to slot in at his secondary position, he would take over for Robinson Cano at second base. One first baseman who has no secondary position, Keith Hernandez finishes in fourth place, behind Mark McGwire. In the outfield, Al Oliver beats out Andrew McCutchen in center field, although “Scoop” also had at least 20% of his career games at both first base and in left field.
Another new pitching addition that just missed the 40,000-point threshold, Tommy John enters the database as the new top Gemini pitcher. Thanks the surgery that now bears his name, John was able to pitch for 26 years, the highest total of any new 80’s addition, and second overall (to fellow Air Division pitcher Nolan Ryan). Two spots behind TJ on the pitching depth chart is Jerry Reuss, meaning that the top three Gemini starters are all southpaws. (Andy Pettitte retains his spot at #2.) Two more lefties – Bob Knepper and Floyd Bannister – slot in at #7 and #8 among Twins starting pitchers. No new bullpen additions were able to approach the still-active Craig Kimbrel, but Canadian swingman Reggie Cleveland makes the top five among primary relievers.
Not a single new Gemini position player gets a new leader with these new 1980’s additions. The closest was at third base, where Darrell Evans gave Wade Boggs a surprisingly stiff challenge, with a difference of just over 200 career fantasy points. Ken Singleton becomes the #2 right fielder behind Dave Parker, and current Astros manager Dusty Baker enters at fourth on the left field depth chart: I don’t foresee anyone challenging Manny Ramirez any time soon. Venezuelan shortstop Dave Concepcion slots in at #3 on the depth chart, behind Dominicans Miguel Tejada and Jose Reyes. And I guess it’s worth mentioning new #4 catcher Terry Kennedy.
Nolan Ryan is so far the only pitcher to reach 50,000 career fantasy points, so no new 80’s additions are going to approach his greatness. But Cubs/Dodgers hurler Burt Hooton slots in at number two in the Aquarius rotation with his 20,000 points. Other new additions include Mike Caldwell, who beats out John Tudor for the top lefty spot, famed MVP Baseball 2005 announcer Mike Krukow, and Pirates swingman Bruce Kison. The Water Bearers did get a new top closer in Dan Quisenberry, one of the best throughout the 80’s, and a dead ringer for Mario the video game platforming plumber.
The 1980’s were a strong decade for Aquarius outfielders and corner infielders. Two new 20,000-point center fielders supplant Lenny Dykstra for the top spot: Fred Lynn of the Red Sox/Angels/Orioles, and Chet Lemon of the White Sox and Tigers. Panamanian left fielder Ben Oglivie slots in as the new top left fielder, but he’s still miles behind the right field trio of Vladimir Guerrero, Brian Giles, and Magglio Ordonez. Ron Cey becomes the new starting third baseman, just edging out Carney Lansford. And John Mayberry (Sr.) finishes a distant second among Water Bearing first basemen, almost 10,000 career points behind Lance Berkman.