South Carolina is known for a few things. Low country cooking, Charleston harbor, and the site of the first shots of the Civil War are just three. However, they also have quite the pedigree regarding America’s national pastime. Yes, the state sent 246 men to the diamond, with three enshrined in Cooperstown. South Carolina has a combined WAR total of 1,111.89, ranking it in the top 25 among all states in the Union. Regarding South Carolina’s best MLB players, two of the aforementioned Hall of Famers populate the list. The other three are legends in their own right, and some have even higher WAR totals. So, in order of ascending WAR, here are The Palmetto State’s five finest baseball players.
South Carolina’s Best MLB Players
Jim Rice: 47.7 WAR
Anderson, South Carolina’s Jim Rice is a Boston Red Sox legend. He’s also a Hall of Famer and a member of South Carolina’s best MLB players. He paces all South Carolinians in homers (382), hits (2,452), and RBI (1,451). Unfortunately, his WAR totals knock him back to the bottom of this list. One reason for this is that his career happened in explosive bursts. Rice was among baseball’s elite from 1977 to 1980 and from 1983 to 1986. He combined for 262 homers, 930 RBI, and over 1,500 hits in both spans. He also made all eight All-Star teams. Outside of that, he was always a solid player. But in those eight years, he has cemented his status as a Hall member and a definite anchor for this list.
Bobo Newsom: 47.8 WAR
Pitcher Bobo Newsom spent 20 seasons toiling in the big leagues. During that time, he made nine different stops. From 1934 to 1948, he was traded midway through the season eight times. Three of those came in one year (1943). He retired with a losing record, an ERA near four, and an ERA+ barely over the league average. So, the question becomes one of how he made this list…and beat out a Hall of Famer, to boot! The WAR numbers don’t lie, and Newsom’s lengthy stay in the big leagues pushed him over the edge. He did experience his best success with the Detroit Tigers. He won 50 games in three seasons with a 3.59 ERA and a 131 ERA+.
Larry Doby: 56.8 WAR
Larry Doby’s inclusion on the list of South Carolina’s best MLB players is because of two things. One is that he was an incredible baseball player in his prime. The other is that he was the man who broke the color barrier in the American League. Yes, one year after Jackie Robinson became the first African-American player in Major League history, Doby did it on the Junior Circuit. After accomplishing this, Doby tormented opposing pitchers throughout the 1950s. He led the AL in homers twice, runs scored once, and RBI once. From 1949 to 1955, he did not miss an All-Star Game and clubbed 188 homers with over 1,000 hits.
Joe Jackson: 62.2 WAR
Disclaimer: we’re not here to talk about the Black Sox scandal. We’re here to determine South Carolina’s best MLB players. Shoeless Joe Jackson was one of them. He may have only played for 13 years but had some of the greatest individual seasons ever. In 1911, he had 233 hits with a .408 average. The following year, he had 226 hits, a staggering 26 triples, and hit .395. In total, Jackson had four seasons of 200+ hits, nine seasons of double-digit triples, and four seasons of 40+ doubles. He left the league after posting a .356 career average and a 170 career OPS+. Should Jackson have continued, there’s no doubt he would have wound up a Hall of Famer. Despite this, he earns every stitch of his spot on this list.
Willie Randolph: 65.9 WAR
The pride of Holly Hill, South Carolina, Willie Randolph, takes the top spot on our list. He spent 18 years in the big leagues, using consistent contact and solid speed to significant effect. His 13 years with the New York Yankees are his most extraordinary claim to fame. He made five of his six All-Star appearances with them. He had over 1,700 hits and over 250 stolen bases. Finally, he put together at-bats to make many harbingers of plate patience proud. He only struck out 675 times in over 8,000 career at-bats. His excellent offensive approach and solid defense create someone who deserves every ounce of his spot as South Carolina’s very best.
Main Photo Credits: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
