House That Hank Built
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Atlanta Braves history: the franchise’s top five third basemen

By Fred Owens

MIAMI, FL - MAY 14: A detailed view of the third base bag before the start of the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on May 14, 2017 in Miami, Florida. Players are wearing pink to celebrate Mother's Day weekend and support breast cancer awareness. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - MAY 14: A detailed view of the third base bag before the start of the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on May 14, 2017 in Miami, Florida. Players are wearing pink to celebrate Mother's Day weekend and support breast cancer awareness. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) /
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1989: Atlanta Braves third baseman Darrell Evans in action. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allsport /

Number Five B – Howdy Doody

As noted in his SABR Bio, when Darrell Evans graduate from high school, he found a lot of Major League teams willing to pay him to sign, but he went to junior college instead.  After being selected five times in the draft – there were two drafts a year at that time – Evans signed with the Kansas City Athletics.

A shoulder injury resulted in the Athletics giving up on Evans in December 1968, and the Atlanta Braves claimed him in the Rule five draft. He appeared in 12 games the following season and another dozen in 1970, before being called up for good in 1971.

Like Smith, Evans’ defense needed a lot of work. Fortunately for him, future Hall of Fame third baseman Eddie Mathews took him under his wing.

At 26-years old in 1973, Evans had a break-out year, batting .281/.403/.556/.959, with an OPS+ of .959. Evans also crushed 41 homers, stuck out 104 times, and led the league in walks with 124. Those numbers made him an All-Star and earned him an eighteenth place finish in NL MVP voting

Evans, Hank Aaron (40 homers) and Davey Johnson (43 homers) and Dusty Baker (21 homers) gave the Braves a potent lineup, but they finished fifth of six in the NL West.

Between 1973 and 1975, Evans batted .255/.382/.4562/.844, posted a 130 OPS+ and belted 88 home runs

His SABR bio quotes Bill James as calling Evans “the most underrated player in baseball history, absolutely number one on the list,” due to his power, his ability to draw walks, and his outstanding on-base percentage.

If you’re wondering how these two, very different, players tied, I understand. On the surface, it’s easy to go for the modern era power hitter. However, it’s always best to look below the surface.

Why a tie?

Evans played parts of nine years for the Braves, but injuries meant he only four were full seasons, and he totaled just 206 more games than Smith managed in six.

In terms of production, Evans’ home runs gave him an edge in slugging percentage, but the plus stats show they weren’t far apart in value to the team.

Name AVG+ OBP+ SLG+ OPS+ wOBA wRC+ WAR
Darrell Evans 95 113 113 122 .362 119 23.7
Red Smith 107 112 105 119 .354 122 18.7

Evans earns more WAR because WAR likes bombs, but looking at wRC+ and wOBA in context adds meaning for me.

Smith took his team to the World Series. It’s not Evans fault the Braves didn’t get there, but I felt Smith’s impact significant enough to warrant extra consideration and call it a tie.

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