Pittsburgh Pirates Top Five Right Fielders

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As we looked at last week, the Pittsburgh Pirates have been truly fortunate when it has come to their shortstop position. They have two of the top five of all time, including Honus Wagner, who may arguably be the greatest shortstop in baseball history. It would be difficult for a position to surpass the lofty standards the Pirates set at short.

However, right field may be just as good, if not better. While the Pirates had two Hall of Fame players at short, they have had three in right. Quite a few right fielders have been All-Stars for the Pirates, and the position has traditionally been a strength of the team, even during the dark days.

Creating this list of the top five Pittsburgh Pirates right fielders was quite the fun walk down memory lane. It was a journey of some truly great moments, Hall of Fame speeches and some great people. It was also a journey of tragedy and loss, going from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows, yet still showing amazing personal grace.

Again, the Fangraphs.com Wins Above Replacement category was used as a guide to create this list. It may not exactly agree with the rankings, but this list is not entirely beholden to the numbers. If it was, then why not just go there and check it out? Actually, on second thought, don’t do that…..

We hope you enjoy this series as we continue to look over the greatest players in Pittsburgh Pirates history. So, without further ado, here are the five greatest right fielders for the Pirates.

Next: The somewhat accidental major leaguer

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5. Orlando Merced (1990-1996)

Orlando Merced did not play baseball in high school, because his school did not have a team. In fact, the only reason why the Pittsburgh Pirates even discovered him is because he happened to be friends with Luis Clemente, son of Roberto Clemente. An uncle convinced the Pirates to give Merced a look, and despite not playing baseball for six months, he managed to do enough where he was offered a contract.

While Merced was never a star, he was a solid player for the Pirates. He finished second in the 1991 Rookie of the Year balloting to Jeff Bagwell, and actually kept him from earning the honor unanimously. Overall, in his time with the Pirates, Merced posted a .283/.364/.428 batting line, hitting 65 home runs.

Defensively, Orlando Merced truly shined. A former third baseman who was originally sent to first, Merced had a tremendous throwing arm in right. While he did not rack up many outfield assists, he was not someone that was typically run on often. However, even with his limited opportunities, Merced was still a force to be reckoned with, leading National League outfielders in double plays in 1993 and 1996.

Merced may not be one of the first right fielders that one thinks of when one thinks of the Pirates, but he was a solid player nonetheless.

Next: The first three syllables are all pronounced the same

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4. Kiki Cuyler (1921-1927)

Kiki Cuyler only had three full seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, playing in only twelve games in his first three seasons and was benched in 1927 because he did not want to bat second due to his superstitions. However, in those three full seasons, Cuyler had quite an impact.

In that time with the Pirates, before he was traded away, Cuyler produced a .336/.399/.513 batting line with 38 home runs and 130 stolen bases. Cuyler’s excellent speed helped him lead the National League in stolen bases four times in his career, including once as a Pirate. He also hit 26 triples in 1925, tied for the eighth most in baseball history.

On defense, that excellent speed gave Kiki Cuyler tremendous range, as he would typically end up among the league leaders in range factor. Cuyler also possessed a tremendous arm in the outfield, often ranking among the league leaders in outfield assists and double plays.

Even though Cuyler only really had three full seasons to show the Pittsburgh Pirates what he could do, he is still sixth in WAR for right field, behind two players who spent more time at third. Inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1968, Kiki Cuyler was one of the best right fielders that the Pirates had.

Next: The Cobra strikes

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3. Dave Parker (1973-1983)

Dave Parker was a tremendous player for the Pittsburgh Pirates, winning an MVP award in 1978, earning four All-Star nods and three Gold Glove awards. He was the rare slugger who could also hit for a high average, twice leading the National League in batting average.

In the truly stellar eleven seasons that Parker had with the Pirates, he was a true force of nature. Overall, Parker had a .305/.353/.494 batting line, slugging 166 home runs and stealing 123 bases. Coming in during a time when offense was still generally low, Parker was a star with the bat.

On defense, Dave Parker was a bit of a mixed bag. While most sluggers are generally put in a position where they will not hurt defensively, he was a true five tool player in his youth. Parker had a strong arm, leading the National League with 26 outfield assists in 1977 and consistently ranking among the leaders in right. Parker was also among the league leaders in range factor in right on an annual basis, but he also led National League right fielders in errors six times as a Pirate, and is the all time leader with 134 miscues.

However, Dave Parker was a tremendous player, and one who deserved a lot more consideration for the Hall of Fame. Perhaps some day, the Cobra will get his due.

Next: Poison for the opposition

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2. Paul Waner (1926-1940)

Playing baseball at the major league level is a very difficult thing to do. Playing baseball while drunk and nearsighted, and without wearing glasses, has to be virtually impossible. However, if you happened to be Paul Waner, you did just that en route to being one of the greatest right fielders in baseball history.

Waner was truly a savant with the bat, making an immediate impact from the moment he first put on the Pittsburgh Pirates uniform. He hit 22 triples in his rookie year to lead the National League, and his 191 career triples rank tenth all time. Yet, Waner was more than a triples machine, as his .340/.407/.490 batting line with the Pirates indicates. He also hit 558 doubles and drove in 1177 runs during his time in Pittsburgh.

Given his questionable sobriety and vision, one would have expected that Paul Waner would have been an adventure in the field. That was not the case. Despite not being able to read the advertisements on the outfield fence, Waner made 4807 putouts in right, setting the career mark. Possessing a cannon of an arm, Waner’s 238 assists as a right fielder are second all time. He ranks fifth all time with in range factor. Waner was truly a tremendous right fielder.

Joe Tronzo, the sports editor for the News-Tribune in Beaver Falls, PA, once said that “Paul Waner, when he was sober, was the best right fielder the Pirates ever had. The second best right fielder the Pirates ever had was Paul Waner when he was drunk.” One could certainly make that case.

Next: A life lost far too soon

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1. Roberto Clemente (1955-1972)

We all know the tremendous person that Roberto Clemente was. He was a truly giving and charitable person, one whose works and charities off the diamond have made as lasting an impact as his work on the field. When he disappeared in a plane crash on New Year’s Even in 1972, the world lost a true role model.

Clemente’s prowess on the diamond certainly helped him to make that impact upon the lives of others. One of the all time great Pittsburgh Pirates, Clemente is also well known for finishing his career with exactly 3000 hits. Clemente also produced a .317/.359/.475 batting line, hitting 440 doubles and 240 home runs.

Defensively, Roberto Clemente was one of the greats, winning twelve consecutive Gold Glove awards before his life was tragically cut short. Clemente ranks second all-time in putouts in right behind Paul Waner, and is the all time leader with 204 runs saved in right. As exellent as Waner was defensively, Clemente may have been just as good.

One could have made the case for Waner to have this spot, but Roberto Clemente earned a few extra points for being such an inspiration off the field. He certainly deserves his place as the greatest Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder.

Next: Pittsburgh Pirates Top Five Shortstops