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Pittsburgh Pirates: Building a Team of One-Season Wonders

By Noah Wright

Catcher Ronny Paulino of the Pirates waits in the dugout prior to action between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Royals Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri on June 20, 2006. The Royals won 10-6. (Photo by G. N. Lowrance/Getty Images)
Catcher Ronny Paulino of the Pirates waits in the dugout prior to action between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Royals Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri on June 20, 2006. The Royals won 10-6. (Photo by G. N. Lowrance/Getty Images) /
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25 Apr 2001: John Vander Wal #28 of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks on during practice before the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers defeated the Pirates 6-5.Mandatory Credit: Jeff Gross /Allsport
25 Apr 2001: John Vander Wal #28 of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks on during practice before the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers defeated the Pirates 6-5.Mandatory Credit: Jeff Gross /Allsport /

First Base – 2000 John Vander Wal

John Vander Wal is certainly not a guy you think of when you think of great offensive seasons in Pirate history. In 2000, Vander Wal saw time in the outfield corners and at first base. Up until this point in his career, he had mostly been used as a pinch hitter, quite literally. Despite averaging nearly 100 games a season from 1991 through 1999, he also averaged less than 170 plate appearances. For example, in 1995 with the Colorado Rockies, Vander Wal had a total of 118 plate appearances spread across 105 games. He started in just five of those contests. Though he was terrific in those 118 plate appearances, posting an OPS over one thousand at 1.026.

But in 2000, Vander Wal got a chance at regular playing time and made the most of it. In 461 plate appearances, Vander Wal batted .299/.410/.563 with a 142 wRC+ and .413 wOBA. Vander Wal had a .972 OPS, which is the 13th-best single-season mark in Pirates’ history (min. 450 plate appearances). He drew walks at a whopping 15.6% rate and had a .263 isolated slugging percentage.

A .970+ OPS in a season is something that not even Roberto Clemente nor Andrew McCutchen were able to accomplish in their careers, and Willie Stargell, who’s generally considered the best hitter in Pirates’ history, only did twice. A.970+ OPS in 450+ plate appearances has been accomplished just 186 times since 2000, and Vander Wal is one of them.

It’s no surprise that Vander Wal never reached that peak again. From 2001 through 2004, he was only slightly above league average, batting a respectable .256/.344/.439 with a .337 wOBA and 103 wRC+. But that is a 189-point OPS dropoff from 2000.

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