The 2024 MLB season has been nothing short of phenomenal, with Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, and Bobby Witt Jr. etching their names in the record books with historically great performances. As the playoffs unfold, the question on everyone’s mind is: can these superstars maintain their momentum and lead their teams to glory?
To answer this, let’s delve into the annals of baseball history and examine how players who have had similarly remarkable regular seasons have fared in the postseason. We’ll explore the performances of MVP winners, players with all-time seasons, and established stars making their postseason debuts.
First, let’s look at the collective postseason stats of MVP winners since 1995. On average, they’ve hit.244 with a.350 on-base percentage and.455 slugging percentage – a significant drop-off from their regular-season numbers. However, it’s worth noting that only eight of these MVP winners have reached the World Series, with Barry Bonds, Albert Pujols, Ryan Braun, and Jose Altuve being the exceptions who have posted an OPS over 1.000 in the postseason.
Next, we’ll examine the postseason performances of players who have had all-time seasons. This group, which includes legends like Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle, has fared much better, with a collective.272 average,.406 on-base percentage, and.596 slugging percentage. Thirteen of these players have posted an OPS over 1.000 in the playoffs.
Now, let’s focus on established stars making their postseason debuts. Players like Ted Williams, Dave Winfield, and Vladimir Guerrero have struggled in their first taste of October baseball, while others like Ken Griffey Jr. and Carlos Beltran have thrived. Shohei Ohtani, who had never appeared in the postseason before this year, will be an intriguing case study.
Finally, we’ll look at players under 25 who have excelled in the regular season. This group, which includes Joe DiMaggio, Willie Mays, and Mike Trout, has posted a respectable.283 average,.365 on-base percentage, and.486 slugging percentage in the postseason.
As we watch Judge, Ohtani, and Witt Jr. take the field in the playoffs, we can’t help but wonder if they’ll join the pantheon of October legends. Will they rise to the occasion and lead their teams to championship glory, or will they succumb to the pressures of the postseason? One thing is certain – it’ll be a thrilling ride.
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