The Kevin Stocker Apprecation Thread
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Mon, March 02, 2009 04:00 PM | Comments: 53
Blog, Posts
Kevin Stocker
Shorstop
1993-1997
Career w/Phillies: .261 AVG / 14 HR / 172 RBI / 30 SB
The Phillies weren’t happy with Juan Bell as their everyday shortstop in 1993, so they ditched him for a young kid with a hot bat and fine glove. Kevin Stocker played his heart out in that ’93 season, helping the Phillies win the National League. After that season, he remained a great shortstop, hitting .254 in 1996 with five homers and 41 RBI. He finished top 10 in hit by pitch twice in his career. Though all that is great, his true worth comes with his leadership. Off the field, he owns an Emerald City Smoothie franchise in Washington. That he could pick off runners from deep shortstop and then keep the state of Washington healthy through delicious fruity concoctions just shows his versatility. Though his career ended too short, he is truly one of the Phillies greatest players, and absolutely the second-greatest shortstop in franchise history.
Comment: Not a member of the 100 Greatest Phillies. Made you look, though.
Posts: 0 Fran
haha noooo wayyyy. I was wondering if he would be on this list. He was one of my favorite players growing up and going to games as a kid. We had the Sunday package. Him and Mickey Morandini were awesome.
Posted: 04:13 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Good Night Joe Carter
I’m really enjoying the list, and I was a Kevin Stocker fan, and I really don’t want to criticize placement, but when I saw Kevin Stocker’s name pop up as #25, I looked quickly at the calendar to see if it was April 1.
Posted: 04:14 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Andrew
I loved Stocker great hustle guy and very toolsy. He signed my yearbook back in ’93 when I was a young lad. With all that said, I feel it’s a bit high for him
Posted: 04:17 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 williemontanez
With all due respect, how can Kevin Stocker place higher than Pete Rose. Sure Stocker solidified the short stop position and one could argue, correctly in my opinion, that the 93 squad doesn’t make the post season without his defense. But he was never a great player and only a good player for a couple years. Sure Rose was past his prime by the time he came but the intangibles and clutch hitting he brought to the 80 squad put them over the top. Schmidt acknowledges that Rose made him, and that team, great. To say Stocker who played well for a team that did not win the series is better that Rose, who put a great team over the top, is ridiculous.
Posted: 04:22 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Memphis
Higher than Dykstra and Rolen? Higher than fellow SS Larry Bowa? No way.
Posted: 04:22 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 justin
How high are you dude. I love this site and respect everything you say bot in no way should Stocker be number 25 on this list. Im actually surprised he made the list
Posted: 04:23 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Dan L
This is obviously a joke or Tim Malcom is functionally retarded.
Posted: 04:26 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Cutter
Stocker was a decent enough player, but WAY too high. Like 25+ places too high.
Posted: 04:29 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
My big issue with this is the following part:
“After that season, he remained a great shortstop, hitting .254 in 1996 with five homers and 41 RBI.”
Not so great, if you ask me. Maybe great for what he was capable of doing… by I think even Chooch got 5hrs last season…
Posted: 04:30 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Greg B
Kevin Stocker? He should be in the 90′s if on the list at all. One great season and then part of a good trade to bring in Abreu.
Posted: 04:31 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Memphis
Very surprised he even makes the list at all.
Posted: 04:33 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Michael Stubel
I have to say I am very confused…Is this a mistake? I liked Stocker a lot too, but higher than Rose, Bowa, Samuel, Rolen, Boone, and Maddox?
Posted: 04:40 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
You know what else Kevin Stocker did? He sucked…late 70s at the very highest…you must be doing this list after sampling various beers of the world for the upcoming seasons gamenight beer…
Posted: 04:42 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 philsphan
Switch Stocker’s spot with Pete Rose’s spot and I’ll be happy.
Posted: 04:44 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Michael Stubel
Tim would never place this sort of commentary on a top-25 list:
“Though all that is great, his true worth comes with his leadership. Off the field, he owns an Emerald City Smoothie franchise in Washington. That he could pick off runners from deep shortstop and then keep the state of Washington healthy through delicious fruity concoctions just shows his versatility.”
This has to be a joke
Posted: 04:46 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 James Kay
I loved the guy as a competitive player. He maximized what skills he had with class, and he contributed. Top 25? If Cookie Rojas, a similar player with a longer tenure, who generated a bigger fan following, and had far greater versatility both offensively and defensively is excluded in favor of Stocker, then this selection was a swing and a miss.
Posted: 04:47 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Kevin
Ive been following your Top 100 and respectfully disagree with some of your choices but after seeing Stocker as #25 and beating out all those great players that he beat out in your rankings i am officially done following your Top 100. Its now gotten ridiculous. I mean i thought some of your other picks were bad but now its just a joke to say in the Phillies 125+ yrs history that he is the 25th greatest to play for this team. Im done with this blog. Kinda lost all respect for your baseball knowledge or lack there of
Posted: 04:47 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 T Marty
Totally confused by this one. Bowa was by far a better shortstop. i really don’t know if he should be on the top 100. ahead of Rose? Maddox? heck, even Kruk?? So i’m assuming Von Hayes is in the top 10?
Posted: 04:50 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 James Kay
Michael Stubel, You are right. The authenticity of this selection is quite dubious. Was it sabotoge?
Posted: 04:55 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Michael Stubel
We have to wait and see
Posted: 04:56 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 ashmidt
hey tim, i really enjoy your list, and that is what it is your list, you are the best phillies site out there, so now i have a little more respect for kevin stocker, besides getting us bobby abreu strait up, someone else valued him also, did you know that the 93 phillies only voted him a half a share for the world series, i thought that sucked even back then, because he really sealed up a glaring hole at shortstop. that top 10 should be very interesting.
Posted: 04:57 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Jeltzismyhombre
Stocker was a above average shortstop in only one of his five seasons as a Phillie. He didn’t even play a full season of at-bats in any of his five seasons as a Phillie. Maybe I’d take the guy he was “traded” for: Bobby Abreu.
Posted: 04:59 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Jeltzismyhombre
Instead of Stocker, how about Dave Bancroft, who played with the Phils from 1915-1920. They both played on the Phils for 5+ seasons and were part of a NL championship team. Bancroft was an average hitter in a defensive premium position; Stocker was a below average hitter. Bancroft also had more at-bats. I would chose him as the 2nd greatest shortstop in Phillies history behind Rollins at what is historically our weakest position on the field. Bancroft was also a marginal hall of famer as a Giant.
Posted: 05:06 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Fran
Wow Tim, A lot of hate on here for this pick.
Posted: 05:09 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Pat
On top of the brief article on Kevin Stocker, is anyone going to comment on this ridiculous card of Kevin Stocker? It looks like his 15 year old class picture.
Posted: 05:15 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Pat
9th grade class picture I guess would make more sense**
Posted: 05:16 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Justin
wow… really? Kevin Stocker?
Posted: 05:16 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Purple Hayes
No way man. Are Luis Aguayo and Steve Jeltz in the top 25 also?
Posted: 05:18 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Jeltzismyhombre
Jeltz is a Top Ten Phillie.
Posted: 05:24 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 John Fire
This has all the earmarks of a hack job. I don’t think this is serious – just read the post… he touts a .254 average as being great and talks about the smoothie joint in DC among his achievements…
Posted: 05:29 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Mike W
This is clearly a prank.
Posted: 05:29 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Dan L
Jeltz was something special, but let’s remember that Desi Relaford hasn’t found a spot yet….it’ll be interesting where he places in relation to Jeltz. And to talk pitchers, a year before Stocker broke, Kyle Abbot had a sensational year for the Phils.
Posted: 05:31 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Doug
You have got to be kidding me. Kevin Stocker #25? That is rediculous
Posted: 05:32 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Phan in TN
is that a pre prom picture?
can’t say I was really a fan of him. It was much more fun to say Bobby Ah Bray You
Posted: 05:37 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Kennedy
hahaha yea and #1 is Abraham Nunez
Posted: 05:39 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 fred
if this isn’t a joke then… well it’s got to be a joke. Adam Eaton for #1 !
Posted: 05:42 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 BurrGundy
Nice, clean-cut kid. Not a great player despite a fine ’93 season. It is my belief that he should not be in the top 100 — ahead of Wes Covington, Don Demeter and Pete Incovilia.
Posted: 05:47 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Doug D.
This has to be a joke! The best thing Stocker ever did was to be traded to the Rays for Abreu. Yeah, he was instrumental to the ’93 team, but he was a flash-in-the pan. Lightining in a bottle for one semi-glorious season for the Phigthins. Bowa certainly should rank higher, especially for his longer tenure and manning short for the ’80 championship team. You really missed the boat on this one, Tim
Posted: 05:48 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Jason B.
Tim, I normally don’t voice too much opposition to your list, being as it’s your list, but if Stocker comes in at #25, then I should be ranked somewhere near the top 5. Please tell me that this is one of those, “just wanted to see if you were paying attention” type things. If this isn’t a joke well then I respectfully disagree with this pick to the nth degree. I’m not sure Stocker should even make the list. Oh and Jeltz is a major dirtbag.
Posted: 05:56 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Jason
Tim,
who gets bumped from the vaunted top 2 SS in Phillies history?
J-Roll or Bowa?
That was an inaccurate statement, sounds like a man-crush.
Posted: 06:17 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 1650 Tim Malcolm
BTW, good job Michael. You spot humor writing well.
Posted: 06:21 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Jeff
Man you are all gullible once I saw this line I knew it was a joke
“After that season, he remained a great shortstop, hitting .254 in 1996 with five homers and 41 RBI. He finished top 10 in hit by pitch twice in his career. ”
I mean who really cares about hit by pitch stat LOL
Great one Tim, appreciate the humor, some just get too uptight too quickly. Great job keep up the good work
Posted: 06:40 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Fran
haha I thought there was something strange with Kevin Stocker at #25. But I didn’t care cause I had completely forgot about how much Stocker was my favorite player back in the day.
Posted: 06:45 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 1650 Tim Malcolm
I did this because I wanted to remind everyone why I’m doing this: It’s a fun feature that allows us to look back. It’s a subjective list, of course. There is NO way to do a straight objective list in rating baseball players. It’s impossible.
I wanted people to remember this was about appreciation players, more than anything. That it’s a list makes it fun to debate. But when your “debate” is “this guy was not as good as Pete Rose” every day, it gets old. And when you threaten to stop following the blog, it’s kind of foolish. I do what I do for you guys. I wouldn’t steer you wrong.
Posted: 06:50 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Fuhs
LOL! And Rick Astley places at 24!
Posted: 07:03 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Ari
Those of us old enough to remember what the Phillies SS situation looked like before Stocker realize how valuable he was. (Look up Steve Jeltz if you’re too young or too old to remember). He’s not one of the greats, but bringing him up to fill a gap in 93 was one of the best things the Phils did to help themselves that season, and without that move there is no way they would have been NL champs. Also he later got traded for Abreu, which also turned out to be a great move. No, he isn’t one of the top 25 greats, but he sure is worthy of some appreciation. As a rookie he stepped up when it counted and did what dozens of people before him hadn’t been able to do.
Posted: 07:58 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Greg V.
I’m sorry, but wasn’t Mr. Stocker actually listed as 25 earlier today?
I was going to blast the hell out of this pick only to see that it’s now an appreciation thread!
Posted: 08:17 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 James Kay
Tim, very cool move that was timed perfectly.
Burrgundy, Wes Covington, Don Demeter, and Pete Incaviglia are all mythological Phillies figures with established cult followings even if they didn’t make the list. Wes is one of only a handful of players to have hit one out of Connie Mack stadium over the towering right field scoreboard.
Posted: 09:21 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Mike W
Speaking of Abreu, where will he be placed on this list? Certainly top 20, could we even say top 15 or top 10??
Posted: 09:52 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Griffin
That is one sweet Stadium Club card. I’m digging the pink polo, Stocker.
Posted: 09:54 PM on March 2, 2009