D-backs’ Top 5 first basemen: Gilbert’s take
No one loves a good debate quite like baseball fans, and with that in mind, we asked each of our beat reporters to rank the top five players by position in the history of their franchise, based on their career while playing for that club. These rankings are for fun
No one loves a good debate quite like baseball fans, and with that in mind, we asked each of our beat reporters to rank the top five players by position in the history of their franchise, based on their career while playing for that club. These rankings are for fun and debate purposes only. We also asked fans to weigh in on Twitter:
As part of our continuing series at dbacks-dot-com, I ranked the 5 best 1B in franchise history. Goldschmidt was easy for the top spot, but who would you have ranked 2nd?
— Steve Gilbert (@SteveGilbertMLB) March 31, 2020
Here is Steve Gilbert’s ranking of the top five first basemen in D-backs history. Next week: second basemen.
1. Paul Goldschmidt, 2011-18
Key fact: 40.7 bWAR with D-backs is second only to Randy Johnson in franchise history
Fun fact: Presented his father with his second Gold Glove Award as a way of saying thank you for all the years he hit him grounders and threw him batting practice
It’s hard to believe just how overlooked
But Goldschmidt made those evaluations look foolish after he got to the big leagues in 2011. During his seven-plus years with the D-backs, Goldschmidt finished second in the National League MVP race twice and third once. He collected four Silver Slugger awards and three Gold Gloves while appearing in six All-Star Games.
The D-backs dealt Goldschmidt, who was one year away from free agency, to the Cardinals prior to the 2019 season and got a good return for him in right-hander Luke Weaver, catcher Carson Kelly and Minor Leaguer Andy Young. Still, general manager Mike Hazen was well aware of the fact that Goldschmidt had become the face of the franchise for this generation of D-backs fans.
“I mean look, I’m going to go down forever as the one who traded Paul Goldschmidt,” Hazen said. “That’s never going to change.”
• D-backs’ Top 5 catchers: Gilbert’s take
2. Erubiel Durazo, 1999-2002
Key fact: Hit .364 in the 2001 World Series
Fun fact: Resides in Hermosillo, Mexico, and serves as advisor for D-backs team president/CEO Derrick Hall
But man, could Durazo get on base. His on-base percentages starting in 1999 were .422, .373, .372 and .395.
“Such a quick bat with explosive power,” former GM Joe Garagiola Jr. said. “And he was good defensively. You look at him and you might not think of that, but he was.”
Durazo went from Hermosillo to Tucson, Ariz., to live with a family so that he could play high school baseball and hopefully be drafted. He was passed over in the MLB Draft in 1993 and, after going to Pima Community College in Tucson, again went undrafted in 1995. The D-backs signed him out of the Mexican League in 1998 when he was playing for the Monterrey Sultans, with whom the D-backs had a working agreement.
3. Conor Jackson, 2005-10
Key fact: Taking out his rookie year and illness-marred 2009-10, Jackson hit .292/.371/.451 with the D-backs
Fun fact: His father, John M. Jackson, is a renowned actor best known for playing Admiral A.J. Chegwidden in the TV series “JAG”
In the spring of 2009, Jackson contracted valley fever, which caused him to be extremely fatigued. While most people are able to recover from a bout with valley fever, Jackson’s lingered and he was never the same player again.
“We all thought he was going to be ‘The Guy,’” said Garagiola, who was GM when the club drafted Jackson. “He got that valley fever and just never recovered. 'Sad' is the right word. It was so unfair for him. He had outstanding makeup, from a great family, all the potential in the world.”
4. Greg Colbrunn, 1999-2002 and 2004
Key fact: Had a .384 on-base percentage and a .911 OPS in an Arizona uniform
Fun fact: Has won two championships while managing in the D-backs' annual Fantasy Camp
The D-backs tried to sign Colbrunn prior to their inaugural 1998 season, but with Travis Lee set to be the starter, Colbrunn elected to go to Colorado, where he would have the opportunity to play every day. The following offseason, though, the D-backs were able to sign him. While he didn’t play a ton at first for the D-backs, he raked when he did. The most games he played in a single season for the D-backs came in 2000, when he appeared in 116 games -- 99 at first base -- and hit .313/.405/.523.
“In his own way, he was as important a guy that we had during that run of success,” Garagiola said. “Colby was always ready. I told him, ‘You’re going to be a terrific manager one day.’”
5. Mark Grace, 2001-03
Key fact: Started game-winning rally in the bottom of the ninth in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series
Fun fact: Came on to pitch during a blowout game in 2002 and gave up a homer to David Ross, the first of his career
But he’ll always be best remembered as the guy who led off the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7 of the 2001 World Series with a base hit against Yankees closer Mariano Rivera. The D-backs rallied for a pair of runs in the inning to beat the Yankees.
“He was such a perfect fit for that team,” Garagiola said. “Veteran guy, the moment was never too big for him.”
Steve Gilbert has covered the D-backs for MLB.com since 2001. Follow him on Twitter @SteveGilbertMLB.