Player Comparison: Al Bumbry and Bake McBride

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Al Bumbry burst onto the scene in 1973, winning the Rookie of the Year award.
He was quite the dynamo, leading the American League in triples (13) and swiping 23 bases. Those numbers looked fantastic when paired up with his .337/.398.500 split.
Although he was 26 when he won the award, it looked like he was going to be a star.
The next year, the St. Louis Cardinals brought up a similar player.
Bake McBride was a steady outfielder with speed (30 stolen bases) and a good average (.309). He also won the Rookie of the Year award.
Neither player ever became household, though they did find their fair share of success at the Major League Level

Both Bumbry (right) and McBride would earn trips to the All-Star game. Bumbry went in 1970; McBride in 1976. Both would win a World Series.
Their career lines were eerily similar. McBride batted .299/.345/.420 with 63 home runs and 183 stolen bases. Bumbry batted .281/.343/.378 with 54 home runs and 254 stolen bases.
It’s hard to say one was a better player than the other. While McBride’s slash line is slightly more impressive, Bumbry retired with more extra-base hits and stolen bases.
For what its worth, McBride batted 100 points better in the postseason, .244 to .141. Neither average is particularly impressive.
Bumbry was a key cog for Earl Weaver’s Orioles when they made trips to the playoffs in 1973-74, 1979 and 1980.
After being traded to the Phillies, McBride was a key player in the Phillies’ offense in 1977-78, 80-81. He batted .304 in the World Series.
You have to wonder how McBride, who batted .313 from 1974 to 1977, and Bumbry, who stole 42 bases in one season and batted above .310 twice, never developed into stars.
That said, you can’t question that they had very memorable and successful career.

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