McCovey was three times the National League leader in homers and slugging percentage, and twice led the league in runs batted in. Perez might have been more consistent over a longer span, but he never led the league in a significant statistical category. That figure is higher than Mickey Mantle's career total, but it sometimes suffers under close scrutiny. Few players in baseball history have benefitted more from the hitters ahead of them than Tony Perez. In 1976, Pete Rose, Ken Griffey and Joe Morgan reached base more than 800 times.
RBIs are highly revered in baseball.
They're part of the Triple Crown, the Holy Trinity. That's where a lot of baseball money is paid. I'm persuaded that if I had a vote, I would not vote for Tony Perez. I like the guy, and if he goes in and it makes him happy, great. Numbers never tell the whole story of a baseball career, of course, but they are crucial to Tony Perez's borderline case for Cooperstown.