Our Gold Glove analysis on MLB Monday returns today to look at the second half of the 1990s and explore those players who deserved to win awards for their defensive prowess—but did not, ever, in their careers. It’s that idea that if someone doesn’t win it in their best year, they’ll still win a Gold Glove at some point. Yet, no: these players were deserving, in more years than one, usually, and they never got the GG vote love.

Mike Bordick, SS: As a second baseman in 1991-1992, he compiled 2.1 dWAR before switching to shortstop. There, from 1994-1999, he earned a 10.7 dWAR total without ever winning the GG vote. In 1999, specifically, Bordick posted 2.8 dWAR, the highest defensive value in the American League. Still, no Gold Glove. For his career, he put up 16.6 dWAR at second, third, and short—including 2.2 dWAR in 2002 at age 36. Stunning.

Sammy Sosa, RF: It’s easy to see the reality of his PED use in his dWAR splits. From 1993-1997, Sosa compiled 7.6 dWAR without winning a Gold Glove. From 1998 to the end of his career in 2007, he was a nightmare defender (negative-8.2 dWAR). It’s obvious how the bulk hurt his fielding. Nonetheless, Sosa peaked with 2.2 dWAR in 1996 and was not rewarded for it. Maybe that’s why he went to the Dark Side.

Benji Gil, SS: With his career 2.8 WAR, he clearly had no bat, as his 5.9 dWAR over eight seasons demonstrates. However, in 1995 and 1997, specifically, he posted 1.9 dWAR each year without winning a Gold Glove. And yes, both seasons, he put up negative oWAR value, so there’s that. It’s harder to get notice for your defense when your offense amounts to a black hole in your team’s lineup. Those are the waters.

José Valentín, SS: He also played second and third effectively in his career (13.6 dWAR). In fact, he had at least one season of 1.0-plus dWAR at each of those positions. But he never won a GG vote, even when he posted 2.2 dWAR in 1996 at short. His 2.6 oWAR that year was also a career high at the time, though he got no love from the voters. By the way, at age 36 in 2006, he still managed to earn 1.9 dWAR at second. Wow!

Dan Wilson, C: His 80 OPS+ career mark was offset by 10.9 dWAR, and from 1995-1997, he put up 5.6 dWAR without winning a Gold Glove. He did get an All-Star nod in 1996, though, when he posted 2.2 dWAR. That was some recognition, even if not a specifically defensive one. But even in 1997 when he managed a career-best 2.7 oWAR and an excellent 2.0 dWAR, he wasn’t acknowledged for any of it. What more could he do?

Brian Jordan, RF: In 1996, he topped the National League with 2.2 dWAR and did not win a Gold Glove. From 1995-2001, he was a premier defensive right fielder, too, combining for 10.3 dWAR. Even in 1998 when he posted a career-best 4.5 oWAR to go with a 2.0 dWAR mark, he didn’t win the GG vote, make the All-Star team, or earn any MVP votes—which seems unreal to us for a guy having that great of a season. Just wrong.

Alex Gonzalez, SS: No, not the 2003 World Series one. He compiled 5.6 dWAR in a four-season span from 1996-1999 and also posted 2.0 dWAR in 2001, all with the Toronto Blue Jays. He never won a Gold Glove vote, either, of course. His 13-season career was entirely based on his defense reputation, although he did have a few negative-value seasons with the glove, too. Again, we know everyone can’t win one, but … still.

Mark McLemore, 2B: One of the first real utility guys (playing six positions in his career, overall), he had his best season in 1996 at second base with 2.3 dWAR. That was his age-31 season, and he also posted 2.5 oWAR that year for a career high at the time. He also did it for a division winner, so it’s odd it went unrewarded—especially considering his position. He didn’t even get an All-Star acknowledgement. Sucks.

Jeff Cirillo, 3B: For three different teams, from 1997-2002, he compiled 9.4 dWAR while also earning 17.5 oWAR—and never won a Gold Glove. He get two All-Star berths in that stretch, though, so that eases some of the pain, but come on! Interestingly, that span encompasses his entire prime, from ages 27-32. And he really was at his best, as his dWAR went negative for a few years starting at age 33. He deserved better, yo.

Darren Bragg, OF: Yeah, his 11-year career didn’t amount to much (9.0 WAR), but for one season (1997), he was very good on defense, at least, with a 2.2 dWAR mark. He earned 1.5 oWAR that year, which was also a career high. That was his age-27 season and a clear peak in his career, as he primarily roamed centerfield at Fenway Park that year. It’s actually impressive he parlayed that performance into contracts through 2004.

Rondell White, OF: We’re actually surprised he never won a GG vote. He just seems like a guy who would have won one at some point. Yet he was a one-season wonder with 2.7 dWAR in 1997, his only season over 1.0 dWAR in his 15-year career. He transitioned to designated-hitter work by 2000, really, however, so he was never that good of a defender. Weird how our perceptions prove to be so wrong so many years later.

Miguel Cairo, 2B: Another one-season wonder, really, for his 2.6 dWAR in 1998 with the expansion Tampa Bay franchise. His 1.0 oWAR that season represented one of his few offensive seasons to earn that much, as well. He was a rookie that year, and perhaps he was never better in his 17-season (!) career, ending up with just 2.9 dWAR total. Still, it’s an incredible mark to post and then be chasing for the rest of your life, right?

Deivi Cruz, SS: From 1998-2000, he compiled 4.8 dWAR without winning a Gold Glove, and we already have explored his probable PED use in the 2000s. He also managed 4.6 oWAR from 1998-2000, so Cruz wasn’t always a zero at the plate. Ironically, he finished fourth in the 1997 AL ROTY vote, despite posting negative overall value (and just 0.6 dWAR). It’s always weird to look back and analyze baseball statistics.

Damion Easley, 2B: Speaking of Detroit infielders, he joined Cruz in 1998-2000 with 4.5 dWAR, forming a nice pair of up-the-middle gloves. His 8.6 oWAR was significantly better, though, yet it did not get him any attention from the GG voters, either. However, Easley was an All-Star selection in 1998, so there’s that. The 2000 season was his age-30 year, and his defense certainly went on the decline after that peak stretch.

Chris Singleton, CF: His career lasted only 704 regular-season games across six seasons with four teams, as his bat disappeared after his rookie year in 1999. He finished sixth in the AL ROTY vote that year with 2.6 oWAR and 2.4 dWAR, and it was that promise which kept him in the majors for as long as he was there. He never came close to those marks again, really, and he obviously didn’t win a Gold Glove for the effort, either.

Rey Sánchez, SS: This is another one that surprises us. With 20.8 career dWAR, how could there not have been a Gold Glove in there? He posted 2.8 dWAR in 1999, and then he topped MLB in dWAR two years in a row (2000-2001) with 6.2 dWAR combined. How do voters ignore that kind of wizardry in the field?! Probably the bat. His 1.6 oWAR mark in 1999 was a career high, and that didn’t even help him win a GG.