But alas Baseball historians are a notable for their inability to process a rational thought... OK So I'm older but I'm picking Koufax... he dominated all batters for only a 1/2 decade or so but it was pure domination from someone who was 5'8" maybe 160 at his heaviest. Fastball at 95 and then a curve that broke 3+ feet. 4 Cy Young awards in 5 years is a feat only the likes of CK is going to pull off. Blew out his elbow before some hack reliever named Tommy John became a human lab experiment. HGH and roids didn't exist back then. Sandy had pure skill. #2 pitcher might be the toss up of Nolan Ryan who while not possessing awesome control like Koufax he still struck out everyone with pure blinding speed... until his mid 40's! which is impressive in its own right. Maddux was a great craftsman pitcher but I always got the impression that he was 1 ball away from falling apart but somehow he just kept winning. Loved the bulldog Hershiser but he also last but a short time. Best position players? Mays had the fastest wrists and played a deadly CF but fuck him he was a Gnat. Aaron broke the HR record but was never so impressive. Clemente had the cannon arm like Puig and averaged over .300 for a career so he's worth a nod or two. Jeter was a damned Yankee, thus also hated, but twice I've watched him jump in the air, catch a throw from the OF, and turn and fire a strike to the plate before landing. Made it look easy. but best? Nah... Maybe Pujols for a few years... Fuck ARoid while binging on roids, Big Mac on roids, Bonds on roids, Manny on roids, Clemons on roids etc...
Just contemplated this a bit more and I'm sure that BZ, Tuborg and Irish will agree that we MUST consider Bob Gibson back in the '68 - '70 time frame after Koufax retired. For again another half decade or so he was lights out before he faded. 1.12 ERA in 1968 with 13 shutouts. Pure Dominance. Lifetime 2.91 ERA, 251 Wins, 3117 K's, 2 Cy Young's, 2 Rings... even fading late those are stout #'s
GTFO with that mess. I was thinking when is F Youk gonna help a brother out and you come in with THE most overrated SS in modern history. ullhair:
Are some other guys more talented? Sure, but talent doesn't mean shit on DL. There is thread after thread on this site about injury, we're a week into the season and only talk about one team on this site. Cal did something no in pro ball does, he plays every day and puts up consistent numbers. You dont have to put an asterisk next what he does limiting the discussion to "when healthy" You can talk about babe ruth all you want, no one on this site saw him play
To be honest, I've only seen Cal Ripken play for maybe a handful of at bats. If it wasn't for postseason play and ESPN's ad nauseam love affair with everything Yankee/Red Sock, I might be saying the same of Derek Jeter, Pedro Martinez, and everyone else in the AL. So for the purpose of this discussion I, personally, wouldn't consider Cal Ripken. But not because I don't think he was great, but because I don't feel like I can really say I've seen him play.
here's the deal... the opening post doesn't ask for the greatest player, but the greatest player you've ever seen imo ripken is a 19-time all star, rookie of the year, two gold gloves, and two-time mvp no doubt in my mind he's one of the greatest players ever -- a first ballot hall of famer but like other great players in my lifetime, i didn't personally see him play the choices are very personal and subjective -- there really isn't a right or wrong choice, just different opinions for instance, pete rose (the player) would definitely made my list but i felt choosing him would have been a bit hypocritical since i've opted to exclude all the juicers side note... can't believe i forgot to mention someone i saw play more than a few times johnny bench
Simple. I'm a Dodger fan, not so much a baseball fan. He played in 3000 games, but 0 against the Dodgers.
Ken Griffey jr for me. I know he was always hurt but when he was out there he was so fun to watch. His sweet swing, his defense, the memorable moments. I still wonder what more he would have accomplished had he stayed healthy.
Needles Schmeedles...... Everybody was doing it so if these guys wanted to shrink their balls and die at age 54 just to entertain me? Let them! Dodgers-wise it's gotta be Manny and Game Over! Who else in blue has dominated like them in our era, EVER?!?
