who is the greatest player ever?

[thecomic]

Re: who is the greatest player ever?

This is ethnocentric. The negro leagues shouldn't be held up to the standard of major league baseball. The stats will never exist to solve this dilemma, but personally I think it's rational to assume that the best negro league players and major league players before Jackie Robinson were contemporaries in skill much like they are today, or like Mays and Mantle were, Andre Dawson and Gary Carter, Bonds and McGwire... etc.

While many baseball people WHO WOULD KNOW note there were players just as talented as Ruth, such as Mays, Ted Williams, Charleston, Cobb...etc, Ruth was a truly ingenious player for his time and dominated in a way no other player in history has... although Bonds certainly is reminiscent of that.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

You have a good point here, and another good underlying point- any player that played prior to the breaking of the color line (MLB or Negro Leagues) played against diluted competition.

Todays players are the greatest, because they come, not only from all races, but also from all over the world. The best of the best. That has only been the case in recent years.

[cookusu]

Re: who is the greatest player ever?

We had a very similar discussion a month of so ago.

Excellent arguments could be made for Ruth, Mays, Bonds, Aaron, Williams, maybe Cobb, Hornsby, Wagner and Musial.

Then the negro leagues throw a whole different angle into it, since white papers didn't cover them people seem to think any information about them isn't authentic. Some of it is myth or legend, just as it is with Ruth or Cobb and Mantle.

[cookusu]

Re: who is the greatest player ever?

We had a very similar discussion a month of so ago.

Excellent arguments could be made for Ruth, Mays, Bonds, Aaron, Williams, maybe Cobb, Hornsby, Wagner and Musial.

Then the negro leagues throw a whole different angle into it, since white papers didn't cover them people seem to think any information about them isn't authentic. Some of it is myth or legend, just as it is with Ruth or Cobb and Mantle.

[cookusu]

Re: who is the greatest player ever?

We had a very similar discussion a month of so ago.

Excellent arguments could be made for Ruth, Mays, Bonds, Aaron, Williams, maybe Cobb, Hornsby, Wagner and Musial.

Then the negro leagues throw a whole different angle into it, since white papers didn't cover them people seem to think any information about them isn't authentic. Some of it is myth or legend, just as it is with Ruth or Cobb and Mantle.

[imported_Administrator]

Re: who is the greatest player ever?

As a Pirate fan I always have a sentimental pick of Roberto Clemente. Had his life not been taken away in that flight to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in 72 he could have had 2 or 3 years left.

That same year he hit .312

.345 .351 .342 .312 batting averages his last 4 years (age 35-38)...


The greatest right-fielder to ever play the game of baseball and one of the greatest players for his off the field actions.

[imported_Administrator]

Re: who is the greatest player ever?

As a Pirate fan I always have a sentimental pick of Roberto Clemente. Had his life not been taken away in that flight to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in 72 he could have had 2 or 3 years left.

That same year he hit .312

.345 .351 .342 .312 batting averages his last 4 years (age 35-38)...


The greatest right-fielder to ever play the game of baseball and one of the greatest players for his off the field actions.

[imported_Administrator]

Re: who is the greatest player ever?

As a Pirate fan I always have a sentimental pick of Roberto Clemente. Had his life not been taken away in that flight to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in 72 he could have had 2 or 3 years left.

That same year he hit .312

.345 .351 .342 .312 batting averages his last 4 years (age 35-38)...


The greatest right-fielder to ever play the game of baseball and one of the greatest players for his off the field actions.

[thecomic]

Re: who is the greatest player ever?

I'm changing my vote to Dickie Thon.

[thecomic]

Re: who is the greatest player ever?

I'm changing my vote to Dickie Thon.

[thecomic]

Re: who is the greatest player ever?

I'm changing my vote to Dickie Thon.

[thecomic]

Re: who is the greatest player ever?

No wait, Buddy Biancalana- that's my final answer

[thecomic]

Re: who is the greatest player ever?

No wait, Buddy Biancalana- that's my final answer

[thecomic]

Re: who is the greatest player ever?

No wait, Buddy Biancalana- that's my final answer

[bkrich83]

Re: who is the greatest player ever?

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
You have a good point here, and another good underlying point- any player that played prior to the breaking of the color line (MLB or Negro Leagues) played against diluted competition

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Yes although the same thing could be said for Bonds. Back when Ruth played there were far fewer teams in the league, so there were also far fewer marginal players. In todays game Bonds is facing a lot of pitching, who if the league had the same amount of teams as back in Ruth's era, would be pitching in the minors.

I think the dilution of picthing talent as well as the shrinking of ballparks has as much to do with the recent homerun explosion as does the bigger stronger hitters.

As for greatest player, it's tough to say. I never saw Ruth or Gibson or Williams play. But I can say Bonds is the greatest player I have ever seen, with throwing ability being his only weakness. Tony Gwynn was the greatest pure hitter I have ever seen also. (Was also a base stealer and multiple winner of Gold Gloves).

So for me, I would say my vote goes to Bonds.

[bkrich83]

Re: who is the greatest player ever?

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
You have a good point here, and another good underlying point- any player that played prior to the breaking of the color line (MLB or Negro Leagues) played against diluted competition

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Yes although the same thing could be said for Bonds. Back when Ruth played there were far fewer teams in the league, so there were also far fewer marginal players. In todays game Bonds is facing a lot of pitching, who if the league had the same amount of teams as back in Ruth's era, would be pitching in the minors.

I think the dilution of picthing talent as well as the shrinking of ballparks has as much to do with the recent homerun explosion as does the bigger stronger hitters.

As for greatest player, it's tough to say. I never saw Ruth or Gibson or Williams play. But I can say Bonds is the greatest player I have ever seen, with throwing ability being his only weakness. Tony Gwynn was the greatest pure hitter I have ever seen also. (Was also a base stealer and multiple winner of Gold Gloves).

So for me, I would say my vote goes to Bonds.