[Maynard13]

First off, I love baseball, I know as much as you can about the 30's and 40's because to me, those were the best years of the game.
I'm making this so I can tell people who I think the best players ever, and best player overall is, and I'll tell you know, noone who is playing now is among them, no Barry Bonds, no Mark McGuire, none of them, and here where I seperate them from the rest
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When you talk about the greatest player ever, there are many things you have to look at, their stats is the big thing everyone looks at, but to me, you need to look at more. Many players now-a-days are good, some even great, but none of them can compair to those who played before them because of steroids. And, I'll admit, I'm happy to feel that the whole steriod thing is comeing to an end, because the old players are leaving, and the new ones are coming in. But if people even think, or have evidence, or even a court testimony! that you took steroids, then you cheated to help out your game, and to me, thats means that you were never purley great.

Barry Bonds is a perfect example, he said he rubbed an "unknown substance" onto his knees because they hurt, I don't buy it. In his first 5 years in the MLB, Barry Bonds hit 117 HR's. In the past 5 years in the MLB, Barry Bonds has hit 258 HR's, and you can't tell me that its because of improvement, because he improved 141 HRs in that time. But I'm not here to talk about Bonds, I want to talk about the greatest player(s) ever, and Bonds is very very far from that list.

I'm going to give you a list of, to me the 10 greatest players ever, starting with 10, and going to 1, and I'll explain why I think they belong there, and you can tell me what you think or not, I just want to put it out there.

10- Walter Johnson- One of the most dominating starting pitchers of his time, or ever at that, Johnson deserves this spot. If not for Cy Youngs increadable abilities, I think it'd be called the Walter Johnson award. Coming in 2nd with overall wins in a career, Johnson finished with 417, he also had a winning percentage of almost .600 and ended with 660+ Complete Games

9- Hank Aaron- Even thiough he is the Homerun leader, I think he deserves this spot. Even though he was a great HomeRun hitter, and came in very well in the clutch, with the amount of seasons he played for, I think it just added to his numbers in a helpful way to when he passed Ruth. And for those who believe Ruth wouldn't retire, and thats why his numbers are so good, look at averages, Aaron averaged 37 Homeruns a season, Ruth averaged 46. But still one of the best ever, and still whopped us all with his 3,700+ hits

8- Ted Williams- Williams had one of the greatest seasons ever in 1953, batting .407, but the thing overlooked by many, is that he only played 36 games that season, so I'm going to give him his best season as 1941, batting .406 with 36 HR's and 185 hits. But in his career, his numbers are great, hes a memeber of the 500Home Run club, has 2,600 hits, and is a WWII veteran(I know thats not MLB related, but I believe many times, what you do off the fireld is important too)

7- Tris Speaker- You really need to go to your throwbacks books to read about this guy. But he definatly deservies this spot if not better, if you just look at his career numbers. He is in the top of almost every hitting catagory, he had 792 doubles, 222 triples, 3,500+ hits, and lead the league in Batting average 16 Times.

6- Charley Radbourn- Now I can believe that no one has heard of this guy, and if hes a no name, how can he be at number 6 all time, well, he was one of the best. He just had a hidden Career in the shadow of Cy Young. His increadable 59 win season in 1884, and another 48 win season in 1883, you can tell he was great. But the most amazing thing about him is that, in only 10 seasons of play, he was a 300 game winner!

5- Joe Dimmaggio- being a great player, and of great insperation t the Yankees organization, Joltin' Joe was great for his consistency, he was consistantly great. 56-game hit streak, 360+ HomeRuns, he would always come through when need. Although he was never the huge hitter, or the outstanding hitter, his ability to just get the job done, but greatly, puts him here.

4- Cy Young- everyone knows Young was the greatest Pitcher ever, but not only because of the 511 wins, Young had another edge, he could fear many batters, when they knew they were going to have to face off twards Denton Young, they would strike out with the fear of the best.

3- Ty Cobb- Even though he was a bad-ass, might have even killed a few people, Ty Cobb cannot be dis recognized for his abilities. 2nd all time in Hits, also, one of only two peolpe to have 4,000+ hits(Pete Rose). He is also in the top 5 in Stolen bases, singles, doubles, triples, and total bases. And anytime you can be in the top 5 of every type of hit, your a good hitter.

2- Babe Ruth- Everyone knows what Babe Ruth has done, his story is just unbelieveable, a bad childhood leads to a great playing career. and 714 Homeruns, and if it wasn't for him having to play pitcher a few years for Boston, I know for sure, he'd be the only MLB player with 800+ homeruns

1- Lou Gehrig- I doubt as many people think he is the best player like I do, but my main factor for him, was his sickness. What he did with what he had to work with, is unbelieveable, if he coulda had 5 more years, no telling what he could have done, and how many more World Series wins the Yankees coulda had. But because of his heart, his great ablilites, and every thing you need from skills to fans to personal life and everything in between, Herny T. Louis Gehrig, to me, is the Greatest Baseball player to ever live.



I hope you all agree with me, and liked my post...

[Chadforpresidentin08]

That Lou Gehrig thing was great, he coulda easily played more years if not for the disease. But also, watch out for Willie Mays. He was great, don't forget the Mick.
But remember, the 30's and 40's had none to scarcly any blacks in the game, so I think it was the 50's, since now people of all different colors were in, and they had talent. Don't forget Honus Wagner, Shoeless Joe Jackson, and one a lot of people forget, Carl Yaztremeski (Yaz).
I hate the Sox, but he could field, throw, and hit like a machine. I love Yaz, I'd put him top 10, and he knew how to win.
My top 10 in no order:
Carl Yaztremenski
Willie Mays
Babe Ruth
Hank Aaron
Lou Gehrig
Cy Young
Micky Mantle
Ted Williams
Duke Snider
Jimmy Fox

[gak29]

Great post, maynard. I know you love the 30's and 40's, but, to me, the best era was 47-69, peaking 51-56. Read the Boys of Summer by Roger Kahn, and you'll get it. That era was so magical, and it inspired so many.

Here's my top 10:
10. Frank Robinson- Great baseball mind, and just a supreme hitter.
9. Mickey Mantle-greatest pure power ever
8. Willie Mays-complete package and the definition of "CF"
7. Lou Gehrig- He was a man, plain and simple
6. Hank Aaron- Led the league in HR's once, never hit 50 in a year. and he's the all time leader in HR's......the epitome of consitency
5. Cy Young- 510 wins?!?!?!?! 780 CG??!?!?! Holy crap....
4. Sandy Koufax- He did things no one dreamed a pitch could do. I don't care about longevity....
3. Joe DiMaggio- such grace, and the greatest RH hitter ever. Swing is second to....
2. Ted Williams- They say his sight was 20/10. He saw the ball better than anyone, had the best swing, etc. His sight was 20/-20
1. Ruth- Why? Id really know. Maybe it's the star thing, but he was great....

[jetsfan]

In no particular order:

Cal Ripken Jr.
Frank Robinson (great manager, too)
Hank Aaron
Lou Gherig
Roger Maris
George Brett
Tony Gwynn

[MikeGangGreenFan2]

In no particular order:

Cal Ripken Jr.
Frank Robinson (great manager, too)
Hank Aaron
Lou Gherig
Roger Maris
George Brett
Tony Gwynn

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

y is ruth not on this????????????????/

[MikeGangGreenFan2]

i m going to do what i do best by saveing my self a lot of typing by agreeing with maynard.i think he top 10 is a 100 percent right.

[jetsfan]

y is ruth not on this????????????????/

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I guess he probably should be on it, but there's more to being a great ball player than just hitting homeruns. That's why you don't see Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, or Ken Griffey Jr. on my list either. But, to please the masses, my list continues:

Babe Ruth

[Alcatraz]

My top five

1. Babe Ruth
2. Mickey Mantle
3. Lou Gherig
4. Cy Young
5. Hank Aaron

[TheUltimate]

I really can't see how people can say who is the best players of all-time, and say that you favorite era of baseball was the 30's and 40's, were you around then? Everything you heard about Ruth and Walter Johnson and Shoeless Joe they are all stories.You have never seen them play. And yes you might see a few games on ESPN classic or there best games, but I don't think that is enough to declare him the best player ever. I think most peoples list are based on what they heard "sports experts" say the best players of all time are. Like I say Koufax is the best pitcher of all time, I have never seen him play, I just heard he is dominant, and I heard other people argue how good he is, and that makes me say,"Damn this guy sounds like a god, he has to be the best pitcher of all time". So for now on I am not doing the best players off all time, I will only do best players I have seen.

Griffey
A-Rod
Vlad
Ripken
Brett
Gywnn
P. Martinez
R.Johnson
G.Maddux
R.Clemens

Those are just the ones off my head that I can think of.

[Maynard13]

I know what your saying about not seeing them play, but I didn't need to, I looked at their numbers. All my top ten is based on on-the-feild numbers and off the field life. I mean I don't have to watch a game to know someone with 511 victories was great, cuz that numbers just too unreachable.
And, I still personally think the best era was the 30' and 40's cuz there wasn't any of the crap thats going on now where theres strikes, Steiroids, little kids have to pay $150 for their favorate players autograph or whatever. Never like that then, and I got that from a book.

[MikeGangGreenFan2]

little kids have to pay $150 for their favorate players autograph or whatever.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

thats right it is wrong to do that it cost a arm and a leg to get good seats then what u have to tell your kid they cant have a hat or a soda thats bullsiht and the 30s and 40s were not that way.