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THE Player of Each Decade (since 1900)

scmavlscmavl Posts: 1,409 ✭✭✭
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
Which player do you think defined each decade in the modern era? Note, I didn't say they were the BEST player, but the one who when you think of that decade, he is the first one that comes to mind...

And to keep it on topic, please post a scan of an item or two you own of those players.

1900's:
1910's:
1920's:
1930's:
1940's:
1950's:
1960's:
1970's:
1980's:
1990's:
2000's:

I think the only one that would get ZERO argument is the 1920's, as Babe Ruth defined that decade.

Here is a Ruth item I have, a Type I photo from 1947 of the Babe after a fishing trip:

image

Apologies for the phone pic


2.5 is pretty much my speed.

Comments

  • mattinglymint23mattinglymint23 Posts: 1,261 ✭✭
    +1
    1970's alternate is a Munson/Jackson combo
  • IronmanfanIronmanfan Posts: 5,503 ✭✭✭✭
    1980's George Brett

    IMF
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  • FavreFan1971FavreFan1971 Posts: 3,103 ✭✭✭
    1900s - Honus Wagner
    1910s - Ty Cobb
    1920s - Babe Ruth
    1930s - Babe Ruth
    1940s - Joe DiMaggio
    1950s - Mickey Mantle
    1960s - Hank Aaron
    1970s - Reggie Jackson
    1980s - Rickey Henderson
    1990s - Ken Griffey Jr.
    2000s - Barry Bonds (4 straight MVP's) - Yeah he cheated but that is what the era did.
  • epatmythesepatmythes Posts: 1,514 ✭✭✭
    1900's: Cy Young
    1910's: Ty Cobb
    1920's: Babe Ruth
    1930's: Lou Gehrig
    1940's: Ted Williams
    1950's: Mickey Mantle
    1960's: Willie Mays
    1970's: Reggie Jackson
    1980's: Rickey Henderson
    1990's: Barry Bonds
    2000's: Albert Pujols

    Some of my pride & joys...

    imageimage

    And two ridiculously difficult pop 2 PSA 10's...
    imageimage
  • FavreFan1971FavreFan1971 Posts: 3,103 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    Some of my pride & joys...


    And two ridiculously difficult pop 2 PSA 10's...
    imageimage >>



    Nice cards!
  • matthewbschultz83matthewbschultz83 Posts: 1,259 ✭✭✭
    I misread the original instructions. I would agree Jackson might have defined the 70s. Maybe Charlie Hustle. I was going with 'best.' Top 3 best players of the 1970s were all Reds, followed by Craig Nettles. My mistake.
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    image

    Building Sets, Collecting Texas Rangers, and Texas Tech Red Raiders
  • scmavlscmavl Posts: 1,409 ✭✭✭
    I know he was only there for half of it, but does anyone think the 60's belonged to Koufax?
    2.5 is pretty much my speed.
  • matthewbschultz83matthewbschultz83 Posts: 1,259 ✭✭✭
    By Wins Above Replacement the best player of the decade - often that is who we think of when we think of who defined the decade.

    1900s: Honus Wagner and Cy Young
    1910s: Ty Cobb and Walter Johnson
    1920s: Babe Ruth and Dazzy Vance
    1930s: Jimmy Foxx (Lou Gehrig was a very, very close second) and Lefty Grove
    1940s: Ted Williams and Hal Newhouser
    1950s: Mickey Mantle and Robin Roberts
    1960s: Willie Mays and Bob Gibson
    1970s: Joe Morgan and Tom Seaver
    1980s: Rickey Henderson and Nolan Ryan
    1990s: Barry Bonds and Greg Maddux
    2000s: Alex Rodriguez and Randy Johnson
    2010s: Ryan Braun and Justin Verlander

    To me the only hitter that doesn't have a claim as the decade definer (excluding the 2010s) would be Joe Morgan and Seaver might.
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  • BobbyVCPBobbyVCP Posts: 755 ✭
    1900-1909 Wagner and Johnson (Can't be Cobb he was towards the end of that decade)
    1911-1920 Cobb and Johnson (Can't be Ruth he was towards the end of that decade)
    1921-1930 RUTH, Hornsby-The guy batted over .400 for a 6 year span.
  • JoeBanzaiJoeBanzai Posts: 12,003 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1960's HARMON KILLEBREW

    image

    Joe
    2013,14 and 15 Certificate Award Winner Harmon Killebrew Master Set and Master Topps Set
  • Yankees001Yankees001 Posts: 1,496 ✭
    1880's King Kelly / Charles Radbourn
    1890's Cap Anson / Cy Young
    1900's: Honus Wagner / Christy Mathewson
    1910's: Ty Cobb / Walter Johnson
    1920's: Babe Ruth / Grover Alexander
    1930's: Lou Gehrig / Lefty Grove
    1940's: Ted Williams / Bob Feller
    1950's: Stan Musial / Warren Spahn
    1960's: Willie Mays / Whitey Ford
    1970's: Lou Brock / Nolan Ryan
    1980's: Mike Schmidt / Nolan Ryan
    1990's: Rickey Henderson / Randy Johnson
    2000's: Derek Jeter / CC "The Wale" Sabathia

  • stevegarveyfanstevegarveyfan Posts: 579 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1900's: Honus Wagner
    1910's: Ty Cobb
    1920's: Babe Ruth
    1930's: Lou Gehrig
    1940's: Ted Williams
    1950's: Mickey Mantle
    1960's: Willie Mays
    1970's: Pete Rose
    1980's: Mike Schmidt
    1990's: Barry Bonds
    2000's: Albert Pujols
  • BGSXYMARKBGSXYMARK Posts: 240
    1900's: Honus Wagner
    1910's: Ty Cobb
    1920's: Babe Ruth
    1930's: Lou Gehrig
    1940's: Ted Williams
    1950's: Mickey Mantle
    1960's: Willie Mays
    1970's: Pete Rose
    1980's: Mike Schmidt
    1990's: Barry Bonds
    2000's: Albert Pujols

    +1
    MARK AGGSON
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  • dontippetdontippet Posts: 2,609 ✭✭✭✭
    80's - I like the Henderson picks. My first thought was Schmidt. I don't think anyone has yet picked Rose, but I almost have to give the decade to Rose. If you look at "popularity", then Rose is hands down the winner. In the 80's I can't think of another player that the "non-fan" would know.
    > [Click on this link to see my ebay listings.](https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=&amp;_in_kw=1&amp;_ex_kw=&amp;_sacat=0&amp;_udlo=&amp;_udhi=&amp;_ftrt=901&amp;_ftrv=1&amp;_sabdlo=&amp;_sabdhi=&amp;_samilow=&amp;_samihi=&amp;_sadis=15&amp;_stpos=61611&amp;_sargn=-1&saslc=1&amp;_salic=1&amp;_fss=1&amp;_fsradio=&LH_SpecificSeller=1&amp;_saslop=1&amp;_sasl=mygirlsthree3&amp;_sop=12&amp;_dmd=1&amp;_ipg=50&amp;_fosrp=1)
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  • scmavlscmavl Posts: 1,409 ✭✭✭


    << <i>1880's King Kelly / Charles Radbourn
    1890's Cap Anson / Cy Young
    1900's: Honus Wagner / Christy Mathewson
    1910's: Ty Cobb / Walter Johnson
    1920's: Babe Ruth / Grover Alexander
    1930's: Lou Gehrig / Lefty Grove
    1940's: Ted Williams / Bob Feller
    1950's: Stan Musial / Warren Spahn
    1960's: Willie Mays / Whitey Ford
    1970's: Lou Brock / Nolan Ryan
    1980's: Mike Schmidt / Nolan Ryan
    1990's: Rickey Henderson / Randy Johnson
    2000's: Derek Jeter / CC "The Wale" Sabathia >>



    As much as I like Musial, I think Mantle defined the 50's more than Stan did. I do think Stan was a better player but he is not the legend Mick is.
    2.5 is pretty much my speed.
  • NVbaseballNVbaseball Posts: 572
    Seems no one else agrees with some of these:

    00s Wagner
    10s Cobb
    20s Ruth
    30s Gehrig
    40s Robinson
    50s Mantle
    60s Maris
    70s Clemente
    80s Gooden
    90s McGwire
    2000s Rodriguez
    2010s Hamilton
  • Yankees001Yankees001 Posts: 1,496 ✭
    Mantle's legend is greater than he was.

    I'll take reality, over the legend. Yes, I'm a Yankee fan. Yes, I am saying Mantle is over rated.

    Sometimes the truth hurts, just accept it.

    Dave
  • LodiBrewFanLodiBrewFan Posts: 564 ✭
    80's Dale Murphy
    Scoreboard Malfunction
  • Indy78Indy78 Posts: 806 ✭✭✭
    Following your instructions, these are the individuals that first come to my mind by decade. I've excluded 1900-1929 - sorry, I just don't know alot about these decades:

    1930s - Babe Ruth
    1940s - Joe DiMaggio
    1950s - Mickey Mantle
    1960s - Bob Gibson
    1970s - Reggie Jackson
    1980s - George Brett
    1990s - Greg Maddux
    2000s - Derek Jeter
  • lightningboylightningboy Posts: 1,483 ✭✭✭
    1900's Wagner
    1910's Cobb
    1920's Ruth
    1930's Ruth
    1940's Dimaggio
    1950's Mantle
    1960's Mays/Koufax
    1970's Rose/Jackson
    1980's Mattingly
    1990's Bonds/Griffey/Clemens -PED aside
    2000's Pujols
  • frankhardyfrankhardy Posts: 8,141 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Try not to look at my signature picture and my avatar.....

    How can anybody BUT Pujols be mentioned for the 2000's decade? Could someone explain that, please.

    Jeter is a great player and a HOF'er, but... oh, never mind.

    Shane

  • PowderedH2OPowderedH2O Posts: 2,443 ✭✭
    From the responses from a number of you, perhaps the questions "Which player?" and "Which Yankee?" are the same question.
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  • estangestang Posts: 1,355 ✭✭✭
    We have a winner. I like this list -- I'd put Rod Carew a strong second in 1970s image

    1900's: Cy Young
    1910's: Ty Cobb
    1920's: Babe Ruth
    1930's: Lou Gehrig
    1940's: Ted Williams
    1950's: Mickey Mantle
    1960's: Willie Mays
    1970's: Reggie Jackson
    1980's: Rickey Henderson
    1990's: Barry Bonds
    2000's: Albert Pujols
    Enjoy your collection!
    Erik
  • frankhardyfrankhardy Posts: 8,141 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Try not to look at my signature picture and my avatar.....

    How can anybody BUT Pujols be mentioned for the 2000's decade? Could someone explain that, please.

    Jeter is a great player and a HOF'er, but... oh, never mind. >>






    Because "defining a decade" is more than who the best player was. Essentially 100% of housewives who don't follow baseball have no idea who Pujols is. I'm guessing as much as 25%, or even higher, have heard of Derek Jeter and know that he is at least an athlete, and probably a baseball player, and that he plays for the Yankees. That's why DiMaggio is the clear choice for me for the 1940s even though Williams was better. Or why Ruth defined the 1930s even though he played only half of it and it was his declining years. THOSE are the players that every epitomizes with those time periods IMO. Then as well as now. I'm putting aside as much of my fan bias to arrive at those conclusions. Jeter IMO is hands down the choice. One might even say Bonds because steroids was such a huge topic and he was the face of that but even still, I would go with Jeter. >>




    I understand your argument. I really do. I just do not agree. The title of this thread is the PLAYER of the decade. To me, that means - "Who is the BEST player from each decade?" This is not thread that means "Who is the MOST POPULAR player of each decade?" If this was a "most popular" thread, I would agree with Derek Jeter for the 2000's. But to say that Derek Jeter was a better player than Albert Pujols for that 10 year period is...well, I'll be nice. image

    Shane

  • frankhardyfrankhardy Posts: 8,141 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Did you not read the original post and just started typing after reading the thread title??? >>




    Ummmmmmm.......yep! image


    Now, there might be an argument to be made. I still go with Pujols, but you do have an argument.

    Shane

  • Mickey71Mickey71 Posts: 4,259 ✭✭✭✭
    1900's: Cy Young/Mathewson
    1910's: Ty Cobb...hands down
    1920's: Babe Ruth...hands down
    1930's: Lou Gehrig....Fox second
    1940's: Joe Dimaggio...Williams second
    1950's: Mickey Mantle....defined the 50's
    1960's: Willie Mays.......one of the tougher picks for me....Koufax second.........When I think of 60's...Maris does clearly come to mind
    1970's: Hank Aaron.....his milestone accomplishments in this decade are amazing..........."he's sitting on 714" ....Reggie second
    1980's: Pete Rose....the hit record...Henderson second
    1990's: Ken Griffey///he was just more exciting than Bonds
    2000's: Albert Pujols....no one played the entire decade the way he did

    These are fun lists
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