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OK One More...NOW! Who is the greatest team of all-time? Let the whinning begin!
KalineFan
Posts: 868
in Sports Talk
This team of mine is NOT etched in stone! LOL!
Not my favorites, just who I thought were the best based on any and all knowledge that I know of MLB.
C Johnny Bench
1B Lou Gehrig
2B Jackie Robinson
SS Honus Wagner
3b Brooks Robinson/Mike Schmidt
LF Babe Ruth
CF Willie Mays
RF Roberto Clemente
DH Mickey Mantle
RHP Walter Johnson
LHP Sandy Koufax
Bullpen Bob Gibson
Manager Connie Mack
Coaches Walter Alston Yogi Berra
Let the games begin!
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I believe the idea here is to post your own lineup, not critique the opinion of others.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
<< <i>I believe the idea here is to post your own lineup, not critique the opinion of others. >>
Kalinefan asked for whining. You don't think we're going to whine about our own selections, do you?
<< I believe the idea here is to post your own lineup, not critique the opinion of others. >>
Kalinefan asked for whining. You don't think we're going to whine about our own selections, do you?
Of course, my comment was purely tongue-in-cheek. BTW: There aren't any modern era players who could beat out any of the guys in that lineup, IMO. Players today may be much better conditioned, but hitting is a lot easier, too, due to expansion, mediocre pitching and bandbox ballparks. Not to mention the aspect of "artificial" enhancements.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
Steve
<< <i>I woulda had Eddie Gaedel at DH. >>
he had a good eye and his OBP was hard to beat.
<< <i>as a turd in a punchbowl. >>
I know it's not a punchbowl but this was the first image that came to my mind
<< <i>
<< <i>I woulda had Eddie Gaedel at DH. >>
he had a good eye and his OBP was hard to beat. >>
I'd have Eddie pitching as well. There were rumors back in his day that he could throw a 100 MPH fastball.
Of course that was when using a slingshot, but I've never seen a baseball rules manual yet which stated a slingshot could not be used to pitch.
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<< <i>
<< <i>as a turd in a punchbowl. >>
I know it's not a punchbowl but this was the first image that came to my mind
I remember that scene from the movie Jaws because they played the Jaws music during that scene. I hate to spoil this movie scene for anybody who hasn't seen it yet, but that wasn't actually a turd - turned out to be a funny looking minnow.
2b Rogers Hornsby
3b Mike Schmidt
SS Honus Wagner
C Johnny Bench, if only MLB, if not then it would be Josh Gibson
OF Ty Cobb, Willie Mays, Babe Ruth
DH Ted Williams
RP Walter Johnson
LP Lefty Grove
MGR John McGraw
JS
C Johnny Bench
1B Lou Gehrig
2B Jackie Robinson
SS Honus Wagner
3b Mike Schmidt
LF Babe Ruth
CF Willie Mays
RF Ty Cobb
DH Mickey Mantle
Pinch hitter Pete Rose
RHP Walter Johnson
LHP Sandy Koufax
Bullpen Goose Gossage
Go Phillies
C - Piazza (by far the greatest offensive catcher ever, his offense overcomes all defensive shortfalls)
1B - Gerhig
2B - Morgan (always forgotten, but he was an on base machine, stole a ton of bases, and an excellent fielder)
SS - Wagner
3B - Schmidt
OF - Ruth, Willams, Mays
SP's - Lefty Grove (the most underrated of any HOF pitcher, easily one of the best ever), Clemens, W. Johnson, Gibson, Koufax
CL - Wilhelm
2nd team:
C - Bench
1B - Pujols
2B - Eddie Collins
SS - Ernie Banks
3B - Brett
OF - Cobb, Mantle, Aaron
SP's - Young, Seaver, Ryan, Spahn, Plank
CL - Rivera
On the bench: Foxx (1B), Lajoie (2B), Jeter (SS), Mathews (3B), Musial (OF), DiMaggio (OF), Rose(2B/3B/OF), Feller (SP), P. Martinez (SP), Maddux (SP), Gossage (RP), Hoffman (RP)
<< <i>
This team of mine is NOT etched in stone! LOL!
Not my favorites, just who I thought were the best based on any and all knowledge that I know of MLB.
C Johnny Bench
1B Lou Gehrig
2B Jackie Robinson
SS Honus Wagner
3b Brooks Robinson/Mike Schmidt
LF Babe Ruth
CF Willie Mays
RF Roberto Clemente
DH Mickey Mantle
RHP Walter Johnson
LHP Sandy Koufax
Bullpen Bob Gibson
Manager Connie Mack
Coaches Walter Alston Yogi Berra
Let the games begin!
Without a doubt I agree 100% with these selections.I would only add Warren Spahn as a pitching coach.
Edited to add: I should clarify that.
I would expect to see the usual suspects listed, and for the most part they are...
C Bench
2B Hornsby
3B Schmidt
SS Honus
LF Cobb
CF Mays (though Mantle if peak is the desire)
RF Babe
DH Williams
SP. Walter Johnson
SP Lefty Grove
Based on the published evidence available, it is hard to change that team, and I think it would be the consensus team if all the analysts were polled.
I would say that most regular fans wouldn't pick Lefty Grove, not because he doesn't deserve, but because he is simply lost on a lot of people. He is a strong pick for the team.
What are the debatable parts of that team?
The OF and DH would be extremely difficult to alter with a sane rationale. Though Bonds would be a sane rationale. Same for 3B.
2B could be argued with Joe Morgan.
SP could have Pedro, Clemens, Seaver.
Catcher: Not to be picky, but putting Piazza at catcher isn't much different defensively than putting Pete Gray back there. Heck, would it be even any downgrade defensively it we threw Hank Aaron at catcher? I'm not sure if it is possible to do much worse back there than Piazza.
Most debateable part of the team you listed ???
The lack of a firstbaseman would be even more of a defensive liability than selecting Mike Piazza at Catcher !!!
Just a bit of humor , don't take it the wrong way,
however, I can't really see Mantle over Mays, though close and truly debateable, Willie was the bit better defensive player, had the better arm, was injured less, led in stolen bases twice, thus the better runner though Mick was probably faster. Willie never had anywhere near the lineup protection, a somewhat marginal factor granted, until the Giants moved to Frisco , Mick always had other great hitters to give him a little better pitches to see. Both simply GREAT players.
It is sometimes debated that a 50s OF of Mays, Mantle, and Ted W., would be equal if not better than old-timers Cobb, Ruth, and Speaker ???
Schmidt and Honus probably wouldn't get too many assists with my team
I think Mays clearly has Mantle for career value. Some of the points you brought up for the 50's have some validity, especially the oft injured Mantle. For Mantle he was so darn good offensively at that time...one of the best peaks of ALL TIME. His switch hitting ability makes it a little tougher for the other manager during game situations.
The Outfield of Williams, Mays, Mantle probably would be more desirable than the Cobb, Ruth, and Speaker.
Skin,
Since you commented, that you did feel the 50s OFers were more desirable than the old timers, please expand upon that. I also do agree it is at least equal, however am sometimes at a loss when others argue that ( Until 1961 ) Cobb was the greatest base stealer ever, Ruth the greatest Home run hitter ever, and Speaker was a top-notch hitter and defensive player.
I feel the 50s get the nod for overall power hitting, the old for baserunning, the rest is close , for example Williams has the best lifetime OB %, but somewhat offset by the olders higher BA. Defense about equal, perhaps Mays' throwing ability and Mantle's switch hitting could give the slightest edge.