Top 10 Baseball Players

[Johnny_Reb]

Jackie Robinson

He was a good player but hes not top ten calibre.

Pete Rose

A great player but hes just not good enough to be in the top ten. He tarnished his legacy by betting on baseball so he cant go to the HOF. Hes the all time hit leader, but I just dont think hes as good as Honus Wagner, Stan Musial, and Roger Hornsby.

Still accurate tho and I cant really argue about your top ten current players.

[TigerMan]

Robinson I put on there because of what he did and the time he did it. He broke the color barrier, and was an instant contributor. He did more than just stats, and under conditions no other player has seen. And he was still a great ballplayer. He's also the only player to ever have his number retired for the entire league.

Rose I put on there because regardless of what he did off the field, you can't deny what he did on the field. Players like Aaron and Ruth specialized with homers, Rose specialized with hits.

[Dryden]

Mantle isn't even in the Top 15, and to flat out deny modern players, like Barry Bonds or Rickey Henderson, is a major oversight. To place Mantle in the Top Ten because he could have been greater-than-great if he'd stayed healthy, but then to claim Ken Griffey Jr. doesn't belong because of his run of bad luck in the past three years is silly. A half-season of Ken Griffey Jr's is still better than most full-time major-leaguers' abilities with a bat or a glove. That said, neither Mantle or Griffey make my list. You want to make the cut? Stay healthy.

My top ten (all time):

1. Babe Ruth
2. Willie Mays
3. Nap Lajoie
4. Barry Bonds
5. Ty Cobb
6. Walter Johnson
7. Hank Aaron
8. Ted Williams
9. Rogers Hornsby
10. Rickey Henderson

As for Pete Rose being top ten, as Rose himself once said, "I may have the most hits, but I also have the most at-bats and strikeouts too."

Current players? I think you don't need to look any further than all the current players who would be "a lock" for the Hall of Fame should their careers end today. I'll admit, I've caught Dontrelle-fever myself, but let him pitch twenty games first before we rush to conclusions. Jeter (can you say overrated?) and Soriano haven't been around long enough, neither has A-Rod or Pujols.

My top ten (active players):

1. Barry Bonds
2. Rickey Henderson
3. Roger Clemens
4. Ken Griffey Jr.
5. Randy Johnson
6. Mike Piazza
7. Jeff Bagwell
8. Edgar Martinez
9. Craig Biggio
10. Roberto Alomar

Runners-up: Sammy Sosa, Ivan Rodriguez, Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, Fred McGriff, Frank Thomas, Rafael Palmeiro

[TigerMan]

Originally posted by Dryden
Mantle isn't even in the Top 15, and to flat out deny modern players, like Barry Bonds or Rickey Henderson, is a
Current players? I think you don't need to look any further than all the current players who would be "a lock" for the Hall of Fame should their careers end today. I'll admit, I've caught Dontrelle-fever myself, but let him pitch twenty games first before we rush to conclusions. Jeter (can you say overrated?) and Soriano haven't been around long enough, neither has A-Rod or Pujols.

My top ten (active players):

1. Barry Bonds
2. Rickey Henderson
3. Roger Clemens
4. Ken Griffey Jr.
5. Randy Johnson
6. Mike Piazza
7. Jeff Bagwell
8. Edgar Martinez
9. Craig Biggio
10. Roberto Alomar

Runners-up: Sammy Sosa, Ivan Rodriguez, Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, Fred McGriff, Frank Thomas, Rafael Palmeiro

Many of your runner ups are a lot better then some of your current top 10. Bagwell and Martinez are good players, but Martinez is limited to just batting and Bagwell still needs a few more years before being a lock for the Hall. Biggio, well he's just good, not great. Palmeiro's got over 500 HR's, so he should get in (I'm tired of everyone just looking at his number of "All Star" appearances, he's been as consitent as anyone can be). Thomas has among the highest number of walks and slugging % all time. Right now, I think the only active players that are first ballot shoe ins for the Hall are:

-Bonds
-Henderson (if he ever retires)
-Clemens
-Maddux (if he plays 3 more seasons)

Sosa would've, and still might be a first ballot, but the corked bat definately didn't help. Alomar has been hurt by the past 2 seasons numbers, and Griffey, well it's just a shame what has happened to him. We could've been watching two players at the same time chasing Aaron's record.

[Johnny_Reb]

Jeter (can you say overrated?) and Soriano

I wouldnt say that jeter's overated, hes popular but not overated. Hes also a career .318 hitter and has one of the best avg's in the AL at the moment. But the reason he made the list is beacause of his leadership and his ability to play well in October. Hes one of the best clutch hitters in baseball.

As for Soriano, his career may be short but hell be on of the best. In his first year he wouldve gotten Rookie of the Year if it wasnt for ichiro. In his second, he was one homer shy of 40-40. This year he was an all star, and while he may be in a slump hes still one of the most feared hitters at the plate.

place Mantle in the Top Ten because he could have been greater-than-great if he'd stayed healthy, but then to claim Ken Griffey Jr. doesn't belong because of his run of bad luck in the past three years is

Your forgetting Mickey also had over 500 homers, including the longest ever, 565 ft. He always had great avg. and 120 RBIs.

Rickey Henderson

One of the most underrated players in baseball, but does he deserve to be in the top ten?No. Stan Musial was FAR better as was Mickey and Joe D. Craig Biggio and Bagwell over Palmeiro and A-Rod? looks like someones an astros fan.

[paintbattler]

Don't forget about the Big-Unit in his prime days and the present days. He's got a rocket arm.

[Dryden]

No, I'm not an Astros fan, I just happen to think both Biggio and Bagwell are two of the most undervalued players in the game today. What makes the pair unique is how much of their stats are dependant upon one another - Biggio has to get on base for Bagwell to drive him in - a Run for Biggio, an RBI for Bagwell. Both were hampered by injuries at about the same time, Biggio a bum knee, Bagwell an arthritic shoulder, but that does not discredit what either did in their first twelve healthy seasons, nor should they be penalized for playing in Houston where virtually no one north of the Mason-Dixon line can see them regularly.

Biggio had been a spectacular second baseman, and he has the Gold Gloves to prove it, despite the fact he came up as a catcher - he won the Silver Slugger award too in his rookie season as a backstop. He has accumulated some of the most bizarre stats, such as the '98 season with 50 doubles, 50 steals and 200 hits, which has never been done before or since, too bad for him his accomplishment was dwarfed by a couple of bozos named Sosa and McGwire. Of course, he also has the dubious honor of placing at #4 on the all time hit-by-pitch list, which even resulted in rules changes regarding clothing fit and "body armor." Up until 2000, he was durable (despite being plunked 200+ times), dependable, and for the entire last half of the 90s the best all-around second baseman in the NL.

Bagwell already has impressive numbers, and if he plays 5 more years (until he's 40), it becomes a no-brainer. Keep in mind, he wouldn't even have to have a single great season, just maintain an average for what he's done up to today. He could reach 2000 runs, 3000 hits, 500 doubles, 550 home runs, 2000 rbi and a career .300+ avg, .400+ obp, .500+ slugging. Bagwell also had six consecutive seasons of 100 runs, 100 rbi, 100 walks, and 30 home runs. He missed adding a seventh season in the stretch by only 6 runs and 2 rbi. Bagwell also owns the distinction of being the best player not named Babe Ruth the Red Sox have ever traded (for Larry Andersen?!) Unfortunately, Bagwell has stated that 2006 will likely be his last season, unless the Astros option him for 2007.

As go Biggio and Bagwell, so go the Astros.

Yeah, the bottom four of my "active" list are interchangeable with the handful I listed as runners-up. You can easily make convincing arguments for Maddux, Glavine, and Thomas. I chose Biggio, Bagwell, Martinez, and Alomar to add some infielders to the list (Martinez gets credit at both first and third), and I think they're all deserving. Time will tell.

[Dryden]

Heh heh

After posting the above, I turn and catch the Astros highlights on SportsCenter. Biggio gets plunked, takes first, Bagwell hits a homer - two more RBI.

LOL

[AFRaven]

Hey, Johnny_Red, are you the same dummy that thought that a shell casing was a "stray bullet"? Click here to find out: http://www.bf42.com/index.php?site=potd&date=2003/08/06

[Johnny_Reb]

Hey, Johnny_Red, are you the same dummy that thought that a shell casing was a "stray bullet"? Click here to find out: http://www.bf42.com/index.php?site=potd&date=2003/08/06

Na thats a different one.