LeBron winning the NBA title last night has re-invigorated the argument...

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as to who is the greatest basketball player of all time—him or Michael Jordan?

Well, this thread is not about that. It's about who is the greatest baseball player of all time?

I say Willie Mays, with Aaron, Ruth, Williams, Gehrig, Mantle, Griffey Jr., Clemente on my Mt. Rushmore, also two pitchers—Koufax and Gibson.

No one said I had to limit Mt. Rushmore to four.

[Ohiogal]

1. Roberto Clemente.

[BBG]

2. 21 Forever

Roberto Clemente

[Eliot Rosewater]

3. Willie Mays

It is Willie Mays, when you look at the overall skills and performance.

But the others are great for sure.

Saw him play at candlestick. And I am pretty sure one of the games we went to it was Koufax vs Marichal.

[Botany]

4. Bill Russell

n/t

[The Polack MSgt]

5. I can't argue over the folks who played in black and white. Those are stat arguments, not 1st hand-

Observations.

But I grew up idolizing Roberto Clemente and cried as only a heartbroken 5th grader can when he died.

He'll always be #1 to me

I've lived in St louis for the last 21 years and I believe that the 1st 10 years of Albert's career puts him in the conversation - Despite the fact that he's only had 3 good years since.

If Mike Trout stays healthy I'd say he has a shot to be the best ever

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6. Agreed about Pujols. I should've included Clemente on my Mt. Rushmore.

Did you ever hear the story about the suggestion Hank Aaron gave to the manager of, I don't recall which year, one of the '60s all-star games?

He suggest Roberto Clemente lead off, Ernie Banks would bat second and at least advance him. Willie Mays would bat third and he'd bat fourth at clean-up.

Who can disagree with that?

I'm also a fan of Mike Trout.

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9. Clemente should be included.

[CaptYossarian]

7. Babe Ruth had 714 homers, 123 steals, and a lifetime avg. over .300.

He was also an ace on the pitcher's mound.

If Willie Mays or Clemente had ever been asked to pitch, they'd be at my top.

Thank you for not including any juiced frauds on your list.

[brush]

8. I don't include those known for juicing. Ruth has to be on the list...

Last edited Mon Oct 12, 2020, 04:21 PM - Edit history (1)

even though he played before Jackie Robinson and black players were in the league. I don't know if you've ever seen film of Ruth at bat. He was the real deal. He'd stride into the pitch, shift his weight, and even though he had that big body, his athleticism was on display and he'd smash the ball.

No doubt he was great. But was he a five-tool player?

[CaptYossarian]

10. Even four tools and a hangover got him in the HOF.

I don't know of his defensive skills. There is so much more scouting today and cyber stuff that I don't know if they even thought about shifting or a "no-doubles" scenario. We don't know about his outfield arm either. Could he hit third base on a fly like Clemente or catch up to the ball like Willie?

Those don't appear on any box score. Just the errors do.

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12. Good thoughts. Love that there are still baseball fans out there...

what with basketball and football dominating the sports scene because baseball still hasn't figured out how to market itself, and it's been decades of neglect.

As great as Trout is he should be a household name like LeBron or Patrick Mahomes or Aaron Rodgers.

[CaptYossarian]

16. Trout is going the way of Cesar Cedeno, who was compared to

Mays, but played in the cavernous Astrodome, so his home run totals were subpar.

Bobby Bonds had tools also, but never reached full potential. But at least he didn't have to cheat.

"Baseball Fever--Catch It" was the last decent bit of marketing they did. Strikes and steroids threw it all away. Howard Cosell expressing "what a boring game!" during a baseball broadcast sucked too. I was pissed the moment it came out of his overused mouth.

[Auggie]

11. I agree: it's Ruth. Hitting + pitching.

Best position player would have to be Mays. He lost some prime years to the service too. No doubt he'd be closer to 700 home runs.

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13. Mays also lost many homers to that in-blowing Candlestick wind.

[Auggie]

14. Good point

[CaptYossarian]

15. Ted Williams lost a lot in the service too.

And then we turn to the years lost to the Negro Leagues.

This could go on forever.

[Auggie]

17. Indeed

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18. Didn't Williams serve twice...WWll and Korea? He lost a lot.

[CaptYossarian]

19. Yes to both.

Considering he retired in 1961, these would have been some of his prime years.

Great player and an even better patriot. Some things are even bigger than baseball.

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20. Think of what his homerun numbers would've been without...

that time away from the game, Mays' too to a lesser extent.

[CaptYossarian]

21. Both would have exceeded 700--legitimately.

Williams didn't retire in '61. Yaz began in 1961. Ted, of course, homered in his final at-bat in 1960.

Boston had a nice run of consecutive left fielders to go into the HOF when Jim Rice was inducted.

About 180 degrees from Ted is a Hall of Famer who hit a home run in his first at-bat and never hit another one: Pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm.

[brush]

22. Hah! Williams and Wilhelm, career homerun bookends in a way.

Who else knows those little tidbits of knowledge?

You are a veritable baseball encyclopedia. It's been a pleasure talkin' baseball with you.

[CaptYossarian]

23. Thanks.

It was a great distraction.