The Premiere Lead off Hitter

[MtheB]

All things considered, and if cash was not an issue, who would do you take to be your leadoff hitter?
Consider all factors except cost or value for the dollar.

[egvrich]

Speaker and Morgan, IMHO are a couple of the best #2 hitters, but Cobb with his speed, AVG and OBP is the top dog.

[MICHAELTARBELL]

Cobb is "DA MAN"! :wink:

[MICHAELTARBELL]

Cobb is "DA MAN"! :wink:

[Ruths ruffians]

If I am lucky enough to get Cobb which is once in many many tries, I will lead him off and he is the best. I never lead off Kiki no matter what. Too much RBI potential there. I don't really use Morgan or Ricky. Joe Jackson needs to be on that list. I always lead him off vs Lefty's and bat Kiki in the 2 or 3 hole. I am surprised that Eddie Collins was not on that list.

Dean

[PJ Axelsson]

I voted for Cobb, but Speaker is no slouch here. He tends to get on base as much as Cobb and can run. He has no weakness vs. lefties like Morgan does, and Morgan can really give you a clunker of a season sometimes.

[gkhd11a]

IF money were no object I would Lead off Ted Williams, I'll give up the stolen base % for a .635 OBP at Griffith card. Cobb would be my second choice.

If you look at the question as to who is the premeir leadoff hitter as used in leagues, I think it would be Cobb.

[Leo / loob]

This question should be a two-parter......

In hitting parks, I would go Cobb at leadoff
In pitcher parks, Cobb CANNOT(!) lead off. He will/is 2nd on most, if not all teams, in slugging %

Speaker, in any park, is the leadoff guy

Cuyler, I like lead off too, but that damn injury thing
Honus, see above
Morgan, is either 1 or in the 2 hole

[Palanion]

I love Morgan, but usually platoon him leadoff one way and second or 5-6 the other side, when I get him.
Speaker I will use if that's my best option, but he is rock solid as a 2 or 3.
I am swapping Rickey and Morgan on a Forbes team right now. With Rickey cleanup when Morgan leads off.
I have had Kiki once, for less than half a season.....

BUT...

I LOVE Cobb as leadoff.

Still, that being said, I have been putting Speaker as my #1 player on draft cards lately. I have yet to be disapponted by him, no matter where he bats in a lineup.

[The Last Druid]

Eddie Collins or Frank Chance. Money is always an object. I'm more likely to bat Cobb 3rd, Leo made an excellent point here. In real life he usually hit 3rd or 4th anyway. I hate Cuyler. He never, ever performs for me. Lucky to get a .300 avg from him. Henderson, too, I tend to hit 3rd b/c this was arguably his best power season. But I've only used him twice so far. Morgan I prefer in the two slot. I've used him a lot. He underperforms regularly (I expect about .295 from him and he rarely meets that). Speaker I almost always bat 2nd or 3rd. Most of the players in this poll have too few double play chances on their cards to bat leadoff.

Of the limited choices given I would take Cobb. I've probably had Cobb on 60+ teams. He is incredibly consistent. The rest of the players listed are much less dependable. Speaker often hits .320 or less with an occasional great year. And I prefer a leadoff hitter who can steal.

So, with the occasional exception of Cobb, I don't think that any of the listed choices are ideally suited for leading off in ATG. They can contribute more elsewhere in the lineup.