1940 Hank Greenberg

Greenberg had played 1st base exclusively going into the 1940 season, is there any reason to believe there is no basis to rate Greenberg at that position for 1940? Certainly his manager had that option but thanks to Rudy York never being injured Greenberg played no games at first base. But if we in this game play a first baseman who gets injured if you remove the option for 1st base Greenberg becomes a 5E65 at first base, which seems to diminish the player he was for no real reason other than Rudy York’s durability.

We could say the same for any player who had played a position prior to a particular year. But we are at the mercy of history here: Del Baker might have had fewer sleepless nights knowing that Greenberg was there just in case York didn't work out. But York was never injured so Del Baker never needed to bring in the virtual first baseman Greenberg. How can you rate what didn't happen? Yeah, it's too bad that Greenberg would be rated 5e65, but that's the price to pay for historical accuracy in my book.

I suspect that the 40 Tigers were one of the teams from back in ATG 1 or 2 since it has a complete roster on the site. In those days, they added teams, not individual players.

I think SOM always played a little fast and loose with secondary fielding positions in those days so that every position had a backup. Rudy York is indeed bulletproof in 1940, so who knows why you would need a backup, but that is probably why he is rated at 1B, since no one else on the team is rated there.

The issue I think is what has been mentioned in this thread. If Greenberg has to have a 1B rating, it should be the worst rating at the position. And his leftfield arm rating should be more realistic. I have no doubt that he was a liability in left, 1940 was the first time he ever played there and he made 15 errors. But few players have a +5 arm rating!

This would certainly change his value in strat, as many have said.

Rudy York played every game, every out, and is bulletproof. There is no historical reason for Greenberg to have first base ability in 1940. The 1940 Tigers sucked it up and played Greenberg in left in order to have two great hitters back to back in the lineup. They went 90-64 and went all the way to the seventh game of the World Series only to lose to a great Reds team. I think we can do without Greenberg at first in 1940.

I am disputing any of that but these are not "As Played" Leagues, not even close, Greenberg was obviously a 1B during his career, I see no reason why he can't be rated at both positions.

historical accuracy in my book

Since when are any of these leagues "historically accurate"? These are "What if" leagues, and Greenberg was a 1B by trade, why shouldn't he be rated there in an ALL TIME GREATS LEAGUE? If this were a 1940 season reply, fine, but it is not.

I am just saying, we are the managers and the coaches, Greenberg played 1B the season prior, what is the big deal?

If anything more players should have more eligibility not less. Any CFer should be able to play LF just like in real life and just like with the CD-ROM and board game rules.

Greenberg had played 1st base exclusively going into the 1940 season, is there any reason to believe there is no basis to rate Greenberg at that position for 1940?

Amen!

Did Dale Murray ever pitch 6 innings in relief, or 300 innings in a season?

Are we assuming Greenberg could not have played 1B in 1940? If you want historical accuracy ATG8 is not your game.

So since Carlos Delgado, Dale Murphy and Craig Biggio once played catcher then they should be rated as catches on all of their SOM cards, even years they never played catcher? What a crazy argument.

So since Carlos Delgado, Dale Murphy and Craig Biggio once played catcher then they should be rated as catches on all of their SOM cards, even years they never played catcher? What a crazy argument.

IS Carlos Delgado, Dale Murphy or Craig Biggio considered the best catcher in the history of the franchise, would they be put in a lineup for the best players of all time in their franchise at catcher - Hank Greenberg is viewed as the best first baseman of all time, he played 1B a bit more than once….

http://baseball.about.com/od/detroittigers/tp/Detroit-Tigers-All-Time-Lineup.htm

So since Carlos Delgado, Dale Murphy and Craig Biggio once played catcher then they should be rated as catches on all of their SOM cards, even years they never played catcher? What a crazy argument.

IS Carlos Delgado, Dale Murphy or Craig Biggio considered the best catcher in the history of the franchise, would they be put in a lineup for the best players of all time in their franchise at catcher - Hank Greenberg is viewed as the best first baseman of all time, he played 1B a bit more than once….

http://baseball.about.com/od/detroittigers/tp/Detroit-Tigers-All-Time-Lineup.htm

So what do we do with the 1998 Cal Ripken? He only played 3B during the season (161 games), but obviously the manager could have counted on Cal to play shortstop if he had to, since Cal was the greatest shortstop in Browns/Orioles history. But he didn't play shortstop in 98, but you would want him to have the possibility to play shortstop anyway because of his career? I counted on this game not to be post-truth...