Wed Sep 09, 2015 6:17 am
Mays was my favorite player, but I have Ruth and Bonds ahead of him. I saw Koufax, Gibson and everyone after them. There are so many great players, but I would build a team around athletic players, speed, great fielding, clutch hitting, enough power and play in a big park to keep HRs low and have Pitchers that kept the ball in the Park. Maybe Kaufman or Forbes in the 50's/60's. I'd have either Sparky Anderson or Whitey Herzog as my Mgr, play in the NL and move runners as much as possible. I'll list my favorites and then who I thought was the best.
C R IRod - could beat you with glove, arm and bat. Best Ever - Bench
1B R Bagwell - Speed for a 1B, combined with avg, power, great fielding and stamina. Best - Gehrig
2b L Morgan - Again, everything I'd want in a 2B and a great #2 hitter. Best - Morgan
SS S Ozzie - Athletic, speedster, good OBP, Gold Glover for life and one of the most entertaining players ever. Best - Banks/ARod - But Banks never cheated.
3B L Brett - Maybe the best hitter of the modern ERA after Williams and Bonds. Schmidt had more power and a better glove, but Brett could do it all and was one of the Greatest Clutch hitter I ever saw. Best - Brett
LF R Ricky Henderson - After Ty Cobb, the most disruptive force I've ever seen on a ballfield. He owned the basepaths, could run down anything hit in the OF, could beat you with speed or power, and you had to pitch to him or he could turn a walk into 2-3 stolen bases and a run. Not the best arm, but who cares. Played forever too. Best - Williams/Bonds/Ruth
CF R Mays Probably the greatest all around player the game has seen. Mantle was an equal earlier on, but his knees gave out early. He could beat you in so many ways and entertain the crowd. Played at the stick where the winds favored lefties. Might be the HR King had he played elsewhere along with Williams, who played in Boston and lost several prime years to WWII. Best - Mays Next Best - DiMaggio/Mantle Honorable mention - Griffey Jr
RF L Bonds - Best all around Player I ever saw, 2nd or 3rd best hitter ever after Williams and Ruth arguably. But best command of the strike zone I have ever seen. But when you add his speed, athleticism and arm in the OF, I'd take Barry over anyone. My only criticism is his post season numbers. A lot like ARod.
SP's R Gibson - My Favorite Best - Any of those listed here. But Kershaw may be best ever in a few years.
L Koufax
R Pedro
L Randy
R Paige
Honorable Mention = Maddux - Seldom won big games in the Postseason.
RP/Closer R Mariano - Best Ever
L Wagner
Last edited by
ROBERTVOZZA on Wed Sep 09, 2015 7:48 pm, edited 2 times in total.
