Top 10 Poll #1: #1 Player Ever

[Shanemansj13]

No Joe DiMaggio?

Gotta be the #1 at your position I would think…

 

[chappee11]

My top 4 of all time based on when they played as they were MORE than just the greatest players of their time

Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Barry Bonds and Shohei Ohtani

I like your “eras” format rather than just picking one guy. If I am going to do a Mt. Rushmore within that format, I’m going:

Ruth-Ted Williams-Bonds-Ohtani

Just missed the cut: Mays & Aaron

 

[Shanemansj13]

Easy answer for me

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

Oh Benny the jet for sure

Kid had the wheels, for sure

 

[jarntt]

Gotta be the #1 at your position I would think…

There are more than 9 guys on the list

 

[Diamondeye]

this is a fact, but it is also an over-rated fact... once Ruth showed baseball the HR was king, there were other players doing the same thing... Ruth was the best at it... but the overwhelming advantage is kind of overexaggerated...

The game eventually caught up, but it took a little while.

Ruth being the pioneer in that regard just adds to his greatness.

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

Easy answer for me

 

[Fountain City Blues]

It's probably Bonds, but the steroids will really make it hard for people to accept that answer, imo. Steroids only do so much. Bonds was an incredibly skilled player. Ruth may be the most dominant relative to his era ever, but I don't think he can hold a handle to most modern players in terms of skill. So I lean Bonds.

 

[msgkings322]

Damn! This is a big ask. I don’t even know how/where to start on this. How can we evaluate the likes of Ruth and Ty Cobb(who nobody on this board saw play before) against modern players?

I will say this much: In the modern era it has to be Ohtani. We’ve never seen anything like him where a guy is the best hitter and a Cy Young caliber pitcher(when healthy), as well. I know we’d all like to see him do this for another 5-10 years before putting him at the top of the mountain, but he’s clearly the modern Babe Ruth and the most unique/talented player in 100 years. I am in awe of what he has accomplished already.

Yeah I'm a huge fan of Ohtani even with him being on that evil team. Brings excitement to the game that hasn't been seen in a while especially when he starts pitching again. Must see at bats like Bonds used to have

 

[msgkings322]

I went with a pick that @calsnowskier isn't going to like - Cy Young. The dude is a legend. He was an above average pitcher in his rookie year (age 23) and an above average pitcher at age 43. For me, he was so dominant that he was way above average for a pitcher in his prime when offense wasn't as robust as it is now. I'm not saying he was good when pitchers looked good. I'm saying he was way better than all the other pitchers during his time.

Yeah if it's the gap between the player and the rest of the league no one was more so than Young (or Walter Johnson). And that's where Babe Ruth dominates, the delta between him and his peers was wider than any superstar ever.

 

[chappee11]

I went Barry

I thought you were going to go with Kevin Seitzer.

 

[msgkings322]

My top 4 of all time based on when they played as they were MORE than just the greatest players of their time

Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Barry Bonds and Shohei Ohtani

Much more realistic to pick a group of GOATs vs just one. No way to really prove who's 'better'

 

[MilkSpiller22]

The game eventually caught up, but it took a little while.

Ruth being the pioneer in that regard just adds to his greatness.

it didnt take as long as you think... Babe Ruth Lead baseball in HRs 11 times, 2 of those times he was tied, and 2 other of those times he hit less than 30...

again, that is amazing... not saying he any less of a player than legend... just saying that the legend is not as true as you think... most of the 11 times he won there were a top 10 averaging over 20 HRs...

 

[msgkings322]

not even the best fictional baseball player...

Steve Nebraska wins that title...

Sidd Finch

 

[msgkings322]

or Sidd Finch

Damn baseball ninjas

 

[MilkSpiller22]

Much more realistic to pick a group of GOATs vs just one. No way to really prove who's 'better'

i am a numbers person... so i dont mind finding the right formula... WAR is just not that.... it is WAY OFF IMO..

 

[Diamondeye]

It's probably Bonds, but the steroids will really make it hard for people to accept that answer, imo. Steroids only do so much. Bonds was an incredibly skilled player. Ruth may be the most dominant relative to his era ever, but I don't think he can hold a handle to most modern players in terms of skill. So I lean Bonds.

Bonds was on a trajectory to be a top 10 all-time player before the steroids, but they ultimately distorted and inflated his career numbers, as I seriously doubt he would have produced like he did well into his 30s without juicing.

 

[msgkings322]

still no Steve Nebraska.... Can you throw a perfect game and hit 4 HRs in the same game... i dont think so...

Ohtani might pull that off one day (probably not but not out of the question)

 

[msgkings322]

I like your “eras” format rather than just picking one guy. If I am going to do a Mt. Rushmore within that format, I’m going:

Ruth-Ted Williams-Bonds-Ohtani

Just missed the cut: Mays & Aaron

If you include more than just batting Mays is easily better than Williams

 

[MilkSpiller22]

Ohtani might pull that off one day (probably not but not out of the question)

should have added that it was a WS game.... also pretty sure he struck out all 27 outs...