Top 10 poll: #4 player ever

[calsnowskier]

Ya know, I really like Henry Aaron. When I was 9 years old (Summer of 78 I believe) my mom dropped me off at this baseball card show in Minneapolis, it was great, mostly old guys gathered talking baseball, there were books and just everything baseball, they had an auction and when it got to the part where they auctioned off cards a Henry Aaron card came up, i really wanted it but I had $1 and some change in my pocket so I counted up what I had and bid, like $1.68 or something I don't remember the actual amount, a bunch of these old timers kinda laughed and nobody out bid me, so I got the card.

I bring this up because I don't understand why Aaron who has always been a favorite of mine is so clearly ahead of Mantle for most. If you look at the numbers clearly Aaron was great for longer but Aaron played in 900 more games and had 4,000 more plate appearances yet Mantle went over a 10 WAR three times, Aaron never did. Mickey has a nearly 50 point advantage in career OBP. Mickey went over 1.000 OPS eight times, Henry five times. Mickey's OPS+ 172 Aaron 155. Aaron grounded into 328 double plays, Mickey 113. Mickey won 3 MVP's to Henry's 1 MVP. Only Mickey ever won the triple crown. Now I realize i'm cherry pickin' a little but that's a lot of things, especially when you consider Mantle played his entire career with a torn ACL.

If it's just about longevity ok I get it but otherwise i'll take Mantle.

Personally, I think I am done trying to argue peak vs accumulation FOR AARON. He is the unicorn accumulator. Picking him over others is legit. Picking others over him is legit. Discussing Aaron is ALMOST like comparing a pitcher to hitters. It simply ends up being an apples/oranges discussion.

 

[LHG]

Personally, I think I am done trying to argue peak vs accumulation FOR AARON. He is the unicorn accumulator. Picking him over others is legit. Picking others over him is legit. Discussing Aaron is ALMOST like comparing a pitcher to hitters. It simply ends up being an apples/oranges discussion.

I was leaning toward Musial, Hornsby or Cobb for the next round (assuming Bonds gets picked this round). I'm starting to think I'll change that to Aaron.

 

[calsnowskier]

I was leaning toward Musial, Hornsby or Cobb for the next round (assuming Bonds gets picked this round). I'm starting to think I'll change that to Aaron.

I am thinking Cobb or Hornsby. But we are starting to get into the Robinson/Henderson neighborhoods as well.

Aaron belongs in the discussions around here, but he just doesn’t get my vote just yet.

 

[LHG]

I am thinking Cobb or Hornsby. But we are starting to get into the Robinson/Henderson neighborhoods as well.

Aaron belongs in the discussions around here, but he just doesn’t get my vote just yet.

Speaking of Henderson . . .

Rickey Henderson Passes Away

Baseball Hall of Famer and stolen base king Rickey Henderson has passed away at 65 years old.

www.mlbtraderumors.com

 

[msgkings322]

Speaking of Henderson . . .

Rickey Henderson Passes Away

Baseball Hall of Famer and stolen base king Rickey Henderson has passed away at 65 years old.

www.mlbtraderumors.com

Cal needs to keep this going until Rickey gets voted into a slot

 

[msgkings322]

Rickey is 19th all time in career WAR but if you take out pitchers he’s 14th

Career Leaders &amp Records for Wins Above Replacement | Baseball-Reference.com

Career WAR Leaders:1.Babe Ruth+/182.6/10628, 2.Walter Johnson+/166.9/2534, 3.Cy Young+/163.6/3104, 4.Barry Bonds/162.8/12606, 5.Willie Mays+/156.2/12545, 6.Ty Cobb+/151.5/13103, 7.Henry Aaron+/143.1/13941, 8.Roger Clemens/139.2/213, 9.Tris Speaker+/134.9/12020, 10.Honus&nbs

www.baseball-reference.com

 

[msgkings322]

Looking at the career WAR list Tris Speaker and Eddie Collins don’t get enough love. Of course longevity skews that but long productive careers matter.

Career Leaders &amp Records for Wins Above Replacement | Baseball-Reference.com

Career WAR Leaders:1.Babe Ruth+/182.6/10628, 2.Walter Johnson+/166.9/2534, 3.Cy Young+/163.6/3104, 4.Barry Bonds/162.8/12606, 5.Willie Mays+/156.2/12545, 6.Ty Cobb+/151.5/13103, 7.Henry Aaron+/143.1/13941, 8.Roger Clemens/139.2/213, 9.Tris Speaker+/134.9/12020, 10.Honus&nbs

www.baseball-reference.com

 

[calsnowskier]

Cal needs to keep this going until Rickey gets voted into a slot

I see him as a likely top 10, so I don’t imagine that will be a problem.

Of course, I have always been partial to Rickey. Next to Neuschler, he is probably my favorite player of all time.

 

[Clayton]

I see him as a likely top 10, so I don’t imagine that will be a problem

I don't know about likely but he's definitely top 20

 

[calsnowskier]

I don't know about likely but he's definitely top 20

I admit I view him with VERY rosey glasses (he is my hands down favorite non-Giant ever, and probably my #2 ever (Clark is #1, with Pence probably being the only other even worthy of being mentioned - no, I didn’t forget about Buster), but I think a STRONG case can be made for him.

We are already at 4, and I will concede that Cobb, Hornsby, and maybe Robinson beat him out on MY list, with possibilities for Bench, Schmidt and Aaron. So top 10 is probably an overstatement.

 

[Clayton]

I admit I view him with VERY rosey glasses (he is my hands down favorite non-Giant ever, and probably my #2 ever (Clark is #1, with Pence probably being the only other even worthy of being mentioned - no, I didn’t forget about Buster), but I think a STRONG case can be made for him.

We are already at 4, and I will concede that Cobb, Hornsby, and maybe Robinson beat him out on MY list, with possibilities for Bench, Schmidt and Aaron. So top 10 is probably an overstatement.

Im a bit partial to him, too, because I grew up with the Cardinals when they had Vince Coleman and they ran their way to success so naturally I viewed Henderson as a big deal.

Lots of legendary players on the board, though