The All Time Best Baseball Team

**BmillsSkier** · 09-06-2007, 11:04 PM

The other thread "best to play ____" got me thinking of a great bar discussion I once had over a dozen or so Budweisers.

Name your personal all-time greatest baseball team by players.

The rules:

8 position players

1 starting pitcher

1 closer/reliver

1 DH

Goes without saying that all players would be in their prime.

My team:

C - Johnny Bench

1B - Ty Cobb

2B - Robbie Alomar

3B - Mike Schmidt

SS - Omar Vizquel

LF - Ted Williams

CF - Willie Mays

RF - Babe Ruth

DH - Barry Bonds

SP - Nolan Ryan

CL - Mariano Rivera

**woodstocksez** · 09-06-2007, 11:33 PM

Originally Posted by BmillsSkier

1B - Ty Cobb

Ty Cobb played 14 games at 1B. I don't think so.

**tuffy109** · 09-06-2007, 11:38 PM

Originally Posted by BmillsSkier

DH - Barry Bonds*

how do you know he'd be any good at this position?

and i fixed his name for you

**tkm5337** · 09-06-2007, 11:38 PM

C- Carlton Fisk
1B- Lou Gerhig
2B- Robbie Alomar
3B- Robin Ventura
SS- Cal Ripken Jr
OUTFIELD-- Pete Rose, Willie Mays, Jim Edmonds
DH- David Ortiz
SP- Randy Johnson
CL- Mariano Rivera

and im not taking shit for Fisk or Ventura.... "I'm a Chicagoan, til Chicago ends, til we blow like Chicago winds..."

**woodstocksez** · 09-06-2007, 11:50 PM

C - Johnny Bench
1B - Lou Gehrig
2B - Rogers Hornsby
3B - Brooks Robinson (maybe not the greatest, but my all-time favorite player)
SS - Honus Wagner
LF - Ted Williams
CF - Willie Mays
RF - Babe Ruth
DH - Edgar Martinez (or maybe not - it's hard to recall just who got relegated to this role for most of their career)
SP - Sandy Koufax
CL - Mariano Rivera

Of course, I reserve the right to change my list when other people start naming guys I forgot about.

**Odin** · 09-07-2007, 02:26 AM

C - Josh Gibson
1B - Lou Gehrig
2B - Rogers Hornsby
3B - George Brett (stay off the pine tar though)
SS - Ozzie Smith
LF - Ted Williams
CF - Willie Mays
RF - Babe Ruth
DH - Carl Yastrzemski (what the hell)
SP - Nolan Ryan (at his best he is pitching a no hitter, which means.... I win)
CL - Mariano Rivera

**woodstocksez** · 09-07-2007, 09:46 AM

Originally Posted by Odin

SP - Nolan Ryan (at his best he is pitching a no hitter, which means.... I win)

Got me to thinking ...

From Wikipedia:

On April 23, 1964, Ken Johnson of the Houston Colt 45's became the only pitcher to lose a complete game no-hitter in nine innings when he was beaten 1-0 by Cincinnati. The winning run was scored by Pete Rose in the top of the ninth inning via an error, groundout, and another error.[7] In 1967, Steve Barber and Stu Miller of the Baltimore Orioles pitched a combined no-hitter, but lost 2-1 to the Detroit Tigers.[8] Three pitchers – Silver King (1890), Andy Hawkins (1990), and Matt Young (1992) – have lost eight-inning unofficial no-hitters where the home team won the game.[9][10]

Also, this thread needs a bump. Nobody else has a list to give? Where's everybody from the (now 57 page) baseball thread?

**Odin** · 09-07-2007, 09:51 AM

hmmm interesting.

I remember as a kid listening to bobby whitt and a host of compadres pitching for the Rangers throwing a no-hitter and losing. They were down something like 5 to 0, through a combination of the best defensive play by the Rangers.

It was truly horrifying. Fortunately they gave up the no no in the 6th.

I think they were on their 3rd or 4th pitcher by that time (probably Matt Whiteside ((ROT IN HELL WHITESIDE)) )

**irul&ublo** · 09-07-2007, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by BmillsSkier

The other thread "best to play ____" got me thinking of a great bar discussion I once had over a dozen or so Budweisers.

Name your personal all-time greatest baseball team by players.

The rules:

8 position players

1 starting pitcher

1 closer/reliver

1 DH

Goes without saying that all players would be in their prime.

My team:

C - Johnny Bench

1B - Ty Cobb

2B - Robbie Alomar

3B - Mike Schmidt

SS - Omar Vizquel

LF - Ted Williams

CF - Willie Mays

RF - Babe Ruth

DH - Barry Bonds

SP - Nolan Ryan

CL - Mariano Rivera

Nolan Ryan doesn't even make top ten.

Starting pitcher:

RH...Bob Gibson
LH...Koufax

**Odin** · 09-07-2007, 10:01 AM

Originally Posted by irul&ublo

Nolan Ryan doesn't even make top ten.

Starting pitcher:

RH...Bob Gibson
LH...Koufax

Dood, I am so going to kick you in the nuts.

Koufax was better with better teams. The only team that Ryan had that was any good was the Mets in 69 and that was a team with an outstanding staff.

Other than that he spent most of his time in Run Support Hell, and he still won over 300 games.

**irul&ublo** · 09-07-2007, 10:06 AM

1st...Wes Parker
2nd...Joe Morgan
3d...Brooks Robinson
SS...A-Rod
Outfield...Mays, Bonds, Aaron
Catcher...Pudge Rodriguez
DH...Reggie Jackson
RHP...Bob Gibson
LHP...Koufax
Closer...Dennis Eckersley

**irul&ublo** · 09-07-2007, 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by Odin

Dood, I am so going to kick you in the nuts.

Koufax was better with better teams. The only team that Ryan had that was any good was the Mets in 69 and that was a team with an outstanding staff.

Other than that he spent most of his time in Run Support Hell, and he still won over 300 games.

You know shit...the Dodger teams Koufax pitched for were extremely limited on offense. Compare their e.r.a.'s. If Koufax hadn't developed debilitating arthritis at 32, and had to retire after a 26 win season, he'd have gone down as the best all time no doubt.

**Odin** · 09-07-2007, 10:12 AM

Well, this isn't the argument of best all time, and I will admit that Koufax had much better control, however you sound like a dismisser of Ryan accomplishments, and 5000 strikeouts is nothing to sneeze at.

so phooey.

edit - I am a ryan fanboy, always have been. So I am bound to be illogical, dammit.

**woodstocksez** · 09-07-2007, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by irul&ublo

the Dodger teams Koufax pitched for were extremely limited on offense.

This is true.

Originally Posted by irul&ublo

Compare their e.r.a.'s.

This, I think, not so much. Koufax pitched during a time when offense was generally at a premium. Ryan pitched a good part of his career when offense kicked into high gear.

**woodstocksez** · 09-07-2007, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by irul&ublo

1st...Wes Parker
2nd...Joe Morgan
3d...Brooks Robinson
SS...A-Rod
Outfield...Mays, Bonds, Aaron
Catcher...Pudge Rodriguez
DH...Reggie Jackson
RHP...Bob Gibson
LHP...Koufax
Closer...Dennis Eckersley

Wes Parker? Are you sure you're not confusing him with his more talented brother, Fess?

I think I'm with you on A-Rod, though, and I may be on Barry Bonds, too.

Reggie played too many games in the outfield for consideration as all-time DH, IMO.

**irul&ublo** · 09-07-2007, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by Odin

Well, this isn't the argument of best all time, and I will admit that Koufax had much better control, however you sound like a dismisser of Ryan accomplishments, and 5000 strikeouts is nothing to sneeze at.

so phooey.

edit - I am a ryan fanboy, always have been. So I am bound to be illogical, dammit.

I think Ryan is a top 20 all time. I can think of several others I'd choose at their prime in front of him: Maddux, Marichel, Seaver, Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson.

**irul&ublo** · 09-07-2007, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by woodstocksez

Wes Parker? Are you sure you're not confusing him with his more talented brother, Fess?

I think I'm with you on A-Rod, though, and I may be on Barry Bonds, too.

Reggie played too many games in the outfield for consideration as all-time DH, IMO.

6 gold gloves...nah, I didn't confuse him with Daniel Boone, though I heard Mingo was a hell of a center fielder.

**Odin** · 09-07-2007, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by woodstocksez

Reggie played too many games in the outfield for consideration as all-time DH, IMO.

Well now... the problem is that that actually DOES limit you to either bonds or edgar for your dh since there wasn't a huge DH specialist call prior to the 90's. Unless you count Dave Henderson.

Also, if I am building the best team possible can I get griffey jr at his prime for dh?

**Odin** · 09-07-2007, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by irul&ublo

I think Ryan is a top 20 all time. I can think of several others I'd choose at their prime in front of him: Maddux, Marichel, Seaver, Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson.

I think that is up to debate, except for Marichel and Johnson.

People tend to forget how ungoldy dominating johnson was.

**Jackie Treehorn** · 09-07-2007, 10:24 AM

Omar Vizquel and Ozzie Smith? Seriously?

**Odin** · 09-07-2007, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by Jackie Treehorn

Ozzie Smith? Seriously?

Now now, I loaded up my team with offense so I picked someone who was beyond outstanding at defense in the field.

**woodstocksez** · 09-07-2007, 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by irul&ublo

I think Ryan is a top 20 all time. I can think of several others I'd choose at their prime in front of him: Maddux, Marichel, Seaver, Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson.

Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Bob Feller, Steve Carlton, Jim Palmer, Grover Alexander, ...

Oh, and have you all completely forgotten about Mike Cuellar? Don't.

**irul&ublo** · 09-07-2007, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by Odin

I think that is up to debate, except for Marichel and Johnson.

People tend to forget how ungoldy dominating johnson was.

Maddux 94 and 95, 2 yrs in a row w/ sub 1.70 e.r.a., in the low mound, live ball era. Very impressive.

**irul&ublo** · 09-07-2007, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by Odin

Well now... the problem is that that actually DOES limit you to either bonds or edgar for your dh since there wasn't a huge DH specialist call prior to the 90's. Unless you count Dave Henderson.

Also, if I am building the best team possible can I get griffey jr at his prime for dh?

I put Reggie in as DH because he was the clutchest (new word!) fucker I ever saw.

**Odin** · 09-07-2007, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by irul&ublo

Maddux 94 and 95, 2 yrs in a row w/ sub 1.70 e.r.a., in the low mound, live ball era. Very impressive.

Once again. Ryan fanboy, bound to be illogical.

Maddux was a silent killer of location and substance. I am talking about flash here people.

Note about the DH:

That was my point rul, I think that we should be able to pick from anyone at dh, that could have played dh and had at least one at bat for dh.