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Posted By: Bob

When someone who has seen as many players as John McGraw did, from the Baltimore Orioles of the 1890's through the Babe, Foxx, Cobb and Gehrig, etc. says that Turkey Mike was one of the greatest hitters he ever saw, I think we can safely assume that Donlin was a great hitter. He might have been the best hitter who ever played the game but we'll never know, just as all the players, including notables like Buck O'Neil, said that had it not been for injuries and his lifestyle that Mickey Mantle could have been THE greatest player who ever played baseball. Like Mantle, opinions on how great Donlin really was will always be shrouded in "what ifs."
As far as the greatest player who ever played, McGraw said it was "the Dutchman" and the greatest pitcher? Matty, although he may have been just a little prejudiced on that one.