I'm just blown away by how many people don't have Babe Ruth as their starting pitcher. There may be better pure pitchers out there, like Koufax, Walter Johnson, Pedro Martinez, or Greg Maddux. But none of them provide the pitching and offense combination of Ruth.
Look at his 162 game averages as a pitcher and a hitter between 1914 and 1919. This is before he became the Sultan of Swat.
His 162 game averages:
21-11 2.18 ERA, 1.14 WHIP
.308 AVG, 21 HR, 96 RBI, .981 OPS, 190 OPS +.
Yes, he led the AL in HRs in 1918 and 1919 with 11 and 29, and that's where the majority of his offensive numbers came from. But he was still a pitcher first. In 1919 he threw 12 complete games, was 9-5 with a sub 3.00 ERA, and put up Triple Crown caliber numbers at the plate.
Walter Johnson was a career .235 hitter. When offense and pitching are both considered, would you take him over Ruth? Sandy Koufax and his .097 average?
Ruth on the mound clears out right field for Clemente, or Aaron, or Kaline.
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