[Archive]

Posted By: Anonymous

It does matter if stats were inflated because we are comparing players across eras. If we were only comparing Ruth, Gehrig, Foxx, Hornsby, and Sisler. Then it won't matter if stats were inflated.

The truth of the matter is that stats were inflated and Sisler isn't even in the top five hitters from his era.

I guess to make a top ten list we would have to make the standards before we made the list. To me a total hitter hits for average, knows the strike zone, and hits for power. That gives your team the optimum chance of winning.

A HR produces a run, while it takes three singles to produce a run. See the difference?

If inflated stats, walks, and power didn't count, then just make a list of the top ten career batting averages and be done with it. And Sisler STILL doesn't make it:

1. Ty Cobb+* .3664 L
2. Rogers Hornsby+ .3585 R
3. Joe Jackson* .3558 L
4. Lefty O'Doul* .3493 L
5. Ed Delahanty+ .3459 R
6. Tris Speaker+* .3447 L
7. Ted Williams+* .3444 L
8. Billy Hamilton+* .3443 L
9. Dan Brouthers+* .3421 L
Babe Ruth+* .3421 L


But as you can see, this is faulty because it contains 3 from the 19th C, 3 from the deadball era, 3 from the 1920's - 1938, and one from 1940-1960.

It's skewed.

For more information check out Bill James's research on inflated stats, park adjustments, and win shares.

It would be fun to make a best of list:

Best total hitter:
Ted Williams

Best eye:
Ted Williams

Best Power:
Babe Ruth

Best contact hitter:
Nellie Fox

Best Right-handed hitter:
Hank Aaron

Best Singles Hitter:
Wade Boggs

Hitter I would most want to see in the cage and on the tee:
Tony Gwynn

Hitter I would most want to see take BP on the field:
Babe Ruth

Hitter I want up in the clutch:
Eddie Murray

Hitter I want to see hit a triple:
Mickey Mantle

Hitter I want to see drag bunt:
Ty Cobb and Bill Madlock

Hitter I would use to pitch:
Babe Ruth

Best Power/Speed:
Barry Bonds and Rickey Henderson

Best hitting Catcher:
Josh Gibson

Best hitting 1B:
Lou Gehrig

Best hitting 2B:
Rogers Hornsby

Best hitting 3B:
George Brett

Best hitting SS:
Honus Wagner

Best hitting LF:
Ted Williams

Best hitting CF:
Ty Cobb

Best hitting RF:
Babe Ruth

Best hitting P:
Babe Ruth
Kid Gleason
Walter Johnson
Red Ruffing