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Posted By: jay behrens

You have DiMaggio on your list. He didn't exactly finish his career, per se. At the end of this year, A-rod's career will have been 2 years longer than DiMaggio's. Instead of sticking around to generate numbers or more make more money, he decided to leave the game early. Imagine if Jim Rice had done the same thing and didn't have that horrid finish to his career. He'd be sitting in the HOF right now.

If A-rod walked away from the game right now, I'd still consider him the best SS of all-time. Even if his career collapses like Rice's did, I'd probably think the same since I still think Rice belongs in the HOF. He goes in under what I call the Koufax Rule, if you dominate for 5 years, you get in. Until Barry Bonds, there wasn't a hitter around more feared than Rice was in his prime. Even back to the late 60s, I don't remember any hitter being as feared as Rice.

Jay

The richest person is not the one who has the most, but the one who needs the least.