Your all time Starting lineup

[GrayGhost]

One each if one catcher right and left handed starter and a closer, 3 of any positions and 2 reserves any positions. This should b fun. Can’t wait to see everyone’s!

1b Gehrig
2b Hornsby
Ss Wagner
3b Schmidt
Of Cobb Ruth Mays
C Bench
Rh W Johnson
Lh W Spahn
Closer Mariano

Reserves: DiMaggio Griffey

Let’s see yours!

[OldOriole]

1B - Lou Gehrig
2B - Rogers Hornsby
SS - Honus Wagner
3B - Mike Schmidt
C - Johnny Bench
LF - Ted Williams
CF - Willie Mays
RF - Babe Ruth
RHP - Walter Johnson
LHP - Lefty Grove
CL - Mariano Rivera

Bench: Cobb, Aaron, Young

*Not too many differences from you. I broke out the outfielders by position and added a reserve for pitching.

[bobcatfunds]

SP Walter Johnson
SP Sandy Koufax
CL Trevor Hoffman (Padre bias)
C Josh Gibson
1B Lou Gehrig
2B Rogers Hornsby
SS "Pop" Lloyd
3B Mike Schmidt
OF Babe Ruth
OF Oscar Charleston
OF Tony Gwynn (Padre bias)

UT Pete Rose
UT Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe.

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by GrayGhost

One each if one catcher right and left handed starter and a closer, 3 of any positions and 2 reserves any positions. This should b fun. Can’t wait to see everyone’s!

1b Gehrig
2b Hornsby
Ss Wagner
3b Schmidt
Of Cobb Ruth Mays
C Bench
Rh W Johnson
Lh W Spahn
Closer Mariano

Reserves: DiMaggio Griffey

Let’s see yours!

I think you pretty much nailed it. Mine has only 3 changes to your original proposition (in red...)

1B Gehrig
2B Hornsby
SS Wagner
3B Schmidt
OF Cobb, Ruth, Aaron
C Bench
RHP Walter Johnson
LHP Grove
Closer Mariano
Reserves Mays, Griffey

[rats60]

1B - Lou Gehrig
2B - Rogers Hornsby
SS - Honus Wagner
3B - George Brett
C - Johnny Bench
LF - Babe Ruth
CF - Willie Mays
RF - Roberto Clemente
RHP - Walter Johnson
LHP - Sandy Koufax
CL - Mariano Rivera

Bench: Cobb, Williams, Musial

[SAllen2556]

Sorry, I'm a homer:

1b Hank Greenberg
2b Charlie Gehringer
ss Alan Trammell
3b Miguel Cabrera
C Mickey Cochrane
LF Harry Heilmann
CF Ty Cobb
RF Sam Crawford
RHP Justin Verlander
LHP Hal Newhouser
Closer John Hiller
Bench: Dan Brouthers, Sam Thompson, Norm Cash

Just don't bunt to the third base side.

[bobbyw8469]

I find it odd that one of the most popular players of all time (Mantle) is on no one's list.

[ejharrington]

Is this meant to be favorite players or best players?

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

If we're taking players at their peak to actually play games that's the different than picking the best career at each position. Not that a peak can be as short as one or two fluke seasons.

My list:

1b Gehrig
2b Jackie Robinson
Ss Wagner
3b Schmidt
Of Cobb Ruth Mays
C Piazza
Rh Pedro Martinez
Lh Koufax
Closer - who cares. Rivera, Hoffman, Quisenberry, Sutter, they make very little difference to a team's success unless they're awful.

Reserves: Williams, Trout

[milkit1]

C - Kling
1b - Chase
2nd - Johnny Evers
SS- Wagner
3b - J Collins
Lf - Schulte
CF- Speaker
Rf - Cobb
Pitchers Mordecai Brown and Walter Johnson

[Sean]

C- Bench
1B- Gehrig
2B- Morgan
SS- Wagner
3B- Schmidt
LF- Bonds (pre-steroids)
CF- Mays
RF- Ruth
LHP- Grove
RHP- Johnson
RP- Rivera
Bench- Cobb + Hornsby

* ask this question again in 5 years and I might put Trout on the team.

[Steve D]

Here's mine, from only the players who I have seen play in-person:

LF - Rickey Henderson
2B - Joe Morgan
CF - Ken Griffey Jr
1B - Hank Aaron
3B - Mike Schmidt
RF - Dave Winfield
C - Johnny Bench
SS - Ozzie Smith
P - Nolan Ryan
P - Phil Niekro (just because his knuckler would be so different and effective)
P - Randy Johnson
P - Greg Maddux
P - Steve Carlton
P - Roger Clemens
P - Mariano Rivera
P - Goose Gossage
P - Dennis Eckersley
P - Rollie Fingers
DH - Tony Gwynn
UP - Pete Rose
Mgr - Sparky Anderson


Steve

[Orioles1954]

Brooks Robinson at 3B.

[Touch'EmAll]

Not saying its the best team, just my favorite - who I would like to see.

C - Berra
1B - Gehrig
2B - Hornsby
3B- Brooks
SS - Wagner
OF - Ruth
OF - Cobb
OF - Bo Jackson
DH - Ted Williams
P - Nolan Ryan
P - Satchell Paige
P - Ruth
P - Koufax

When Ruth pitches, Aaron in the outfield.

Manager - Billy Martin

[ajquigs]

W Johnson
S Koufax
M Rivera
Y Berra
L Gehrig
R Hornsby
G Brett
H Wagner
T Cobb
W Mays
B Ruth

H Aaron
J Foxx

[LarsenMN]

2017 Astros or the 2018 Red Sox.....

[LarsenMN]

1. Rickey Henderson OF
2. Derek Jeter SS
3. Roberto Clemente OF
4. Willie Mays OF
5. Ernie Banks 1B
6. Harmon Killebrew 3B
7. Jackie Robinson 2B
8. Johnny Bench C
9. Koufax

If were using a DH, it would be a toss up between Trout, Aaron or Mantle. Too hard to choose.

Honorable Mentions: Puhols, Skinny Bonds, Ted Williams, Dimaggio

I know Henderson is the wild card, but terms of lead off hitter, there is no better option. If you have one better, feel free to make your argument. If he gets a walk it's like a triple.

Took Clemente over Mantle, Trout and Aaron because he was a multi dimensional talent (Trout's resume isn't long enough yet).

[Misunderestimated]

C Josh Gibson (based on reputation mostly -- based on MLB Stats I'll Take Bench )
1B Gehrig
2B Hornsby (not a good fielder though)
SS H. Wagner
3B A Rodriguez (reluctantly ....)
OF: B Bonds (LF) ; W Mays (CF); B Ruth (RF) -- O Charleston
Utility : A Pujols; R Henderson (PR) T Cobb (PR/PH)
DH T Williams
---
SP R- W Johnson
SP L -L Grove
Long Relief : S Paige
Short Relief - M. Rivera
Mgr. J McGraw (he could fill in at 3b where he had a great OBA)
----
I'm a history guy. I feel bad about the 19th Century and Negro Leaguers but the lack of reliable comparative data makes it hard.
I picked Josh Gibson and noted a few others from the negro leagues. My understanding is that O. Charleston was the best Negro League position player but he played CF and I'm not willing to slate him above Mays.
I also thought about Buck Ewing as a 19th Century guy because he was supposed to be the best all around player of the era as a utility entry or Catcher and King Kelly too.
The early pitchers put up crazy numbers (40-50 win seasons and short 300+ win careers ) but they are really hard to evaluate with the odd rules of the era .... Cy Young was tempting as the RHP since he is so far and away the wins leader but I went with Johnson because he was more dominant.

[AndrewJerome]

Fun to think about all time great teams. I'll go with:

1B Lou Gehrig
2B Jackie Robinson
3B George Brett
SS Honus Wagner
C Yogi Berra
OF Babe Ruth
OF Ty Cobb
OF Mickey Mantle

RHP Satchel Paige
LHP Randy Johnson
CL Mariano Rivera (I am one of those guys that thinks closers matter quite a bit, especially in close games)

BN Willie Mays
BN Ted Williams

* Bonds and ARod not included because of their "issues"

Actual Lineup

1 Jackie Robinson
2 Honus Wagner
3 Ty Cobb
4 Lou Gehrig
5 Babe Ruth
6 Mickey Mantle
7 Yogi Berra
8 George Brett
9 Pitcher

[SteveWhite]

Here is my lineup:

C-Bench
1B-Cabrera
2B-Rose
3B-Brett
SS-Ripken
OF-Gwynn
OF-Griffey Jr.
OF-Trout
RHP-Maddux
LHP-Carlton
Closer-Eckersly

[h2oya311]

I don’t have the energy tonight to fill out a full lineup card, but there is no way my lineup doesn’t have Rickey Henderson at the top of the lineup. The guy had such amazing plate discipline and the speed is just insane. And in days when he’s not in the lineup, he’s a huge asset off the bench for a SB (or two). Glad to see him getting some love from others on the board!

[Fred]

If you include players that "allegedly" used performance enhancers then consideration for Bonds, Clemens and A-Rod would be there.

It's tough to distinguish between eras when selecting an ATG team.

Personally, I'd keep the performance enhancers off my list.

[Shoelessseb]

C Bench
1B Gehrig
2B Hornsby
SS Wagner
3B Schmidt
LF Williams
CF Cobb
RF Ruth
RH Johnson
LH Koufax
Closer Rivera

Bench : Berra, Mays, DiMaggio, Rodriguez

[Rhotchkiss]

This is a cool and interesting thread.

It appears to me that the three most consistently named (i.e., most consensus first team all time) are Gehrig 1b, Wagner SS, and Ruth OF.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

I debated Foxx over Gehrig but decided I was just trying too hard.

[icurnmedic]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

This is a cool and interesting thread.

It appears to me that the three most consistently named (i.e., most consensus first team all time) are Gehrig 1b, Wagner SS, and Ruth OF.

First thing I noticed as well.I do however believe if this is a "need to win " team , Not a "who I like and think is great " team, Bonds has to be considered. The most feared hitter for over a decade and that is saying something, considering his other decade wasn't half bad.

[phikappapsi]

OF is the hardest part for me.
Mays, Ruth, Cobb, Aaron, Mantle, Williams, Bonds, DiMaggio, Griffey, Trout.

Getting that down to 3 is impossible.

[commishbob]

If I HAD to win a game to save my life I'd go to war with these guys:

1B Frank Robinson*
2B Jackie Robinson
3B Brooks Robinson
SS Honus Wagner
OF Willie Mays
OF Roberto Clemente
OF Ty Cobb
C Yogi Berra
SP Bob Gibson
RP Bob Gibson (he can close for himself. nobody else is getting on that mound)

Bench Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, & Pete Rose

*=Cheating a bit here but I'm playing Frank somewhere.

I remember a column many years ago by Detroit writer Joe Falls in which he said that if he could pick a team to win one game (or save his life, I'm not sure) that he's start with the three Robinsons and then let the other guy pick his nine. Or something along those lines. It has stuck with me after all this time.

[kevinlenane]

I love that Ted Williams add at DH. He's my number 2 there if Ruth had to be there(aka the second best pure hitter. Id want to put him in the OF w Cobb and Ruth but Willie Mays has to get the nod there given the other tools.

[glynparson]

1b- Gehrig
2b- Hornsby
SS- Wagner
3b- Schmidt
Of- Ruth, Mays, Bonds
C- Johnny Bench
RP- Walter Hohnson
LP- Koufax
Relief- Rivera

[olecow]

I'm somewhat biased. My all time starting 9 is:

1b - Joe Adcock
2b - Red Schoendienst
SS - Johnny Logan
3b - Eddie Mathews
C- Del Crandall
RF - Hank Aaron
CF - Billy Bruton
LF - Wes Covington
RHP - Lew Burdette
LHP - Warren Spahn

[Bocabirdman]

IF...

we could agree on a lineup of the #1 at each position...

AND...

we put together lineups #2 through #10...

AND...

the ten teams played a 162 game season...


I'd hate to live on the difference between the actual results and 10 .500 ball clubs......LOL

[esd10]

1b jake daubert
2b nap lajoie
Ss barry larkin
Lf stan musial
Cf ty cobb
Rf mel ott
C johnny bench
Rhp mathewson
Lhp eddie plank
Rp Walter Johnson
Rp nolan ryan
Rp Grover Cleveland Alexander
Bench babe ruth, edd roush, eddie collins, foxx, hornsby
Coach john j mcgraw

[LarsenMN]

So many people forget just how dominating Bob Gibson was for a decade. If I needed to win one game and I was assured he had his best stuff, I would send out Gibson every time. Especially in the postseason. I love his delivery follow through. It defies gravity.

[triwak]

Originally Posted by larsenmn

so many people forget just how dominating bob gibson was for a decade. If i needed to win one game and i was assured he had his best stuff, i would send out gibson every time. Especially in the postseason. I love his delivery follow through. It defies gravity.

+1000!!

[triwak]

Pre-war
RHP - Walter Johnson
LHP - Lefty Grove
C - Josh Gibson
1B - Lou Gehrig
2B - Rogers Hornsby
3B - Pie Traynor
SS - Honus Wagner
LF - Ted Williams
CF - Ty Cobb
RF - Babe Ruth
DH - Joe DiMaggio
Closer - Hoss Radbourn
Manager - John McGraw
GM - Harry Wright

Post-war
RHP - Bob Gibson
LHP - Sandy Koufax
C - Johnny Bench
1B - Stan Musial
2B - Jackie Robinson
3B - Mike Schmidt
SS - Ozzie Smith
LF - Rickey Henderson
CF - Willie Mays
RF - Hank Aaron
DH - Mickey Mantle
Closer - Miriano Rivera
Manager - Tony LaRussa
GM - Joe Torre

[Fred]

1B- Gehrig
2B- Hornsby
SS- Wagner (A-Rod if using PED users)
3B- Schmidt
LF - Williams (Bonds if using PED users)
CF -Mays
RF - Ruth
C- Johnny Bench
SP- Walter Hohnson (Clemens if using PED users)
RP- Rivera

[Fred]

Originally Posted by triwak

Pre-war
RHP - Walter Johnson
LHP - Lefty Grove
C - Josh Gibson
1B - Lou Gehrig
2B - Rogers Hornsby
3B - Pie Traynor
SS - Honus Wagner
LF - Ted Williams
CF - Ty Cobb
RF - Babe Ruth
DH - Joe DiMaggio
Closer - Hoss Radbourn
Manager - John McGraw
GM - Harry Wright

Post-war
RHP - Bob Gibson
LHP - Sandy Koufax
C - Johnny Bench
1B - Stan Musial
2B - Jackie Robinson
3B - Mike Schmidt
SS - Ozzie Smith
LF - Rickey Henderson
CF - Willie Mays
RF - Hank Aaron
DH - Mickey Mantle
Closer - Miriano Rivera
Manager - Tony LaRussa
GM - Joe Torre

Cool idea to use different eras. Could break it into three eras - dead ball, live ball and past 40 years (inclusive/exclusive of PED users).

[mattsey9]

C. Bench
1B Gehrig
2B. Hornsby
SS Smith
3B. Schmidt
OF. Aaron Mays Ruth
LHP Johnson
RHP Maddux
RP. Rivera

Reserves. Charleston Williams

[mattsey9]

Originally Posted by olecow

I'm somewhat biased. My all time starting 9 is:

1b - Joe Adcock
2b - Red Schoendienst
SS - Johnny Logan
3b - Eddie Mathews
C- Del Crandall
RF - Hank Aaron
CF - Billy Bruton
LF - Wes Covington
RHP - Lew Burdette
LHP - Warren Spahn

And Hurricane Hazel off the bench?

[Bigdaddy]

Very interesting that the player with the highest % of HOF votes for quite some time (held that mark for 24 years) is not mentioned on anyone's ballot.

Tom Seaver.

There are several other RHPs listed multiple times above (Ryan, Maddux, Gibson, Johnson, etc) that fell below Tom Terrific in HOF voting. I would have thought he would have shown up on at least some lists.

Here's mine:

LHP - Unit (barely over Carlton)
RHP - Ryan (barely over Seaver)
C - Bench - (the non-pereil)
1B - Gehrig (with Pujols right behind)
2B - Morgan (with Hornsby right behind)
SS - Wagner (with Rip right behind)
3B - Brett (picture under 'ball player' in the dictionary)
LF - Bonds (7x MVP)
CF - Mays (best all around player, ever)
RF - Ruth (what can I say, changed the game)
Closer - Mo (Mr. 100%)
DH/PH - Teddy Ballgame (best hitter ever)
Manager - Sparky