The Freshest Man on Earth

[Rad_Hazard]

I picked up my first 19th century player autograph of Arlie Latham and found this interesting article about him picking his all time MLB team in the year before his death (1951). Pic of Arlie is of him at 91 years old.

[Yoda]

Frank Frisch over Rogers Hornsby at 2nd base?

[Rad_Hazard]

Originally Posted by Yoda

Frank Frisch over Rogers Hornsby at 2nd base?

My guess is that it's due to Frisch having the better glove. Nothing was more important in 19th century baseball than defense.

[mrreality68]

Bill Terry over Lou Gehrig very interesting but I would still go with Gehrig
And despite “defense” I am sticking with Hornsby and strong choices for pitchers and outfielders

[Rad_Hazard]

Originally Posted by mrreality68

Bill Terry over Lou Gehrig very interesting but I would still go with Gehrig
And despite “defense” I am sticking with Hornsby and strong choices for pitchers and outfielders

I completely agree that Hornsby and Gehrig are the clear picks when this list was made, but I think I understand why he made the picks that he did. It's crazy how much value was placed on defense in the 19th century.

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by Rad_Hazard

I completely agree that Hornsby and Gehrig are the clear picks when this list was made, but I think I understand why he made the picks that he did. It's crazy how much value was placed on defense in the 19th century.

I always thought Gehrig was a really good first baseman but if Terry was that much better and defense was considered more important back than than I have to respect what I do not know

But odd that someone that great (and he had an amazing career) did not get inducted into HOF until 18 years after he retired and the Giants did not retire his number until 1984