Who is the greatest player of the Pre-War Era?

[Shoele$$]

What always struck me about Ruth was when he was pitching, he had a fairly slender athletic body that was better suited for being an all around baseball player with base running and stealing in mind. Then when he became a hitter and switched to the outfield, his body turned into a slow, sloppy, overweight pitcher's body. That extra weight did probably help with power behind his swing, but I just wonder how good he could have been had he possessed the body and speed to be an all around ball player like Cobb and Wagner. Hmmm....

[drc]

I'd vote but I don't see Sammy Sosa on the list. My God, people, he and McGwire saved baseball!

[itjclarke]

Originally Posted by Shoele$$

What always struck me about Ruth was when he was pitching, he had a fairly slender athletic body that was better suited for being an all around baseball player with base running and stealing in mind. Then when he became a hitter and switched to the outfield, his body turned into a slow, sloppy, overweight pitcher's body. That extra weight did probably help with power behind his swing, but I just wonder how good he could have been had he possessed the body and speed to be an all around ball player like Cobb and Wagner. Hmmm....

He would have been a BEAST. He clearly had superhuman hand eye coordination and ridiculous upper body strength. He hit 714 and over .340, while basically walking toward the mound as the pitch approached and swinging a 40+ oz bat. I could maybe do that in a batting cage, but facing different pitchers/pitches, different speeds and still making those moving parts work?!? That said, there's no doubt in my mind he'd have outdone himself had be maintained a more athletic body type. He'd still have that ridiculous hand/eye but would also be fast enough to leg out some more soft infield grounds (imagine how deep infields must have played him).. maybe turn some 450 ft gappers into triples/HR's... probably been a bette outfielder with an already great arm... and maybe extended his career and peak production a little longer (even though there was little drop off until the very end).

[CW]

What? No Sadaharu Oh?

As much as I love Cobb's tenacity and approach to the game, I gotta give this one to the Babe.

[deadballfreaK]

I hate voting for a Yankee, but gotta be Ruth.

[Kenny Cole]

Ruth, His impact, both on and off the field, was immeasurable.

[CMIZ5290]

I am amazed 2 people voted for Frank Baker, are you guys related, or trying to drive prices up on his cards? Holy cow.....

[HOF Auto Rookies]

Originally Posted by CMIZ5290

I am amazed 2 people voted for Frank Baker, are you guys related, or trying to drive prices up on his cards? Holy cow.....

Lol, my thoughts exactly

[ZenPop]

In the Pre-War era... I'd go Josh Gibson or Babe Ruth...

But Willie Mays was the best ever.

Ruth was awesome. But he played in a segregated league.
Mays was a baseball genius... playing in the most perfect era of baseball, ever.

[the 'stache]

Ed Walsh could have received some consideration. The man threw nearly 3,000 innings and had a career 1.82 ERA.

I'm still trying to figure out how in 1910 Walsh threw 369 2/3 innings, struck out 258 batters, had a 0.820 WHIP and a 1.27 ERA, and went only 18-20!

But for the best player, after some careful consideration, I had to vote for Ruth. The guy could have gone down as one of the all-time greatest pitchers, and he was an even better hitter.

[2dueces]

Cobb was the greatest all around player of all time. Not just pre war. Babe Ruth was the most dominate player of all time. There is a difference.

[Fred]

Ruth

[Piratedogcardshows]

Ty Cobbs character prevents a lot of people from seeing just how great he was.He may not have been the best person but no doubt he is the best ball player I'm my mind.

[PolarBear]

Originally Posted by the 'stache

Ed Walsh could have received some consideration. The man threw nearly 3,000 innings and had a career 1.82 ERA.

I'm still trying to figure out how in 1910 Walsh threw 369 2/3 innings, struck out 258 batters, had a 0.820 WHIP and a 1.27 ERA, and went only 18-20!

The pre-1917 Sox were known as the Hitless Wonders. He didn't have much run support to win games.

[sayheykid54]

Without question Ty Cobb..not even close.

He's the fiercest most complete player to ever play the game. He DOMINATED the era that he played in. His all-time highest batting average will never be matched.

COBB!

[Kenny Cole]

I suppose that if the question is limited to the majors, I'd go with Ruth very narrowly over Cobb. If the question is the best baseball player of that era, I think it is Oscar Charleston. He was a combination of Ruth, Cobb, Speaker and Mays as a player. IMO, he wins best ever, and he was certainly better than Gibson.

[aljurgela]

I have to agree with Kenny ... That Oscar would take it... If majors, would have to be Ruth.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by sayheykid54

Without question Ty Cobb..not even close.

He's the fiercest most complete player to ever play the game. He DOMINATED the era that he played in. His all-time highest batting average will never be matched.

COBB!

According to your peers on this vintage board you are a multiple of 4x wrong . At approximately 16% for Cobb and 65% for Ruth, I would say without question it was Ruth.....again, according to our members.

[Vintageclout]

Originally Posted by Leon

According to your peers on this vintage board you are a multiple of 4x wrong . At approximately 16% for Cobb and 65% for Ruth, I would say without question it was Ruth.....again, according to our members.

Leon,

Aside from being a HOF PITCHER, I firmly believe Ruth's stand-alone greatness is confirmed by the FACT that he actually out-homered virtually all of the TEAMS in the league during the early 1920's!!! I will always look at that statistic as one of if not THE most unfathomable feats in Major League history. Babe Ruth will forever stand "above the game" itself!

Joe T.