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

[doug.goodman]

We all know all about Ruth hitting a few homers, having a .342 lifetime average, a couple other things at the plate, all of which make him a candidate, based on hitting.

When you add in his 2.28 lifetime ERA with 97 pitching victories, including his 3-0 record in the World Series (with one of those WS wins being a 14 inning complete game), are we really still thinking about anybody else?

Doug

[Zone91]

I am going to have to go with Willie Mays!! I was going to say Mantle....but I am biased now that I own his ''rookie'' card...lolllll!!!

[drc]

Okay, I'll come clean. I vote for me twice under 'None of the Above.'

[triwak]

Originally Posted by Zone91

I was going to say Mantle....but I am biased now that I own his ''rookie'' card...lolllll!!!

Hold on! Dunlop isn't listed in the poll.

[mikemcgrail]

George Herman by a mile

Honus is for me number 2

[39special]

I would say Willie Mays.

[barrysloate]

Frank Baker made the cut, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron didn't. Hmmm....

[bobbyw8469]

Mantle played hurt most of his career and still put up awesome numbers. Can you imagine what he would have done had he actually been healthy?

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Frank Baker made the cut, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron didn't. Hmmm....

Good morning, Barry.

I took my Pre-War starting nine, added, "none of the above" as the tenth choice, and posted the thread...nothing more, nothing less.

Anyway, it seems pretty clear...that George Herman Ruth fellow would be crushing the competition, no matter who it was.

Thanks for weighing in and have a wonderful weekend.

Best Regards,

Eric

[AMBST95]

Originally Posted by Zone91

I am going to have to go with Willie Mays!! I was going to say Mantle....but I am biased now that I own his ''rookie'' card...lolllll!!!

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by AMBST95

Agree about Mays, but wasn't the original poll asking who was the greatest player of the pre-war era?

[PolarBear]

Originally Posted by doug.goodman

We all know all about Ruth hitting a few homers, having a .342 lifetime average, a couple other things at the plate, all of which make him a candidate, based on hitting.

When you add in his 2.28 lifetime ERA with 97 pitching victories, including his 3-0 record in the World Series (with one of those WS wins being a 14 inning complete game), are we really still thinking about anybody else?

Doug

This. Ruth could have been an HOF pitcher if he hadn't become the hitter we all remember. No other player even comes close to matching that ability.

[pepis]

In major league history,, only 5 left-handed pitchers have ever compiled an ERA of under 2.00 runs while pitching over 300 innings in one year 2-in pre war
Rube Waddell & The Babe,,,in pos war Koufax, Carlton and V.Blue, so his pitching prowls were up there with the greatest ever!! no need to say anything
about his hitting,, most complete baseball player!! with not even a close 2nd.

[jcmtiger]

Come on, it's still Ty Cobb and won't change no matter how many polls are taken.

Joe

[howard38]

Originally Posted by pepis

In major league history,, only 5 left-handed pitchers have ever compiled an ERA of under 2.00 runs while pitching over 300 innings in one year 2-in pre war
Rube Waddell & The Babe,,,in pos war Koufax, Carlton and V.Blue, so his pitching prowls were up there with the greatest ever!! no need to say anything
about his hitting,, most complete baseball player!! with not even a close 2nd.

It's been done more often than that. Carl Hubbell, Wilbur Wood (the same year as Vida Blue) and Hal Newhouser all did it. Probably some others as well.