Baseball's Greatest Living Player...who is it?

[1963Topps Set]

I was just about to say... What about pitchers? Sandy Koufax.. The real Mr. October!

Nolan Ryan... Who is going to catch his numbers?

How about Cal Ripkin? Remember the streak?

[RichardSimon]

Mays, no question.

[bnorth]

At no time was Joe DiMaggio the greatest living player.

My vote for now is Hank Aaron.

[Vintageclout]

Originally Posted by bnorth

At no time was Joe DiMaggio the greatest living player.

My vote for now is Hank Aaron.

At "peak value" Joe DiMaggio sure was the greatest living player. Anyone who bats .350+ and consistently strikes out LESS than his 30+ home run totals has my vote. The finest bat control for a power hitter in baseball history INCLUDING Ted Williams.

[pclpads]

No mention of Banks???

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by pclpads

No mention of Banks???

.271 hitter. No.

[Mdmtx]

Is Ted Williams head still alive?

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by Mdmtx

Is Ted Williams head still alive?

Only his head

[glynparson]

I know I know.

[Mountaineer1999]

Aaron, Mays, Bonds, Koufax, Maddux, Robinson, Bench, .... There are many greats still living. Would probably be hard for me to squeeze Jeter into the top 20.

[BearBailey]

Willie Mays,
I agree Joe D was never the best living player. Jeter has never been the best current short stop let alone best living player.

Frank Robinson, Mike Schmidt, Hank Aaron, and Pete Rose all get honorable mentions.

[darwinbulldog]

Say-hey!

[nebboy]

Nolan Ryan would make my top 5 list. Just wanted to get his name in the tread.

[darwinbulldog]

Also I would agree that Joltin Joe never deserved that title. After Ruth died the torch passed to Old Cy and then to Mays -- though it certainly looked like Mantle for a few years there. So anyway, it's Mays. And if it isn't Mays (which it is) then it's Trout. Jeter doesn't sniff the top 10.

[Baseball Rarities]

Everyday Players:

1. Mays
2. Aaron
3. F. Robinson
4. Schmidt
5. Brett/Bench


Pitchers:

1. Koufax
2. Seaver
3. Maddux
4. R. Johnson
5. Martinez

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by darwinbulldog

Also I would agree that Joltin Joe never deserved that title. After Ruth died the torch passed to Old Cy and then to Mays -- though it certainly looked like Mantle for a few years there. So anyway, it's Mays. And if it isn't Mays (which it is) then it's Trout. Jeter doesn't sniff the top 10.

One could argue the torch passed to Cobb, who lived until 1960 or so. And before Mays and Mantle retired, one could argue Williams or Musial over DiMaggio.

[Iron Horse]

Hitters: Mays & Aaron
Pitchers: Koufax & Ryan

[yanksfan09]

I'd say mays and Aaron for hitters .... Probably Koufax and Pedro Martinez for pitchers (Maddux, unit , Seaver )right there also...

I wouldn't put jeter in top 10, and I'm a huge Yankees fan and jeter was probably the favorite player I watched.

I don't think jeter would have been a thought for anyone just a few years ago , especially before he had 3000 hits.

[Danny Smith]

I'll second this.

Originally Posted by Iron Horse

Hitters: Mays & Aaron
Pitchers: Koufax & Ryan

[Rickyy]

Willie Mays,

Hank Aaron - close 2nd

Ricky Y

[sox1903wschamp]

Originally Posted by pclpads

No mention of Banks???

.271 hitter. No.

By this logic, Bench is out, .267

[EvilKing00]

Got to be mays as best living player

I wouldn't have jeter on this or almost another list, I understand the love affair with him being on the Yankees and playing with such a great team that won a lot. This would be my list of guys better than jeter who are still alive & im sure im leaving guys off too.


1. Mays
2 . Griffey
3. Aaron
4. F. Robinson
5 . Schmidt
6. Brett
7. Bench
8 - Rose
9 - Berra
10 - Ripkin
11. gwynn
12. ichrio
13. pujols
14. banks
15. Eddie Murray
16. McGriff
17. Ricky Henderson
18 - Chipper jones
19. David Ortiz
20. bagwell
21. Vlad gurrero
22. Miguel Cabrera
23. albert bell (roids?)

then you have pitchers

1. Koufax
2. Martinez
3. Seaver
4. Maddux
5. R. Johnson

then you have the roid guys

bonds
arod
maybe piazza
Sheffield
Clemens
etc - etc