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

[KCRfan1]

Aaron, followed very closely by Mays. At no time will Jeter ever be considered the greatest living player, even if he lives to be 90 years old.

[Jobu]

For hitters, and probably overall, I say Mays over Aaron by a nose.

For pitchers I say Maddux and Randy Johnson need to be in the conversation. Many of you will get mad at this, but I don't think Koufax is in the conversation for best living player. He was absolutely incredible for 5 years and decent for the rest of his career. 5 years does not make one the best living player and we can't count what would have happened if not for the shoulder issues at the end.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Jobu

For hitters, and probably overall, I say Mays over Aaron by a nose.

For pitchers I say Maddux and Randy Johnson need to be in the conversation. Many of you will get mad at this, but I don't think Koufax is in the conversation for best living player. He was absolutely incredible for 5 years and decent for the rest of his career. 5 years does not make one the best living player and we can't count what would have happened if not for the shoulder issues at the end.

I would agree re Koufax. I would take at least Seaver, Gibson, Maddux and Johnson over him, if I can't take Clemens.

[rats60]

Mays and Koufax. I can't consider someone who was never the best player in the game to be the best living player (looking at you Aaron).

[Sean]

Originally Posted by rats60

Mays and Koufax. I can't consider someone who was never the best player in the game to be the best living player (looking at you Aaron).

+1

[mark evans]

Willie Mays (although I may be partial to the heroes of my youth)

[Roofman4]

1. Mays
2. Aaron
3. Koufax
4. Brooks Robinson
5. Ryan

and 1 more for good luck...

6. Cal Ripken Jr

[ZenPop]

Originally Posted by rats60

Mays and Koufax. I can't consider someone who was never the best player in the game to be the best living player (looking at you Aaron).

+infinity

[JustinD]

I will say that I am a bonds hater of immense magnitude, but I can't in good conscience leave him off an honest list. For all the hate for the steroids era, everyone had their crutch. From Cobbs sharpened cleats, to the vaseline balls, 15 inch mounds and Greenies like halloween candy, there was never a "clean" era in my mind. With the magnifing glass the current players live under, we may be seeing the cleanest it's even been. I know this will be controversial, but here goes -

My list is -
Aaron
Mays
Bonds
Rose
Clemens

and an honorable mention to Ryan and Koufax.

[packs]

Best players overall I gotta say Hank Aaron and Rickey Henderson.

[brewing]

Originally Posted by rats60

Mays and Koufax. I can't consider someone who was never the best player in the game to be the best living player (looking at you Aaron).

Playing in Milwaukee and Atlanta has that effect. OPS+ of 140+ for 19 straight years, WAR of 6+ for 16 of those seasons. He belongs in the discussion. My vote goes to Mays for his superior defense.

I can't consider some who was great for 4 yrs, good for another 2 to be in the discussion for greatest ever (looking at you Koufax).

[rats60]

Originally Posted by brewing

Playing in Milwaukee and Atlanta has that effect. OPS+ of 140+ for 19 straight years, WAR of 6+ for 16 of those seasons. He belongs in the discussion. My vote goes to Mays for his superior defense.

I can't consider some who was great for 4 yrs, good for another 2 to be in the discussion for greatest ever (looking at you Koufax).

To each his own. I'd rather have a great player for 6 years than one whose stats are over rated by steroids or playing in Fulton County Stadium.

[rdixon1208]

1) Mays
2) Maddux
3) Rickey
4) Aaron
5) Koufax
6) Nolan

[the 'stache]

1A. Hank Aaron
1B. Willie Mays

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by rats60

To each his own. I'd rather have a great player for 6 years than one whose stats are over rated by steroids or playing in Fulton County Stadium.

THREE PLAYERS or THREE LOCATIONS?

1.) 634-2226-421-671-91-5-190-481-.301-.389-.603-.992

2.) 1013-3742-660-1140-192-32-195-636-.305-.373-.529-.902

3.) 1651-6396-1094-1960-341-61-370-1180-.306-.369-.552-.921

I would have to say that this guy was pretty BAD anywhere he went!
.
ergo, the nickname...
.

[oldjudge]

Hank Aaron. Aaron was a marginally better hitter than Mays. Mays was better than Aaron as a fielder, although Aaron did win 3 GGs. Aaron was in the top three in MVP voting 7 times, Mays 6 times. Aaron in my opinion is a real gentleman; Mays a jerk.

[bbcard1]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I would agree re Koufax. I would take at least Seaver, Gibson, Maddux and Johnson over him, if I can't take Clemens.

While we all concur he hung on too long, Steve Carlton would round that rotation out nicely.

[SteveMitchell]

Mays over Aaron by a nose (or more) and I have long shared the writer's opinion of Sandy Koufax. Koufax was phenomenal for the last 5 of his 12 seasons. However, in his first 7 years, he broke below 3.50 ERA only once: 1955 when he was 3.02 in 4 decisions. After 1961 he was brilliant; the brilliance was just too brief to rank as Greatest Living. For that title, I guess I'd go with Maddux among pitchers. (Randy might have gotten the nod had he given more than half-hearted efforts in his final games at Seattle (9-10 won-lost record on 4.33 ERA before posting a spiffy 10-1 mark and 1.28 ERA at Houston) in 1998.

Originally Posted by Jobu

For hitters, and probably overall, I say Mays over Aaron by a nose.

For pitchers I say Maddux and Randy Johnson need to be in the conversation. Many of you will get mad at this, but I don't think Koufax is in the conversation for best living player. He was absolutely incredible for 5 years and decent for the rest of his career. 5 years does not make one the best living player and we can't count what would have happened if not for the shoulder issues at the end.

[jbl79]

Mays a slight edge over Aaron. As hitters...they could be equal. Mays missed most of '52 and all of '53 to the Korean War...otherwise would have had greater career numbers. The deciding factor for me is that Mays has 12 gold gloves and Aaron with 3.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by jbl79

Mays a slight edge over Aaron. As hitters...they could be equal. Mays missed most of '52 and all of '53 to the Korean War...otherwise would have had greater career numbers. The deciding factor for me is that Mays has 12 gold gloves and Aaron with 3.

And Mays had a flair for the dramatic and a style that Aaron, a more reserved man, did not.

[oldphil]

Mays then Aaron. Jeter not in top 10.