All right guys, we all know baseball..Who's the best in your mind?

[the 'stache]

Roberto Clemente. He could do everything. If he'd played in New York or Los Angeles, he'd be in the same breath as Mays. He'd also have hit a lot more home runs. As Duke Snider said "Clemente had power. He just played in an airport." Because of where he played his home games, Clemente said he tailored his hitting to be more line drives.

The Pirates also called Clemente up way before he was ready. He only had 155 plate appearances in the minor leagues.

If you look at all the Major League players with at least 2,000 at bats between 1960 and 1972, Clemente outperformed every single hitter. He hit .330. The next best hitter hit only .317. That's a huge disparity.

And he's the best fielding outfielder I've ever seen. He could get to any ball, and you didn't try to run on him, unless you wanted to be thrown out!

[bnorth]

For players I saw play in person it would be Wade Boggs. The guy was a hitting machine. If you liked homeruns you needed to see him take batting practice it was amazing. I seriously think he could have easily won several of the all star homerun derby's if he was in them.

If the steroid guys are included maybe Ken Griffey Jr. I would say Barry Bonds hands down but I only went to a few National league games compared to several 100 American league games and never seen him play in person.

[packs]

Best hitters I ever saw were Ken Griffey Jr. and Manny Ramirez.

Most fun to watch was Jim Thome.

[Runscott]

My favorites to watch hit were Olerud, Baines, Carew, Brett, Gwynn, Berkman.

As far as afraid to watch them bat against my team: Scott Rolen, Tony Perez, Bench, Barry Bonds, Pujols.

[D.P.Johnson]

Best player of all-time: Babe Ruth
Best player I saw in person: Willie Mays

[cardsfan73]

Best hitter I have seen play is Albert Pujols.

Best over all player Ken Griffey JR.

[JoeDfan]

In my humble opinion:

Best position player I ever saw? Ken Griffey, Jr.
Best pitcher I ever saw? Pedro Martinez
Best hitter I ever saw? Ichiro
Best hustle I ever saw? Pete Rose

Best position player of all time? Willie Mays
Best pitcher of all time? Satchel Paige
Best hitter of all time? Ted Williams
Best everything of all time? Babe Ruth

That was tough, and I am sure I didn't think of some other great ones.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by bnorth

For players I saw play in person it would be Wade Boggs. The guy was a hitting machine. If you liked homeruns you needed to see him take batting practice it was amazing. I seriously think he could have easily won several of the all star homerun derby's if he was in them.

If the steroid guys are included maybe Ken Griffey Jr. I would say Barry Bonds hands down but I only went to a few National league games compared to several 100 American league games and never seen him play in person.

Congrats, Ben. I'm pretty sure you are the first person I ever heard link Ken Griffey, Jr. to steroids.

While they played during the period, I have never heard that about Thomas or Thome either. Let's be careful who gets thrown under the bus.

Bill- I have to admit, recalling that I did witness the 1971 World Series, Clemente would have to be the best I ever saw, too.

[bosoxfan]

Best I ever saw was Pedro Martinez. Best 6 consecutive years ever.

[EvilKing00]

bests I have seen was bonds / best player ever ruth

[packs]

On the pitching spectrum I go with:

Best of my life: Pedro Martinez and Randy Johnson.

Really tough to say who was better. Johnson gets the edge in my opinion. From 1997 to 2002 he average 20 wins, 340 K's, threw 19 shutouts and pitched 46 complete games.

[TUM301]

Best player I ever saw in person, Johnny Bench. Have a soft spot for catchers because it`s such a demanding position but he played it at least as well, if not better, as anyone I`ve seen. Added to that is he was one of the main offensive threats for one of the better teams for many years. in an all time fantasy team draft, I start with Bench.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by the 'stache

Roberto Clemente. He could do everything. If he'd played in New York or Los Angeles, he'd be in the same breath as Mays. He'd also have hit a lot more home runs. As Duke Snider said "Clemente had power. He just played in an airport." Because of where he played his home games, Clemente said he tailored his hitting to be more line drives.

The Pirates also called Clemente up way before he was ready. He only had 155 plate appearances in the minor leagues.

If you look at all the Major League players with at least 2,000 at bats between 1960 and 1972, Clemente outperformed every single hitter. He hit .330. The next best hitter hit only .317. That's a huge disparity.

And he's the best fielding outfielder I've ever seen. He could get to any ball, and you didn't try to run on him, unless you wanted to be thrown out!

Easily Clemente for position players. I had to go to at least one Dodgers game every year to watch him play. The only thing that I can add is how he took his game to another level in the World Series. Mays would be second. For pitchers, Sandy Koufax.