GOAT of GOATs?

[CW]

I'd have to agree with Robert that Ruth, in his earlier years, had power hitting skills that were head and shoulders above anyone in the game. In the negro leagues, Josh Gibson was also dominant in that category.

Sugar Ray Robinson was very close to being undefeated in the 40's and 50's. He started out 40-0, lost to Jake LaMotta, then proceeded to go 88-0 after that (I will admit I had to look that up ).

[packs]

I'd go with Gretzky too. Ruth was incredible in his time but over time people have been able to surpass some of what he did, though in his time he was without question totally unmatched.

On the other hand Gretzky is not only the only NHL player with 2,000 points, he has nearly 3,000 points. He holds 61 NHL records and many of them will never be broken. Even today's greatest players don't come close to his single season stats.

[Leon]

Babe Ruth and Usain Bolt. Both were so far ahead of their peers it was crazy.

In the chart below, we see that Ruth accomplished the feat of outhomering teams ninety times, between the years of 1918 and 1933, not to mention besting pairs of teams eighteen times.

BABE RUTH HOME RUN TOTALS VS TEAMS:

TEAM COMPARISONS 1918-1933 HRs > AL > NL

. . .. Ruth.> AL> NL
1918.. 11.. 4.. 1
1919.. 29.. 4.. 6
1920.. 54.. 7.. 7
1921.. 59.. 5.. 3 (a)
1922.. 35.. 1.. 1
1923.. 41.. 2 (b).. 1
1924.. 46.. 5.. 3
1925.. 25.. 0.. 0
1926.. 47.. 5.. 4
1927.. 60.. 7.. 5
1928.. 54.. 4.. 3
1929.. 46.. 2 (c).. 2
1930.. 49.. 1.. 0
1931.. 46.. 3.. 3
1932.. 41.. 1.. 0
1933.. 34.. 0.. 0 (d)

[frankbmd]

I proudly nominate Herb Dudley, hurling ace of the world famous Clearwater Bombers. From 1940-1958, the team had no peers in fast pitch softball. The team won 10 national championships and three times were unscored upon throughout the district, regional, state and national playoffs. Dudley and his teammates are well represented in the ASA Hall of Fame. Other Bombers have impressive careers as well, so picking Dudley was not an easy choice.

As for Dudley, he pitched for 41 years retiring at the age of 61. He recorded over 13,000 strikeouts and pitched over 100 no-hitters. Fast pitch softball in this era was often a low-scoring affair at the championship level. In 1949, in a 21 inning game in Oklahoma City, Dudley recorded 55 strikeouts. Move over Walter and Nolan.

[steve B]

A couple other possibilities,

Long distance cyclist Eileen Sheridan, who broke all the long distance and point to point records the English cycling organization had listed for women in the 1950's. And made a good run at breaking the 1000 mile record outright, falling a bit over 2 hours short of the mens record. Her record for 1000 miles stood for 48 years, and five of the place to place record still stand.
https://rouleur.cc/editorial/eileen-sheridan/

Or Beryl Burton, who won nearly everything, and set a record for 12 hours that still stands,277.25 miles and at the time was the record, being farther than the mens record, which was set the same day.

https://rouleur.cc/editorial/eileen-sheridan/

A better article, but pretty heavily infested with ads.
http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/la...h-legend-62824

[Rookiemonster]

Ruth didn’t play against a full talent pool.

Brady played at offensive era and cheats.

Jordan was the best basketball player I’ve ever seen.

I don’t watch hockey but Wayne Gretzky’s numbers are ridiculous.

For me football needs a better all time great. I don’t agree that it has to be a QB. I would pick jerry rice or lawerence taylor( very biase with the New York Giants)

Maybe we try GOATs by the decade. But for the sake of this goat of goats I’ll pick the Great one.

An a honorable mention to Benny Friedman.goat of his time

[njdunkin1]

Ruth and Jordan are both excellent arguments.

Obviously the talent pool was smaller in Ruth's time, but mechanically the game was much different then, too.

[brett 75]

Ruth was the first person that came to mind as well. We are talking about a player that hasn't been on the diamond in about 80 years and even people that don't follow baseball know the name Babe Ruth . ( will any of the others mentioned be held at this level after that many year?) I'm thinking most of us won't be around to see that outcome but would bet Ruth will still be regarded as a Legend. Not everything has to be about stats to be THE Goat!
Brett

[stlcardsfan]

Edwin Corley Moses (born August 31, 1955) is an American former track and field athlete who won gold medals in the 400 m hurdles at the 1976 and 1984 Olympics. Between 1977 and 1987, Moses won 107 consecutive finals (122 consecutive races) and set the world record in the event four times.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by stlcardsfan

Edwin Corley Moses (born August 31, 1955) is an American former track and field athlete who won gold medals in the 400 m hurdles at the 1976 and 1984 Olympics. Between 1977 and 1987, Moses won 107 consecutive finals (122 consecutive races) and set the world record in the event four times.

That's amazing.

[tjb1952tjb]

Originally Posted by stlcardsfan

Edwin Corley Moses (born August 31, 1955) is an American former track and field athlete who won gold medals in the 400 m hurdles at the 1976 and 1984 Olympics. Between 1977 and 1987, Moses won 107 consecutive finals (122 consecutive races) and set the world record in the event four times.

He would have won another Olympic gold medal in 1980 in Moscow if not for the U..S boycott (courtesy of Jimmy Carter). Edwin Moses was simply unbelievable........a machine.

[joshuanip]

Its too generic but true.

Ruth started as working class, unruly incorrigible kid without direction. His workaholic father sent him to St. Mary's to put a kick in his pants, but what he found was his talent in baseball.

Was a great pitcher for a few years and finally played outfield at the age of 24. Imagine his stats if he played outfield from day 1! But he was that good of a pitcher. Then he was a giant among boys, smashing all the records.

Add to it his love of kids (and women, hot dogs and beer...) and his stories of legend (called shot, drunk homerun, etc.)

His origins story, his play as both a pitcher and a batter, and his lore makes him the GOAT. tell me another athlete that has the whole package like that.