Who is the greatest player of all time by position?

[Mark17]

It only makes sense that from 1900 through 1950, there would've been at least one black player who merits inclusion on the list. From what I have read, Josh Gibson was considered perhaps the best, by his peers. I have to have him as my catcher based on that logic.

People want to discount him due to lack of accurate statistics, inferior competition, or whatever. But if he was the best of his contemporaries, and his contemporaries (blacks) as a group, were comparable to other ballplayers, then I don't think the stat thing is enough to exclude him.

Put another way, if we made a list of the top 100 players since 1950, I'll bet about half would be black. I'm thinking, that ratio was probably less, but not by much, during the 1900-1950 era.

So I'm thinking Red nailed it with the first post in this thread, after swapping in Walter.

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by Mark17

It only makes sense that from 1900 through 1950, there would've been at least one black player who merits inclusion on the list. From what I have read, Josh Gibson was considered perhaps the best, by his peers. I have to have him as my catcher based on that logic.

People want to discount him due to lack of accurate statistics, inferior competition, or whatever. But if he was the best of his contemporaries, and his contemporaries (blacks) as a group, were comparable to other ballplayers, then I don't think the stat thing is enough to exclude him.

Put another way, if we made a list of the top 100 players since 1950, I'll bet about half would be black. I'm thinking, that ratio was probably less, but not by much, during the 1900-1950 era.

So I'm thinking Red nailed it with the first post in this thread, after swapping in Walter.

Here is an interesting article where ESPN ranked the Top Catchers of All time. They have Josh Gibson #2 and Bench #1.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/pag...-catchers-ever

After Reading it I would actually agree that Josh Gibson should be #1 All Time at Catcher

[Carter08]

All due respect for Schmidt and Brett and others but the position that surprises me the most is third base. Sort of surprised there hasn’t been a truly dominant winner for that position. I think of A Rod as more of a SS and also a cheater. Could be that third base is very dependent on defense so you can’t just throw a good hitter over there and hope for the best.

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by Carter08

All due respect for Schmidt and Brett and others but the position that surprises me the most is third base. Sort of surprised there hasn’t been a truly dominant winner for that position. I think of A Rod as more of a SS and also a cheater. Could be that third base is very dependent on defense so you can’t just throw a good hitter over there and hope for the best.

Schmidt won 10 Gold Gloves in his career.

[mrreality68]

Or for third base if you want a great 3rd baseman that also won 16 Gold Gloves how about Brooks Robinson

18-time All-Star (1960-74*), 16 Gold Gloves ('60-75), MVP (1964), All-Star MVP ('66), World Series MVP ('70), Hall of Fame ('83)

*Played in two All-Star Games in '60, '61 and '62

Championships
2 -- Baltimore (1966, '70)

Career stats
.267/.322/.401, OPS -- .723, Hits -- 2,848, HRs -- 268, RBIs -- 1,357


Cannot go wrong with him if you want to skip over Schmidt

[clydepepper]

My Picks:

P-Walter Johnson
C-Johnny Bench
1B-Lou Gehrig
2B-Joe Morgan
SS-Honus Wagner
3B-Mike Schmidt
OF-Willie Mays
OF-Babe Ruth
OF-Ty Cobb



.

[Carter08]

Originally Posted by mrreality68

Or for third base if you want a great 3rd baseman that also won 16 Gold Gloves how about Brooks Robinson

18-time All-Star (1960-74*), 16 Gold Gloves ('60-75), MVP (1964), All-Star MVP ('66), World Series MVP ('70), Hall of Fame ('83)

*Played in two All-Star Games in '60, '61 and '62

Championships
2 -- Baltimore (1966, '70)

Career stats
.267/.322/.401, OPS -- .723, Hits -- 2,848, HRs -- 268, RBIs -- 1,357


Cannot go wrong with him if you want to skip over Schmidt

Agreed. I’m just surprised there hasn’t been a true one ring to rule them all player at 3rd. Love Brooksie by the way.

[Eric72]

1. Willie Mays, CF
2. Honus Wagner, SS
3. Babe Ruth, LF
4. Hank Aaron, RF
5. Lou Gehrig, 1B
6. Rogers Hornsby, 2B
7. Mike Schmidt, 3B
8. Yogi Berra, C
9. Walter Johnson, P

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by mrreality68

Or for third base if you want a great 3rd baseman that also won 16 Gold Gloves how about Brooks Robinson

18-time All-Star (1960-74*), 16 Gold Gloves ('60-75), MVP (1964), All-Star MVP ('66), World Series MVP ('70), Hall of Fame ('83)

*Played in two All-Star Games in '60, '61 and '62

Championships
2 -- Baltimore (1966, '70)

Career stats
.267/.322/.401, OPS -- .723, Hits -- 2,848, HRs -- 268, RBIs -- 1,357


Cannot go wrong with him if you want to skip over Schmidt

I'm not sure why you would take Brooks Robinson over Schmidt. Schmidt's numbers are better in almost every category except for gold gloves and hits, and Robinson had around 1600 more plate appearances to get to his hit total while having the same career batting average and a much lower OBP and OPS. Schmidt is also way ahead in WAR and had 3 MVPs and a WS MVP in 1980.

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by jayshum

I'm not sure why you would take Brooks Robinson over Schmidt. Schmidt's numbers are better in almost every category except for gold gloves and hits, and Robinson had around 1600 more plate appearances to get to his hit total while having the same career batting average and a much lower OBP and OPS. Schmidt is also way ahead in WAR and had 3 MVPs and a WS MVP in 1980.

Hi

I did not pick Robinson over Schmidt. One someone said that defense was so important and it is not all about offense first I said Schmidt had ten gold gloves and then I said if you did not want Schmidt then Robinson would be a good pick based on them wanting a combo of offense and defense if Schmidt did not meet their criteria.

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by jayshum

I'm not sure why you would take Brooks Robinson over Schmidt. Schmidt's numbers are better in almost every category except for gold gloves and hits, and Robinson had around 1600 more plate appearances to get to his hit total while having the same career batting average and a much lower OBP and OPS. Schmidt is also way ahead in WAR and had 3 MVPs and a WS MVP in 1980.

It surprises me how many people either overlook, or are unaware of, Schmidt's 10 Gold Gloves.