Which HOF "manager" was the best "player"?

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Posted By: Brian H (misunderestimated)

I'd go with Foster than McGraw and Torre. I would also note that Foster's induction, while he was both a player and manager of more than suffient merit to justify being in the Hall of Fame, also recognized his nearly single-handed construction and maintenance of the original Negro Leagues.....

McGraw, who still has one of the highest On-Base percentages ever (future managers were often keenly aware of the value of simply getting on base before Bill James ever picked up a calculator) was quite injury prone and his career numbers pale next to those of Torre as well as Al Lopez. Also, note that Lopez, Torre, Wilbert Robinson, Hanlon and Mack were all primarily Catchers when they played as were an otherwise disproportionate number of Managers.... Personally, if push came to shove, I'd take McGraw over Torre as a player because of his exceptional value during his peak years and the fact that even as a player (for Hanlon's "Old Orioles") he was a bigger winner than Torre.