Calling All True Pre-War Buffs: Rank The T206 HOFers

[irishdenny]

1st Class
Christy Mathewson - He's the Man - (Work Horse)
Ed Walsh - No Respect, His ERA is Mind Boggling - (Work Horse)
Hans Wagner - Complete Consistency
Ty Cobb - The Greatest "Over Achiever" in any Sport - Ever!
Cy Young - Massive Numbers ~ Longevity

2nd Class
Nap Lajoie
Walter Johnson
Tris Speaker.
Rube Waddell
Mordecai Brown

When it com's to Player's, Prewar Pitcher's hold a Very Strong Opinion of mine. They spent A Lot of Time on the Mound, or lack there of! They pitched from even level and the crowd was ever so close. Equaling Major Pressure to get it done!

[kllrbee]

I know the question is to rank the best players, but Im gonna throw a litlle curveball here.
I am no expert, but it seems everything I read has Mcgraw in the middle of everything. I think he might have been the most influential and respected player of his time. Little Napoleon that he was....haha.
Other than that, it looks like irishdenny has hit the nail on the head.

[daves_resale_shop]

What a fun exercise... Added a few names in there...


Ty Cobb
Walter Johnson
Cy Young
Honus Wagner
Christy Mathewson
Tris Speaker
Nap Lajoie
Eddie Collins
Eddie Plank
Ed Walsh
Mordecai Brown
Sam Crawford
Addie Joss
Rube Waddell
Willie Keeler
Frank Baker
Chief Bender
Zack Wheat
Gavvy Cravath
Joe Mcginnity
Clark Griffith
Fred Clarke
Elmer Flick
Ed Ruelbach
Joe Kelley
Hugh Duffy
Jake Beckley
Roger Bresnahan
Jack Chesbro
Mike Donlin
Frank Chance
HAL CHASE
George Davis
Jimmy Collins
Frank Chance
Vic Willis
Rube Marquard
Johnny Evers
Bobby Wallace
Joe Tinker

Managers
-John Mcgraw
-Hugh Jennings
-Miller Huggins

[michael3322]

Great thread.

I've long wondered why Willie Keeler hasn't received more due. At 5'7" 140lb, he compiled nearly 3k hits, was the hardest guy to strike out in baseball history (only Sewell was close), had the longest hitting streak of his era, etc. In terms of doing the most with the body you were given, he gets my vote.

Rank Player (yrs, age) AB per SO Bats
1. Willie Keeler+ (19) 63.17 L
2. Joe Sewell+ (14) 62.56 L
3. Lave Cross (21) 45.08 R
4. Lloyd Waner+ (18) 44.92 L
5. Joe Start (16) 43.51 L
6. Nellie Fox+ (19) 42.74 L
7. Tommy Holmes (11) 40.92 L
8. Emil Verban (7) 39.34 R
9. Homer Summa (10) 34.10 L
10. Andy High (13) 33.85 L

Source: Baseball Reference

Also, Joss has the best WHIP of any pitcher ever.

Rank Player (yrs, age) Walks & Hits per IP Throws
1. Addie Joss+ (9) 0.9678 R
2. Mariano Rivera (17, 42) 0.9981 R
3. Ed Walsh+ (14) 0.9996 R
4. Monte Ward+ (17) 1.0435 R
5. Pedro Martinez (18) 1.0544 R
6. Christy Mathewson+ (17) 1.0581 R
7. Trevor Hoffman (18) 1.0584 R
8. Walter Johnson+ (21) 1.0612 R
9. Mordecai Brown+ (14) 1.0658 R
10. Charlie Sweeney (6) 1.0673 R

Source: Baseball Reference

That technically makes him the hardest pitcher for a batter to face in baseball history. His career was tragically short, but he would be high on my list too.

[drumback]

When did they put Hal Chase in the Hall of Fame?

[bundy462]

I think you missed the little commentary before the list in the original post. Threw him in for the hell of it.

[bundy462]

Very interesting add ins to the list. What is your take on Cy Seymour and Bill Dahlen? Seymour was the strikeout leader a few times early in his career as a pitcher before moving to OF where he was an over .300 career hitter. He also missed the triple crown due to finishing second only in HRs one year. Dahlen I believe is more of a player/manager overall effort more so than just as a player.

Originally Posted by daves_resale_shop

What a fun exercise... Added a few names in there...


Ty Cobb
Walter Johnson
Cy Young
Honus Wagner
Christy Mathewson
Tris Speaker
Nap Lajoie
Eddie Collins
Eddie Plank
Ed Walsh
Mordecai Brown
Sam Crawford
Addie Joss
Rube Waddell
Willie Keeler
Frank Baker
Chief Bender
Zack Wheat
Gavvy Cravath
Joe Mcginnity
Clark Griffith
Fred Clarke
Elmer Flick
Ed Ruelbach
Joe Kelley
Hugh Duffy
Jake Beckley
Roger Bresnahan
Jack Chesbro
Mike Donlin
Frank Chance
HAL CHASE
George Davis
Jimmy Collins
Frank Chance
Vic Willis
Rube Marquard
Johnny Evers
Bobby Wallace
Joe Tinker

Managers
-John Mcgraw
-Hugh Jennings
-Miller Huggins

[daves_resale_shop]

Originally Posted by bundy462

Very interesting add ins to the list. What is your take on Cy Seymour and Bill Dahlen? Seymour was the strikeout leader a few times early in his career as a pitcher before moving to OF where he was an over .300 career hitter. He also missed the triple crown due to finishing second only in HRs one year. Dahlen I believe is more of a player/manager overall effort more so than just as a player.

I can't say that I am too familiar with Dahlen's career, but there is most definitely something to be said for Seymour's versatility, longevity, and productivity as a deadballer... If I were a member of the veteran's committee I would give him my vote!

Great Thread!