Baseball's Greatest Living Player...who is it?

[jason.1969]

In 1969, Joe DiMaggio was voted Baseball's Greatest Living Player. In honor of Joe DiMaggio's 100th birthday (Nov 25, 2014), I lay out a case for Baseball's Greatest Living Player being Derek Jeter.

http://jasoncards.wordpress.com/2014...living-player/

Personally, despite my analysis, I would still vote for Hank Aaron. Nonetheless, my analysis was more in the spirit of who would actually win. Take a look if you're a Joe D. fan, a Jeter fan, or just a fan of really long, half-baked analyses of baseball stats. And then chime in. Who do you regard as baseball's greatest living player?

[71buc]

Derek Jeter is special but Hank Aaron is in a league by himself. If you discount the Bonds embarrassment, Aaron owns 2/3 of the career triple crown. Even if you subtract his homeruns he still has 3000 hits. If he had been a Yankee we wouldn't even consider this question.

[Sean1125]

Today I learned I share my birthday with Joe Dimaggio.

[clydepepper]

I would rank these as the greatest living players:

1.) Willie Mays
2.) Hank Aaron
3.) Johnny Bench
4.) Ken Griffey, Jr.
5.) Mike Schmidt
6.) Frank Robinson

Bonds would have been second if he hadn't cheated.

[I Only Smoke 4 the Cards]

Tough to say but this is my humble guess

(1) Aaron
(2) Mays
(3) Griffey Jr.
(4) Maddux

[ethicsprof]

hank aaron.
unequivocally.

all the best,
barry

[jason.1969]

Originally Posted by 71buc

Derek Jeter is special but Hank Aaron is in a league by himself. If you discount the Bonds embarrassment, Aaron owns 2/3 of the career triple crown. Even if you subtract his homeruns he still has 3000 hits. If he had been a Yankee we wouldn't even consider this question.

We are 100% on the same page on this. Sadly (?), an entire wall of my bedroom is dedicated to Hank Aaron baseball cards, bobbleheads, paintings, magazines, etc. My own top five votes would go to Aaron, Mays, Rose, Jackson, and Henderson. At the same time, just as Joe D. beat out Williams/Musial/Mays/Aaron in 1969, I suspect writers would choose Jeter over Aaron today.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Mays.
then Aaron.

Derek Jeter? Please. And I like Derek Jeter a lot.

On the pitching side one could make a case for Seaver.

[Exhibitman]

Aaron or Mays. Either answer works for me.

Greatest living pitcher I'd go with Koufax or Pedro or Big Unit.

Bonds Clemens etc.; sorry no cheaters allowed.

[icollectDCsports]

Mays then Aaron and would have to think some more to rank the next 5 or 10. In the mix would be Frank Robinson, Mike Schmidt, George Brett, . . . .

[sycks22]

Mays without a doubt. Can you be considered the best alive if you were never an MVP? (Jeter)

[1963Topps Set]

I was just about to say... What about pitchers? Sandy Koufax.. The real Mr. October!

Nolan Ryan... Who is going to catch his numbers?

How about Cal Ripkin? Remember the streak?

[RichardSimon]

Mays, no question.

[bnorth]

At no time was Joe DiMaggio the greatest living player.

My vote for now is Hank Aaron.

[pclpads]

No mention of Banks???

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by pclpads

No mention of Banks???

.271 hitter. No.

[Mdmtx]

Is Ted Williams head still alive?

[Mountaineer1999]

Aaron, Mays, Bonds, Koufax, Maddux, Robinson, Bench, .... There are many greats still living. Would probably be hard for me to squeeze Jeter into the top 20.

[BearBailey]

Willie Mays,
I agree Joe D was never the best living player. Jeter has never been the best current short stop let alone best living player.

Frank Robinson, Mike Schmidt, Hank Aaron, and Pete Rose all get honorable mentions.

[darwinbulldog]

Say-hey!

[nebboy]

Nolan Ryan would make my top 5 list. Just wanted to get his name in the tread.

[darwinbulldog]

Also I would agree that Joltin Joe never deserved that title. After Ruth died the torch passed to Old Cy and then to Mays -- though it certainly looked like Mantle for a few years there. So anyway, it's Mays. And if it isn't Mays (which it is) then it's Trout. Jeter doesn't sniff the top 10.

[GoudeyGum]

Aaron

[Baseball Rarities]

Everyday Players:

1. Mays
2. Aaron
3. F. Robinson
4. Schmidt
5. Brett/Bench


Pitchers:

1. Koufax
2. Seaver
3. Maddux
4. R. Johnson
5. Martinez

[vintagetoppsguy]

Aaron or Mays

[KCRfan1]

Aaron, followed very closely by Mays. At no time will Jeter ever be considered the greatest living player, even if he lives to be 90 years old.

[Jobu]

For hitters, and probably overall, I say Mays over Aaron by a nose.

For pitchers I say Maddux and Randy Johnson need to be in the conversation. Many of you will get mad at this, but I don't think Koufax is in the conversation for best living player. He was absolutely incredible for 5 years and decent for the rest of his career. 5 years does not make one the best living player and we can't count what would have happened if not for the shoulder issues at the end.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by darwinbulldog

Also I would agree that Joltin Joe never deserved that title. After Ruth died the torch passed to Old Cy and then to Mays -- though it certainly looked like Mantle for a few years there. So anyway, it's Mays. And if it isn't Mays (which it is) then it's Trout. Jeter doesn't sniff the top 10.

One could argue the torch passed to Cobb, who lived until 1960 or so. And before Mays and Mantle retired, one could argue Williams or Musial over DiMaggio.

[jbl79]

Mays a slight edge over Aaron. As hitters...they could be equal. Mays missed most of '52 and all of '53 to the Korean War...otherwise would have had greater career numbers. The deciding factor for me is that Mays has 12 gold gloves and Aaron with 3.

[sox1903wschamp]

Originally Posted by pclpads

No mention of Banks???

.271 hitter. No.

By this logic, Bench is out, .267

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Jobu

For hitters, and probably overall, I say Mays over Aaron by a nose.

For pitchers I say Maddux and Randy Johnson need to be in the conversation. Many of you will get mad at this, but I don't think Koufax is in the conversation for best living player. He was absolutely incredible for 5 years and decent for the rest of his career. 5 years does not make one the best living player and we can't count what would have happened if not for the shoulder issues at the end.

I would agree re Koufax. I would take at least Seaver, Gibson, Maddux and Johnson over him, if I can't take Clemens.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by jbl79

Mays a slight edge over Aaron. As hitters...they could be equal. Mays missed most of '52 and all of '53 to the Korean War...otherwise would have had greater career numbers. The deciding factor for me is that Mays has 12 gold gloves and Aaron with 3.

And Mays had a flair for the dramatic and a style that Aaron, a more reserved man, did not.

[oldphil]

Mays then Aaron. Jeter not in top 10.

[Iron Horse]

Hitters: Mays & Aaron
Pitchers: Koufax & Ryan

[robw1959]

I'll go with Hank Aaron.

[yanksfan09]

I'd say mays and Aaron for hitters .... Probably Koufax and Pedro Martinez for pitchers (Maddux, unit , Seaver )right there also...

I wouldn't put jeter in top 10, and I'm a huge Yankees fan and jeter was probably the favorite player I watched.

I don't think jeter would have been a thought for anyone just a few years ago , especially before he had 3000 hits.

[Tabe]

Bonds
Mays
Aaron
ARod
Griffey jr

[sporteq]

[jason.1969]

Aaron Camel.jpg

[Sean]

1 Mays
2 Aaron
3 Joe Morgan
4 Schmidt
5 Bench

Bonds would be #2 if you can get past the steroids.

[darwinbulldog]

Originally Posted by Sean

1 Mays
2 Aaron
3 Joe Morgan
4 Schmidt
5 Bench

Bonds would be #2 if you can get past the steroids.

Agreed. And Clemens would be my #1 pitcher, edging out Seaver.

[oldjudge]

Mays
Koufax
Aaron
Berra
Schmidt
Mariano

[Rickyy]

Willie Mays,

Hank Aaron - close 2nd

Ricky Y

[71buc]

Originally Posted by Sean

1 Mays
2 Aaron
3 Joe Morgan
4 Schmidt
5 Bench

Bonds would be #2 if you can get past the steroids.

Joe Morgan, awesome pick of an under appreciated player. He and Frank Robinson always get overlooked.

[jrlebert]

Frank Robinson is the most underrated great living player, for sure, but for my money, it's only Aaron here.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by Mdmtx

Is Ted Williams head still alive?

Only his head

[glynparson]

I know I know.

[tedzan]

Which living BB player has been in 14 World Series, and has 10 World Series Championship rings ?

And, he played a major role in his team's success for 19 years. There isn't any better measurement of a player than this.

In my book its......YOGI BERRA




Cooperstown 2012


TED Z
.

[Tao_Moko]

1.Aaron - .305/755HR/3771Hits
2.Mays - .302/660HR/3283Hits/12 Straight Gold Gloves
3.Rose - .303/4,256Hits/Head of Big Red Mavhine
4.Ripken - 2,632 consec games/431HR/3184Hits/Title/MVP
5.F. Robinson - .294/584HR/2943Hits/Triple Crown
6.Berra- 3x MVP/10x World Champ

*Musial would have been #3 last year
**RIP Tony Gwynn '14. .338 batting average deserves consideration if alive.

I don't see Koufax in the top five pitchers. Gibson, Seaver, Ryan, Maddux, Johnson and Martinez are still kicking. Even a case could be made for Palmer, Carlton and Glavine.

[EvilKing00]

Got to be mays as best living player

I wouldn't have jeter on this or almost another list, I understand the love affair with him being on the Yankees and playing with such a great team that won a lot. This would be my list of guys better than jeter who are still alive & im sure im leaving guys off too.


1. Mays
2 . Griffey
3. Aaron
4. F. Robinson
5 . Schmidt
6. Brett
7. Bench
8 - Rose
9 - Berra
10 - Ripkin
11. gwynn
12. ichrio
13. pujols
14. banks
15. Eddie Murray
16. McGriff
17. Ricky Henderson
18 - Chipper jones
19. David Ortiz
20. bagwell
21. Vlad gurrero
22. Miguel Cabrera
23. albert bell (roids?)

then you have pitchers

1. Koufax
2. Martinez
3. Seaver
4. Maddux
5. R. Johnson

then you have the roid guys

bonds
arod
maybe piazza
Sheffield
Clemens
etc - etc