In the 20s, Ruth hit 467 homers. Second was Rogers Hornsby with 250.
You can't overstate how much better Ruth was than his peers.
You can't overstate how much better Ruth was than his peers.
Top 5 baseball players all time?
- Thread starter Spectrumalaska
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This is impossible for me. I'd only go back to about 1964 of players I actually watched play.
Best right handers ever? Gibson, Ryan, Clemens, and on and on.
Best left handers ever? Koufax, Randy Johnson, and on and on.
Best hitter I ever seen? Every era the pitching got better and better so don't even know.
The best criteria is how did those great hitters figure against the opposing teams #1 guy, # 2 guy, # 3 guy and # 4 guy?
The old timers played a totally different game. They travelled on trains. Now its a multiple hour flight.
The opposing teams didn't use relief pitchers, no set-up men, closers, or specialists. No Mariano Riveras'.
No doubt in my mind that every era had 10-12 players that could be among the best ever.
Impossible to find fault with anyone's view of the 5 greatest ever. Great topic.
Yes, IMO, Koufax was the greatest, most dominating pitcher of all-time. He had maybe the greatest run - from 1961 to 1966 - of any pitcher ever. And he did all of this without ever hitting his prime - he was forced to retire at the age of 31 (injury) and was an automatic - 5 year - pick into the HOF at age of 36 - the youngest player ever elected. He had the nickname of "the left arm of God."
Doesn't make him the greatest ever.. His peers weren't good
He played against a bunch of unathletic dudes that threw 85.. If we're going to bask in his glory then the gophers are the greatest football team of all time right? They Dominated the 30s
That's great.. doesn't make him the greatest of all time.. Makes him the greatest in the era of a bunch of bums
No but Greg Maddux had much more in his bag than those losers from the 20s. Not even comparable
A bunch of bums? And he was NOT head and shoulders above his peers...just a different kind of great...
I don't totally agree, but if he'd have played in any ballpark other than the old Candlestick, he may well have hit 800 homers in his career. That wind blowing in from leftfield costs him many, many homers.
This is probably the best list I’ve seen. Kofaux stretch from 62-66 is one of the most dominating stretches we’ve seen in the game but he didn’t have the longevity. Could argue Pedro followed him,
But Vice versa with the Hammer, I am not sure Hank Aaron was ever even the best player in a given year that he played. 57 he won the MVP but that was super close ballot. But obviously body of work wise, Hank is a top 5 dude
Trout should be top 5 IMO. If he can get and stay healthy he could be in the GOAT conversation. Truly has all the tools
Sucks he's on a crap team.
Sucks he's on a crap team.
Major fallacy using today’s metrics to judge a different era. Babe belongs on list
I've been a diehard fan (Reds) since I was a kid and had a chance to see Koufax pitch against the Reds at old Crosley field in-around 1965 and I'm telling you, the guy just totally INTIMIDATED everyone during that stretch. He - of course - had a great fastball but is curve and control were unmatched - maybe in history. And I HATED the Dodgers and Yankees back then. Him and Drysdale were a heck of a 1-2 punch.
Not trying to slight others, but I sure wish everyone in this thread could have witnessed that run by Koufax - he was the greatest ever but like you said injury cut short his career
Also life long Reds fan and you are not lying … Koufax was untouchable… but also the other pitchers of the day… Gibson, Marischal, Drysdale, Ford, pierce, Palmer, Spahn, Burdette, Cuellar… many great arms
Yep, that's why it's so hard to pick a top 5 ever. We've all witnessed great ones. As for every day, all around players, I'd go with Willie Mays but you could make the argument for several others. But Mr. Baseball - the one who really got the game to take off into America's past time - has to be Babe Ruth
Then why do you all use it when the U of M Vermin bring up their championships?