Who is the best baseball player ever?

Answer 1

Original Answer -- *Shoeless Joe Jackson*

I rethought this question and I have rethought my answer.

This is a question that by far is impossible to answer, because at times have come and gone baseball has changed, the games played has changed, the strength of the batters and pitchers has changed. Medicine has changed and Performance Enhancing Drugs have been introduced.

I think there is no way that you can compare Ty Cobb, to Ernie Banks, Willie Mays, Barry Bonds..... booooooo... hiss...., or any other player. If you were specific to a year to a decade it may be a bit easier to judge, but even then you need to make sure that the grading scale has not changed from the beginning of the decade to the end.

By far you can not compare a player in the 90's to the 00's why?
Well PED's were not banned by MLB in the 90's but now they are. So the players in the 90's had the advantage, even early in this decade. So unfortunately most of our answers are moot and unfair answers. They like everything else is an opinion.

Answer 2

This question has nothing to do with stats. Far and away, the best baseball player ever is Babe Ruth. He had the most impact on a nation of baseball fans. Who's the first player you think of when someone mentions baseball? The Babe! Who singlehandedly turned another franchise upside down and actually made their fans believe they were cursed for decades?
If you want to talk about impact, The Babe (not the babe, he's obviously biblical in proportion) was the most influential, and therefore, the best baseball player ever

Answer 3

There is no true answer to that, since Alex Rodriguez never played in Babe Ruth's era or vice versa. In every decade of Baseball you can pull out some super ball player that was above his peers. I don't think The Babe wouldn't be much of a threat at home plate against someone like Gagne or Schilling.

Answer 4

James Creighton (1860-1862 Brooklyn Excelsiors)

Answer 5

Willie Mays.

I bet if he tried, he could have pitched. Ruth has somewhat of an arguement because he was a great pitcher, but was less than average fielding and couldn't steal a base. Mays could do it all, except pitch. Also, he did it for over 20 years, and was the oldest to win the MVP. All Ryan could do was pitch. Mantle was injured for a great deal of his career. Cobb couldn't hit for power (although he lead the league in homers one year with 9). I would say that Bonds (pre steroids) would be second.

Answer 6

Mickey Mantle is the most talented baseball player ever - and at the same time: the most underrated player ever. He himself was always overshadowed by Dimmagio, but his stats were not. He won the triple crown in '56 and was a three time MVP.

Answer 7

I'm surprise nobody has mentioned Hank Aaron, the all-time home run leader. He wasn't juiced with steroids and didn't play 162 games a year like some of the ball players today. What he did was truly remarkable.

Answer 8

Pete Rose, Ken Griffey Jr., Honus Wagner, Hank Aaron, shoeless joe jackson.

Answer 9

Roberto Clemente

Answer 10

the best thing about baseball is the diversity between stats and players talent. you can't say who the best player ever was because it's soley on opinion