Who is the greatest all around baseball player of all time?

Answer 1

It depends on how you define "greatest". Would Babe Ruth be a great ballplayer in 2006? He'd probably be nothing special.

Today's players benefit from nutritional guidance, weight lifting and fitness programs, better travel conditions, and countless other things that players from Ruth's era could never have dreamed of. (Not to mention illegal pharmaceutical additives, in some cases.)

Ruth also played in an 8 team league (I believe it was 8), so instead of the 600 best baseball players, he only played against 200. Higher quality players.

On the other hand, players of Ruth's era only played against white ballplayers; there were no blacks, Hispanics, Asians, or other ethnic groups or foreigners playing in baseball. One could argue that that diminished the quality of the game.

Perhaps the quantity of players and the lack of mixed ethnicity cancel each other out. We'll never know.

To me, Ruth is the greatest, though Mays and DiMaggio and several others are certainly in contention. Ruth is the greatest because of what he did in comparison to the other players of his day. He didn't just break records by a 5 or 6%, he broke them by doubling the old record. He'd hit as many home runs in a season as entire other teams.

And by that definition he was head, shoulders, chest, and waist above the other players of his era. To me that makes him the best.

In addition, he was larger than life. He brought a lot of good attention to the game, and is probably to a degree responsible for the success of the game over the last 100 years. I am not sure you can say that about any particular players who followed him.

But there are valid arguments for Willie Mays, Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, and others. That's what's great about baseball; there is no right answer.

--Cloyd

Answer 2

Babe Ruth.

When Babe Ruth set the a record for home runs at 54, the previous record was 27! He really was that much better than the other players of his time! Even more, not only could he hit, but he won over 20 games a couple seasons as a PITCHER for the Red Sox.

Answer 3

I also go with Ruth because he was established as a great pitcher even before all the home runs. Can't speak as to his fielding, but as Casey Stengel used to say, "You could look it up."

Modern era? Ted Williams could pitch, believe it or not, and has a few innings here and there in his record, but he was an average fielder. Willie Mays had it all, and besides that stayed healthy, which Mickey Mantle could not do, but of course Mays did not pitch. I did see Mays play shortstop for three innings (no fielding chances, alas) in a 23-inning marathon in 1964. I guess Pete Rose should be considered for his versatility as a position player. He was not one of the home run leaders, but he sure managed to get on base a lot!

Answer 4

Babe Ruth, look at his pitching stats too

To johnusmaximus1 below., Uh, the question was about the greatest all-around player. I stand by my answer of Ruth. He could have been one of the greatest pitchers of his era. His bat forced him into the outfield and he was an above average fielder. I never saw Willie's pitching stats, how do they stack up?

Let's not get into name calling people. I STILL stand by my answer...Ruth's Fldg Pct. .968, Mays ..981, the size of gloves grew quite a bit in 30 years...Batting AVG Ruth .342, Mays .302, On Base Pct. Ruth .474, Mays .384, Slg Pct. Ruth .690, Mays .557, the only area where Mays really blows Ruth away is in SB

Answer 5

Willie Mays great on offense or defense.

I can't believe all the people who keep saying Babe Ruth. He was a great hitter, but nowhere near the defense player Mays was. People are just saying "Babe Ruth" because he's the only ball player they can think of.

To RickH
The question wasn't "who's the best pitcher/batter to ever live", it was "who's the best all around ball player". All around refers to defense/offense. Pitching is defense, but defense is not limited to picthing. By the way, what was Babes fielding percentage?

You're a moron.

Answer 6

For obvious reasons, I think ya gotta pick a player out of the modern era as opposed to the Ruth, Gehric days. The say hey kid ► Willie Mays.

Answer 7

Babe Ruth. If he hadn't spent all those years as a pitcher that idiot Barry Bonds would never catch him since he'd have close to 900 homers. The Babe could pitch, hit, run, do it all and you knew with him in the lineup you stood a better than 50% chance of winning.....just look at the records of the Yankees from when he was in his prime.

Answer 8

Right now I would say Joe DiMagio. Ask me in 20 years and I will probably say Albert Pujols. He hasn't been playing long enough to be the greatest but I think he will be someday.

Answer 9

Willie Mays. Incredible defensive player, as well as an excellent hitter. First guy I would pick to be on an all-time all-stars team.

Answer 10

Tyrus Raymond Cobb.