What is your all time Baseball Team?

Question

I'm sure this is asked all the time, but it's a fun one to rehash. Mine with reasons is:

1B - Lou Gehrig - Awesome hitting ability, and maybe the nicest guy in baseball history.
2B - Joe Morgan - More versatile than Hornsby, Joe could hit for power, stole bases, played better defense than Hornsby too.
SS - Honus Wagner - pretty much a perfect player with no real flaws in his game
3B - Mike Schmidt - Power, speed, on base average, and defense, the only thing he couldn't do was hit for average that well, and he struck out a lot.
RF - Babe Ruth - He's a given
CF - Willie Mays - He's just the most versatile choice at this position over Cobb or Mantle
LF - Ted Williams - Barry Bonds can suck it frankly.
C - Johnny Bench - Defense and power puts him ahead of Berra.
P- Walter Johnson - just ahead of Lefty Grove.
Mgr - John McGraw - kinda reminds me of Billy Martin, but better

DH (Optional) - Rogers Hornsby - IF he could keep from being such an ***.

Answer 1

I agree, John L, this is a fun question. Don't mind answering it again. I'll use your team size as a model (therefore only one pitcher). And actually, we're almost in complete agreement.

1B - Gehrig: It's really no contest. There were other great 1B (Foxx jumps to mind), but this is Lou's position.

2B - Morgan: You said it well. Hornsby could clearly hit, but he was a below-average fielder and a pain in the rear. Back in the days when teams OWNED players, he got traded 3 years in a row. There had to be a darn good reason these teams would so readily trade a .350 hitter with power.

SS - Wagner: He's so far above any other shortstop it's not even worth the discussion.

3B - Schmidt: The other contenders are Brett and Matthews, but I think Michael Jack was more impactful.

RF - Ruth

CF - Mays: Cobb and Mantle, of course, are the other possibilities, but Mays had the power Cobb didn't have and more solid seasons than Mantle. This is a close one.

LF - Williams: You know, in 50 years when most of us are gone and people are looking at Bonds more objectively he could very well be the all-time left fielder. We're all too close (and sick of) the noise that surrounds Bonds to properly evaluate his accomplishments.

C - Berra: Yeah, Bench was great, but Yogi was more consistent. Ask me tomorrow and I could easily switch to Bench. :-)

P - Grove: Another razor thin difference. Johnson pitched MANY more innings and thereby was probably doing more to help his teams over his career than Grove. However, Grove posted astounding numbers in a big hitting era. Plus a .680 winning percentage ain't nothing to sneeze at! Johnson would be 2nd on my list.

Manager - Joe McCarthy. He won everywhere he went and was not an obsessive crazy man like McGraw. Players were scared of McGraw; they respected McCarthy.

DH - Cobb. Played with a fire surpassed by no one. Could field, run and even hit a little.

Answer 2

1B-Gehrig -reliable ,great hitter
2B- Hornsby- sorry I would take his lifetime average and is a twice triple crown winner but Joe is my 2nd pick
SS-Honus Wagner - probably the perfect player John McGraw said he was the greatest player he had seen.
3B Schmidt- for power, on base average, defense -ok
RF-Babe Ruth- like you say a given
CF-Mays- could play any of the outfield positions and could even bat leadoff if need be
LF-Williams- To me the greatest player in baseball history - hit for average, power and would have challenged Ruth's home run record if he had not missed due to 5.5 years of military services- the averages point this out
C Bench- defense and power; great handler of pitchers
P Johnson -most shutouts in a career and 2nd in wins
P Spahn-greatest left handed pitcher and Grove is second
an would not mind having Carlton or Randy Johnson as well
RP- Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman and Rollie Fingers
Mgr-Casey Stengel- keep the team loose

DH Henry Aaron
Bench 1B-Willie Stargell- only because he could keep a team going because of leadership skills and power hitter
2B- Joe Morgan
SS- Luis Aparicio
3B-Brooks Robinson- late inning defense would be practical
RF- Roberto Clemente- great arm , hit for average and a good PH because he is a contact hitter
CF- Cobb-need a good bat in the clutch and a stolen base late in the game
LF- Mantle-has deceptive speed and power
C- Berra
Rest of the bench
Steve Garvey; Jackie Robinson and Pete Rose

Answer 3

Good choices. I think my team would go like this...

1B - Lou Gehrig - Great hitter, played excellent defense
2B - Rod Carew - Hit for average, and had speed, great leadoff guy.
SS - Ozzie Smith - Great defensive SS, hit for average, good speed.
3B - Brooks Robinson - Best defensive 3B ever, has some HR pop.
LF - Carl Yastremski - Nobody played the Monster like he did, he was a great leader, and he was a hitter.
CF - Willie Mays - I give him the edge over Mantle and DiMaggio.
RF - Roberto Clemente - Hit for average, rocket arm, great speed, will catch anything in the area, hits for power when needed.
C - Johnny Bench - Changed the position with his defense.
SP - Cy Young - Anyone with an award named after him must be good.
RP - Rollie Fingers - The original closer, and most of his saves were 2 innings or more.
Mgr - Leo Durocher - He knew how to get the most out of his players, and was the first to use an ejection as a motivation tool.

DH - Erine Banks

Answer 4

C - Johnny Bench
1B - Albert Pujols
2B - Jackie Robinson
SS - Cal Ripken, Jr.
3B - Mike Schmidt
LF - Ted Williams
CF - Willie Mays
RF - Henry Aaron
DH - Babe Ruth

Rotation:
Nolan Ryan
Pedro Martinez
Bob Gibson
Sandy Koufax
Roger Clemens

Bullpen:
Dennis Eckersley (CL)
Goose Gossage
Francisco Rodriguez
Mariano Rivera
Trevor Hoffman
John Franco
Randy Myers

Answer 5

Nolan Ryan , Babe Ruth , Albert Pujols , Hank Aaron, Ty Cobb, Mickey Mantle, Kevin Bass, Glen Davis, Mike Scott, Jose Cruz, Luis Gonzalez, Craig Biggio, Lance Berkman, Jeff Bagwell, Sammy Sosa, Andre Dawson, Orel Hershiser

Answer 6

Manager- Tommy Lasorta- He beat the hell out of the Philly Phanatic.

Pitching Rotation-
Sandy Koufax
Cy Young
Greg Maddox
Roger Clemens
Johan Santana

Closer-
John Smoltz

C- Johnny Bench
1st- Jimmie Fox
2nd- Joe Morgan
3rd- George Brett
SS- Cal Ripkin Jr

Outfielders
Ken Griffey Jr
Willie Mays
Ty Cobb
*Tony Gwynn

DH- David Ortiz

Home runs and RBIs all over the place, and enough golden gloves in the pitching rotation alone to make any put out, and pick offs. Good luck hitting on the mixed bag of greatness that is this pitching rotation. I know I didn't pick Nolan Ryan. I didn't want to walk or hit every other batter. Just let Clemens get close and scare them a little.

Answer 7

1B- Jimmie Foxx
2B- Jackie Robins
3B- Wade Boggs
SS- Derek Jeter
LF- Ted Williams
CF- Ty Cobb
RF- Dwight Evans
C- Carlton Fisk
DH- David Ortiz
Mgr- Grady Little

Pitching Rotation
1.Babe Ruth
2.Curt Schilling
3.Ty Cobb
4.Nolan Ryan
5.Cy Young

Bullpen
1.Mike Timlin
2.Tom Gordon
3.Dennis Eckersley
4.Bruce Sutter

Closer
1.Jonathan Papelbon

Answer 8

Great points, John L you obviously really know your ball. Allow me to play Devil's advocate just for fun

1b-Gehrig-Should have occurred to him he was gonna get that disease he was named after (jk)

2b-Morgan should be thrown out of baseball due to his commentary on ESPN, when listening to him it's hard to believe he is in the Hall. I would put Horsnby in front of Microphone Morgan all 27 innings of a triple-header.

ss-Wagner... though no one can say his first name correctly, which isn't even his real first name, your description of him is right on target

3b-Schmidt cried too much (no I am not joking about his tears) and as we all know THERE IS NO CRYING IN BASEBALL!!! I'll take Brooks Robinson because he didn't cry.

rf- Ruth couldn't field a pickle out of a thimble and I don't want anyone who could be nicknamed Fatty McButterpants on my team. I want Dawson on my team because he was my favorite as a kid (thank you WGN), and he threw out a guy at first base who "singled" to right field but tested the 155mm Howitzer attached to Andre's right shoulder.

cf- Mays is the greatest player of all-time (in my opinion) had the pinnacle of all 5 tools, though everyone who is old enough will tell you Tris Speaker was better defensively. I sure wish they had cameras back then. btw- Mays gets bonus for the smile.

lf- There is a reason his name is Teddy Ballgame. End of comment.

c- Ironic name, as he would never be on my Bench, he would be calling my game. Give credit to Pudge, he has calling skills, too.

p- Nolan Ryan was filthy for two DECADES! Johnson was great in his era, but Ryan was great in three eras. Again bonus points awarded; this time for kicking Robin Venturas butt.

mgr- I once heard of this guy named Connie Mack...

dh-All dh's should be barred from the HOF, All-Star games, HR Derbies, public restrooms, talking and also be put on oxygen restrictions. However, I would choose either Dickie Thon, Pee-Wee Butts (yes, this is a real player) or Ty Cobb. Because every team needs a Dick, Butt or just an absolute ****** on the field.

Answer 9

Let's See I am 40 years old i will give my team from who I remember actually watching play

1b Tony Perez - great fielder and a RBI machine
2b Joe Morgan- great fielder OBP crazy a lot of speed
SS Derek Jeter- A winner enough said
3b Mike Schmidt- great Pwr and Great D
LF Barry Bonds- As Much as I dislike him
CF Ken Griffey JR- pure delight to watch
RF Tony Gwynn- pure as the driven snow
DH George Brett- My Favorite growing up

SP- Roger Clemens
SP- Tom Seaver
SP- Jim Palmer
SP- Greg Maddux
SP-Steve Carlton

RP- Mariano Rivera
RP- Trevor Hoffman
RP- Dennis Eckersley

Manager- Whitey Herzog
Owner-Myself

Answer 10

The 1989 Cleveland Indians. I know they did not get to the Series, but this team was loaded! Willie Mays Hayes, Pedro Cerrano, veterans Jake Taylor behind the plate and Roger Dorn at third. Then when it was time to slam the door - Wild Thing Ricky Vaughn - lights out!