Best ballplayers of the modern era? (1960-present)?

Question

Who are the best (all-around/defense and hitting) baseball players (by position). ALSO- can't decide on best shortstop(Derek Jeter or Cal Ripken)? Is Vladimir Guerro on the list?, who is the best second baseman?????, PLEASE KEEP LIST TO (1960-present), and BY POSITION.

Answer 1

If you're counting from 1960 onward, the expansion era, here's my list:

1B Eddie Murray. Only three men have ever hit 500 home runs and collected 3,000 hits. (Four if you count Rafael Palmeiro; I don't because of the steroids.) The other two are Hank Aaron and Willie Mays. And Murray did this while playing most of his career in pitchers' parks, mainly Baltimore Memorial Stadium. And he was a terrific fielder, too. Had he played in New York or L.A. most of his career, instead of just briefly in each case, he'd be a titanic figure in baseball. Mark McGwire is ineligible for the same reason Palmeiro, also a first baseman, is.

2B Joe Morgan. Ignore his often whacked-out broadcasting. This man brought all the skills: Getting on base, power, speed, slick fielding. And he was only 5-foot-8 and playing in hitter-unfriendly parks (the Astrodome and Riverfront Stadium for most of his career).

SS Cal Ripken. In spite of being a sick, twisted, demented Yankee fan, in all honesty I can't put Derek Jeter here yet. In five years, I may change my mind. Don't even think of putting Alex Rodriguez here -- yet.

3B Mike Schmidt. A tough call between him and Brooks Robinson, but he sustained excellence for a long, long time. When the Phils had their centennial in 1983, he was voted the best player in team history. And he had about 150 homers, a couple of Gold Gloves, an MVP season and a Pennant in front of him.

LF Dave Winfield. Another victim of pitcher-friendly dimensions with San Diego and Yankee Stadium not being good for righthanders. Yet he had 465 homers and 3,100 hits. Didn't steal a lot of bases but a smart baserunner. An amazing glove with a super, super arm. Barry Bonds is ineligible.

CF Ken Griffey Jr. I can't select Mays or Mickey Mantle because of the 1960 cutoff date. Ironic: Everyone was saying Junior was going to be the next Mays, but with his injuries, he's become the next Mantle.

RF Reggie Jackson. A little bias, as he's my favorite player of all time because of when and where I began watching baseball. The cutoff date makes it hard to go with several legends, like Aaron, Frank Robinson, Roberto Clemente and Al Kaline.

C Johnny Bench. A great hitter (in a pitcher's park) who revolutionized the way the position was fielded, he kept the Reds in title contention throughout the 1970s when they never had an intimidating pitching staff like the Orioles, A's, Dodgers and Yankees always seemed to.

P Steve Carlton. How soon we forget: 329 wins, 4,100 strikeouts, four Cy Youngs, and the best slider the game has ever seen. To borrow an old phrase, there were seasons when the Phils would've finished in Clearwater without him, and when they were good, there was little doubt he was the best in the business. This guy once won 27 games for a last-place team. (Yes, it was the era of four-man rotations, but it was still amazing.) Why not Roger Clemens? Because you never know when the Rocket is going to blast off, doing something stupid to cost you the game.

Answer 2

Best starting line up compiled of players in the modern era:

1) Pete Rose - 2nd Base (before anybody throws a fit, Rose played 2nd base and did it well enough to start an All-Star game at the position)
2) Brooks Robinson - 3rd Base
3) Willie Mays - Center Field
4) Mickey Mantle - Right Field
5) Albert Pujols - 1st Base
6) Reggie Jackson - Left Field
7) Ernie Banks - Short Stop
8) Pudge Rodriguez - Catcher
9) Roger Clemens - Pitcher
(DH's don't count as real ball players)

Back-ups

Outfielders:
Roberto Clemente
Rickey Henderson
Roger Maris

Infielders:
Mike Schmidt (3rd base)
Johnny Bench (catcher)
Don Mattingly (1st base)
Alex Rodriguez (short stop)
Ryne Sandberg (2nd base)

Pitchers:
Sandy Koufax
Nolan Ryan
Jim Palmer
Roy Oswalt

Relief Pitchers:
Hoyt Wilhelm
Dennis Eckersley
Bruce Sutter
Rollie Fingers
Jonathan Papelbon

Answer 3

Who answered Roger Clemens for best position player? C'mon now. Sure, he can pitch great. What does that have to do with fielding? Nothing at all. So, when you compare Clemens and Maddux, I'd give the nod to Maddux just because he is the complete pitcher. Not argueing strike outs here. Two different style pitchers.

Clemens ever won a Gold Glove??? NEVER!

Greg Maddux has 16. 15 of which were consecutive. Anyone who says there is a better player at the pitchers position than Maddux is in dire need of serious medication and probably thinks that Paris Hilton would make a great mother.

Answer 4

cf Willie Mays
rf Roberto Clemente
lf Billy Williams
1b Rod Carew
2b Ryne Sandberg
ss Luis Aparicio
3b Brooks Robinson
C Carlton Fisk
P Steve Carlton L/H Nolan Ryan R/H
Closer Dennis Eckersley
DH Frank Thomas

Answer 5

It's tough to pick guys who haven't played that long, but Pujols is so good that he's gotta make it. Therefore, my picks are:

C - IRod (I'm old enough to remember Bench, and I never thought I'd see better - but I was wrong!)
IB - Pujols
2B - Morgan
3B - Schmidt
SS - ARod (his offense - and I'm talking about his SS years - is just too overwhelming to overlook, and he was more than adequate on defense. Jeter or Ripken 2nd, pick 'em)
LF - Bonds
CF - Mays
RF - Aaron (hate to leave off Clemente, but gotta pick one)
DH - Edgar Martinez

LHP - Koufax (Carlton if you want longevity)
RHP - Bob Gibson (Clemens is great, but a lot of people may forget how great Gibson was - he edges Roger in my book)
RP - Rivera

If you want defense, Jim Kaat won 16 straight gold gloves

Answer 6

1960 or later….

C - Johnny Bench
1B - Eddie Murray
2B - Ryne Sandberg
SS - Cal Ripken Jr
3B - George Brett

RF - Ted Williams
CF - Micky Mantle / Willie Mays (The old argument of Mantle/Mays…)
LF - Tony Gwynn

Pitchers: Roger Clemens, Sandy Koufax, Nolan Ryan

Answer 7

c- Johnny Bench
1b- Willie McCovey
2b- Joe Morgan
3b- Mike Schmidt
ss- Cal Ripkin
lf- Barry Bonds
cf- Willie Mays
rf- Hank Aaron
p- Sandy Koufax

There's plenty of guys still playing like Pujols, Arod, Jeter, etc. who could make this list but at this point there's no way I can put them above the guys I listed. Pete Rose also deserves a place but you can't really put him above Hank Aaron at RF.

Koufax didn't play for many years but during his last several seasons the numbers are unbelievable. 4 no hitters, a perfect game, and look at how many complete games and shutouts he had.

Obviously there's room to argue but if you don't like my picks, look at the numbers, they don't lie.
(btw Ryne Sandberg on this list makes me laugh)

Answer 8

I neither deny nor make excuses, in fact I praise God's actions in the Old Testament as being the most moral action to take given the totality of circumstances. Additional Details NDMA .... you're a mentally sick person, Please get psychiatric assistance. Also get counseling for your lack of morality. 13 minutes ago Peter, your lack of reading comprehension or ignorance does not constitute my problem... I have examined the atheist accusations against God, in detail as well as the totality of circumstances. In every case the actions by God, or instructions God gave to the Hebrews were legal and legitimate even under todays international laws.

Answer 9

I don't need to tell you where they play because they were the best,or a solid argument can be made for them.Ozzie Smith---Brooks Robinson--Albert Pujols--Ty Cobb--Bob Gibson--too many pitchers,really,---too many great outfielders also---Mike Schmidt revered Brooks as the best 3B,though.Ryno yes.Too broad a question.Makes brain hurt.

Answer 10

Best player in that time is Willie Mays. Mantle would be, but he was too brittle. Both were OFs and had all the skills.