Who is the better player?

Question

Who do you think is a better player ? CHOSE 2

Bob Gibson
251 wins- 174 losses
ERA.2.91
STRIKEOUTS 3,117

DEREK JETER
AVE. 317
HITS 2,311
HOMERS191

TONY GWYNN
AVE.338
HITS 3,141
STOLEN BASES 319

LARRY WALKER
AVE.313
HOMERS 383
RBI 1311

WALTER JOHNSON
WINS 417 LOSSES 279
ERA 2.17
STRIKEOUTS 3509

NAP LAJOIE
AVE.338
HITS 3,242
RUNS 1504

TREVOR HOFFMAN
SV 513
STRIKEOUTS 992
ERA 2.68

Answer 1

tony gwynn- struck out 400 times only one 3 strike out game that is amazing and he would of batted 400 but the strike year killed him

Answer 2

What an odd collection! But Johnson is clearly the best pitcher on the list. He is essentially the first pitcher to throw hard all of the time and excelled in both the dead ball and lively ball eras (as well as being a good hitter). He's #1 on the Black Ink test and #2 on the Grey Ink. All ten of the pitchers most similar to him are in the HOF.

Lajoie played 5 positions (but mostly 2B) and is #8 on the Black Ink test. As noted, Cleveland named the team after him for awhile.

If you're going to include these old-time players, I assume you do believe that we can compare across eras. There are some better players than Lajoie today (not many); there are probably no pitchers better than Johnson (although Clemens comes closest).

Answer 3

First off, I don't think we can accurately compare players across eras. Modern players have luxeries that the old timers would've given their right arm for, but they also have pressures that the old timers didn't have. The pressure idea works the other way as well, so don't think I'm giving the edge entirely to the "modern" players......

Give me Bob Gibson and Walter Johnson.

Johnson is a gimmie.....He is, with Cy Young, one of the best two pitchers to ever step on a mound. Every other pitcher is competing for third on the list.

I take Gibson because in interview after interview with both his teammates and opponents, they all say the same thing: If I had one game to play with my life on the line, I want Bob Gibson to pitch it. Forget the stats. This should tell you what kind of competitor he was.

Answer 4

The timeframe is very wide as the game has changed so much. Gibson was amazing, Hoffman has done what noone else has, Gwynn was a great hitter albeit never bunted or took one for the team(still a great player) but my vote is for Jeter as he encompasses what a star should be. He is a field General, clutch, good locker room presence and has amazing skills. Larry Walker is not even in the same league with any of these guys. Lajoi and Johnson were amazing but as I stated. They played in a much different era!

Answer 5

I think Walter Johnson is arguably the greatest pitcher of all-time, so he would definitely be one of my two choices. Even with period adjustments, his prime seasons were incredible, and he was a serious workhorse. He put up some amazing records for teams that would have been lost without him.

My other choice would be Nap Lajoie. He was an amazing hitter, even if his power numbers pale by comparison to today's standards. He has a very high career average, and constantly ranked in the top 10 for slugging during his era. He also won a Triple Crown while playing for a very average team, which is a tough feat.

No disrespect meant to the modern players on your list, but these are two of the better oldtimers.

Answer 6

Walter Johnson and Bob Gibson for the two pitchers
For the hitters Larry Walker and Tony Gwynn.

Answer 7

Walter Johnson probably the greatest pitcher in history given that he pitched in one of the most dominant times for the hitter. Babe, Gehrig, Tris Speaker, Ty Cobb, Rogers Hornsby, just to name a few. That puts him above Nolan Ryan, Koufax, and Bob Gibson.
Second though would have to be Jeter. The he steps up in the playoffs, plays defense, and gets the clutch hit. There is nobody I'd rather have up in the bottom of the ninth, tying run on third winner on second, two out, game 7 of the world series.
Oh and being captain of the New York Yankees helps to.

Answer 8

Bob Gibson is definitely the best pitcher. he had a 1.13 ERA in one season, and that is the best in the live ball era and second best all time. He the best on that list, by far. Next would be Walter Johnson, hands down. The better hitters were in Gibson's time. However, Johnson played with Ruth and Cobb, and that is good. Jeter and Walker should not be on that list.

Answer 9

the biggest problem that comes up is that you are comparing players from different eras which you then would then have to by the numbers. Guys like Walter Johnson and Bob Gibson would pitch complete games more often than closers getting saves back then. The same goes for the hitters

Answer 10

Tony Gwynn and Walter Johnson

Answer 11

Gibson...He was the last of the old time players. Pitched inside and with pain. Also threw 9 consecutive strikes after getting his leg broken by a line drive.