You could cheat and take Wade Boggs from the Devil Rays. But you'd have to find a decent season. Maybe Carl Crawford next year.
The rules were:Players can only be listed at the position they played that season, for the team they played for during that season. No more than one player per franchise. Every position must be filled, and a 25-man roster (like MLB uses) has to be completed properly: no 2-man bullpen or listing 9 starting pitchers. Here is my list: Starting Lineup C: Mike Piazza - Mets 2000 1B: Jimmie Foxx - Athletics - 1932 2B: Roger Hornsby - Cardinals - 1924 3B: Mike Schmidt - Phillies - 1980 SS: Alex Rodriguez - Mariners - 1996 LF: Ted Williams - Red Sox - 1941 CF: Willie Mays - Giants - 1965 RF: Babe Ruth - Yankees - 1920 Starting Rotation SP: Roger Clemens - Blue Jays - 1997 SP: Sandy Koufax - Dodgers - 1966 SP: Walter Johnson - Twins/Senators - 1913 SP: Pedro Martinez - Expos - 1997 SP: Greg Maddux - Braves - 1995 Bullpen SP/LR: Randy Johnson - Diamondbacks - 2001 MR: Hoyt Wilhelm - Orioles - 1962 MR: Addie Joss - Indians - 1908 Setup: Lee Smith - Cubs - 1983 RHC: Trevor Hoffman - Padres - 1998 LHC: Billy Wagner - Astros - 2003 Bench OF/PR: Ty Cobb - Tigers - 1917 CI/PH: George Brett - Royals - 1980 PH: Frank Thomas - White Sox - 1994 MI/PR: Joe Morgan - Reds - 1976 UT: Robin Yount - Brewers - 1982 MI/PR: Honus Wagner - Pirates - 1908 Comments:No Barry Bonds! It's impossible to imagine leaving off the greatest single season of hitting in the history of MLB, but if I have him in there for his Giants 2001 seasons, then I have to leave off Willie Mays. And since I can't list Mantle (because of Ruth), then we are leaving off two of the greatest CF ever, and I just can't do that. By having Bonds out of the picture, it means that Williams can slide into the LF spot with no troubles. Well, unless you want to complain about Stan Musial being ignored. Other notable (non- Yankee, Cardinal, Red Sox, Giant, Dodger) overlooked players include Cal Ripken (but ARod and Wagner make it tough), Nolan Ryan (not really as great as everyone thinks, compared to whom I took), Paul Molitor (lots of positions, but none as good as those that took them, and Yount was a better Brewer), Hank Aaron (great for a long time, but never amazing in any one season like Maddux was), and Johnny Bench (although I could swap him out for Morgan and not really feel too bad). Relief pitchers are tough to do, because the position isn't really chock full of noticeable stars, especially on teams without great players already. You may think I cheated by putting Johnson in the pen, but he did come into a game in relief that regular season AND in the World Series. Addie Joss was too good to pass up, and filled the (lowly) Indian quotient nicely (although Bob Feller in 1940 came close). Did I cheat by using Clemens as a Blue Jay? Not really, as it's his best ERA+ season, and the first time he was the pitching Triple Crown winner (Wins, ERA, Ks). Hoyt Wilhelm? He's probably one of the greatest (underrated) relief pitchers in the history of the game. He didn't rack up the saves, but he quite often pitched more than a single inning per appearance. Besides, I love the idea of a knuckballer in the pen, to come out after the batters are used to the heat all the SP threw (except Maddux). Rickey Henderson would be very angry at me for leaving him out, but Rickey has to understand that Rickey isn't going to crack that outfield lineup. Hopefully Rickey doesn't take it too personally, cuz I love Rickey as a player and will cheer loudly when Rickey is in the HOF. Teams that got ignored:Rangers - not really a "star" factory like the other teams, but Ivan Rodriguez (2000) might get a mention on the bench (instead of Morgan/Bench).Angels - in 20 years, we might talk about Guerrero, but they also lack a true breakout star (or maybe I just can't think of others that would supplant those I've listed).Rockies - if it ain't hitting, it ain't going to be listed. Walker or Helton might have been interesting, but Coors inflation can't be overlooked (as well as position overload).Marlins - the "fire-sale kings" had very few "wow" players in their (short) history, but Kevin Brown's 1996 was deserving of a look. Too bad he didn't pitch in relief even once that year.Devil Rays - Riiiiight. I fully expect people to rip this to shreds, but if you do so, I ask one thing: post your own list!
Wouldn't it be cool if baseball stats were just about scoring a lot of runs and not giving up too many, since the game kind of encourages that behavior... REGULARS C Roy Campanella 1953 Dodgers 103 runs, 142 RBI, .312 AVG 1B Lou Gehrig 1931 Yankees 163 runs, 184 RBI, .341 AVG 2B Rogers Hornsby 1922 Cards 141 runs, 152 RBI, .401 AVG 3B Bill Dahlen 1894 Colts 149 runs, 107 RBI, .357 AVG SS Hughie Jennings 1895 Orioles (NL) 159 runs, 125 RBI, .386 AVG LF Al Simmons 1930 Athletics 152 runs, 165 RBI, .381 AVG CF Hack Wilson 1930 Cubs 146 runs, 191 RBI, .356 AVG RF Chuck Klein 1930 Phillies 158 runs, 170 RBI, .386 AVG RESERVES C Johnny Bench 1970 Reds 97 runs, 148 RBI, .293 AVG 1B Hank Greenberg 1937 Tigers 137 runs, 183 RBI, .337 AVG 2B Bret Boone 2001 Mariners 118 runs, 141 RBI, .331 AVG 3B Vinnie Castilla 1998 Rockies 108 runs, 144 RBI, .319 AVG SS Alex Rodriguez 2001 Rangers 133 runs, 135 RBIs, .318 AVG OF Tip O'Neill 1887 Browns 167 runs, 123 RBI, .435 AVG OF Hugh Duffy 1894 Beaneaters 160 runs, 145 RBI, .440 AVG PITCHERS SP Dutch Leonard 1914 Red Sox 19-5, 0.96 ERA, 224.7 IP, 24 ER SP Christy Mathewson 1909 Giants 25-6, 1.14 ERA, 275.3 IP, 35 ER SP Walter Johnson 1913 Senators 36-7, 1.14 ERA, 346 IP, 44 ER SP Addie Joss 1908 Naps 24-11, 1.16 ERA, 325 IP, 42 ER RP Dennis Eckersley 1990 A's 48 saves, 0.61 ERA, 73.3 IP, 5 ER RP Jose Mesa 1995 Indians 46 saves, 1.12 ERA, 64 IP, 8 ER RP Rollie Fingers 1981 Brewers 28 saves, 1.04 ERA, 78 IP, 9 ER RP Armando Benitez 2004 Marlins 47 saves, 1.29 ERA, 69.7 IP, 10 ER RP John Smoltz 2003 Braves 45 saves, 1.12 ERA, 64.3 IP, 8 ER My team -- just the regulars -- scored 1171 runs and drove in 1236 (even the pitchers scored 65 runs). The pitchers tossed 1520.3 innings (miraculously, there were a couple extra-inning games) and gave up 185 earned runs, for a team ERA of 1.10.
Automatic disqualification for looking only at the numbers and not the context under which they were garnered. (Some of those eras are a little questionable.) And for mentioning Armando Benitez in a game where we pick the greatest team of all time.
SP: Pedro Martinez - Expos - 1997 *cries*
"Automatic disqualification for looking only at the numbers and not the context under which they were garnered. (Some of those eras are a little questionable.)" Perhaps I don't understand the question, but if a person has a great single-season, doesn't that qualify for the single-season all-time team, regardless of the season? I guess I don't understand the criteria. "And for mentioning Armando Benitez in a game where we pick the greatest team of all time." Do you think I enjoyed that? It is what it is -- can you name five better relief seasons that don't match teams with my top hitters and SP's? I struggled to do so, but that isn't to say it can't be done.
And for mentioning Armando Benitez in a game where we pick the greatest team of all time. But he has six fingers. On one hand!
To add, if I am on to your meaning when you refer to the "context under which they were garnered," does that mean I can't choose pitchers from the Dead Ball Era or pitching heavy seasons in the 1960s and 70s, or hitters from the Steroid Era? How exactly would you measure this "context?"
"But he has six fingers. On one hand!" I think you mean Antonio Alfonseca. He would have been just as painful to include on the list. Benitez did once have six fingerprints on his head after a scuffle with Darryl Strawberry.
Yeah, Alfonseca, not Benitez. Neither of who is Arthur Rhodes.
D'oh! Alfonseca. Sure after 9 whole minutes you remind me. Bastards.
O. K. here's my roster which I'm sure will be mocked and ridiculed, but hey I like it so that's what I went with. Statring Lineup: CF Willie Mays 1955 Giants LF Ted Williams 1953 Red Sox RF Babe Ruth 1921 Yankees 2b Rogers Honsby 1928 Braves 3b George Brett 1980 Royals SS Alex Rodriguez 2002 Rangers 1b Hank Greenburg 1938 Tigers C Mike Piazza 1999 Mets Starting Rotation: Sandy Kofax 1963 Dodgers Bob Gibson 1968 Cardinals Steve Carlton 1972 Phillies Three Finger Brown 1906 Cubs Randy Johnson 2002 DiamondBacks Bullpen long relief Bob Feller 1946 Indians Booby Thigpen 1990 White Sox John Wettland 1994 Expos Billy Wagner 2003 Astros Dennis Eckersly 1992 A's Bench: SS Honus Wagner 1900 Pirates C Johnny Bench 1972 Reds CF Ken Griffey jr. 1997 Mariners 1b Carlos Delgado 2000 Blue Jays Rf Tony Gwynn 1994 Padres Lf Gary Sheffield 1996 Marlins
opps and 2B Rod Carew 1975 Twins
Would anyone throw out Ruth, and substitute Mariano Rivera?
No way sonomajoe. I'm a Yankee fan and love Rivera, but look at Ruth's stats THEY ARE COMPLETELY INSANE!!!!!!
It's been an hour, and since I have'nt been blasted off of the site, am I ok?
Satchel Paige? On imagined numbers, and in the 'context' that the world should have been a better place back then.
Satch can pitch on my team anytime. We were doing best overall seasons ask me best players my ansewers would be WAY different.
Would anyone throw out Ruth, and substitute Mariano Rivera? Rivera would have to see a lot of guys "thrown out" before he pops up as my Yankee choice. Ruth, Mantle, Gehrig, Berra, DiMaggio, and then Rivera. There have been too many legendary players to skip them all to get to Rivera. If we are talking best playoff team, then Rivera moves into position #1. It's been an hour, and since I have'nt been blasted off of the site, am I ok? It's really hard to complain about a list like that. My only complaint is Bobby Thigpen getting a spot and Pedro Martinez being left off the list. I like the Eckersley choice, however, and wonder about trying to rework my list to include him...
Hey the guy had 57 saves that year. If we are talking single season greatness hard to leave him out of the bullpen. As far as Pedro goes, the guy is an all world starter but I was having a heck of a time finding relief pitchers so I went with Wettland from the Expos thinking the starting five I had was more than capable.
Everything changes if you change Babe Ruth from a Yankee outfielder, to a Boston Red Sox pitcher. I say use him as your starting pitcher.
Then you lose Ted Williams for the sake of the next best Yankee.
Then you lose Ted Williams for the sake of the next best Yankee. Considering that the next best Yankee is Lou Gehrig, it doesn't seem too outrageous to me.
Fair enough, but you can find 90% of his production at 1B easier than . . . nah, that's not true: Stan Musial and Barry Bonds are both decent replacements. I'd go with Foxx over Gehrig and keep Ruth from the Yanks, personally.
grum@work You get the 'Spent the entire day working on this and I still have a job' award for today! Don't have time to post my own list, but do you really think Cobb is going to sit or pinch run for you? That sumbitch is gonna kick your ass.
grum@work You get the 'Spent the entire day working on this and I still have a job' award for today! Don't have time to post my own list, but do you really think Cobb is going to sit or pinch run for you? That sumbitch is gonna kick your ass.
so funny I had to post it twice...
If, for instance, you put Rogers Hornsby at 2nd - does he have to use his 1922 or 1928 glove in the field? I saw Rizzuto's shortstop glove, and it's little bigger than a golf glove with padding. I can't imagine what Hornsby's glove looks like.
Gotta get Dizzy Dean to announce the game. I loved the way he drove those New England English teachers totally bonkers. posted by drevl at 2:29 PM CST on December 5 COOPERSTOWN, N.Y., Dec. 6 Broadcasting pioneers Graham McNamee and Dizzy Dean are among the 10 finalists for the 2006 Ford C. Frick Award, the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum said Tuesday. Boy, do I feel smart (and that doesn't happen very often). I posted my choice to announce the game yesterday, and Diz gets nominated for the Fricken award the next day. Will one of you come over and pat my back - my arms are too short.
Never seen Rizzuto's glove personally, when i played ss in highschool and jc i used the same glove i used when i was 12. It barely fit over my hand but you got the ball out of it really quick on the double play ball.
