Who Would You Rather Have?
by miniboscorino on Nov 15, 2008 10:02 PM EST
27 comments
This post is all about who you would rather have. When making these comparisons I mean in their prime, however long that may be, not as an overall career. This is by position, its a little out of order though and as for the Gehrig one, its more of a debate on who the best Yank really was. I'd like to see us taking into account the players era, and their value to that specific team or age of baseball. Should be interesting to say the least!!!!
Ruth or Bob Gibson? ; ) Have fun with that one
Simmons or Piazza?
Utley or Hornsby?
Hoffman or Eckersley?
The Wizard or Omar?
Rolen or Schmidt?
Griffey Jr. or Bernie Williams?
Manny or Barry? Without * numbers
For you 80's Cards fans, Hendrick or Brian Jordan?
Time for a little blasphemy: Foxx or Pujols?
And now time for who I think is the most forgotten greatest player ever. Would you rather have Ruth or Gehrig?
Honestly, on most of these, I am not educated enough, or wasn't even alive when they played, but I would love to see what you guys have to say.
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If only rolen had slid into first...
Ruth, Piazza, Hornsby, Hoffman, Smith, Schmidt, griffey, barry (even if he retired in 1999), hendrick, Pujols (because we haven’t yet seen his prime), and, uh, wow. Gotta say Ruth, though.
god, i love baseball. -roy hobbs
by SleepyCA on Nov 16, 2008 12:33 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
First
Brian Jordan didn’t play with the Cardinals until 1992. Second, I don’t care about answering any of these questions except the last.
GEHRIG
by spants on Nov 16, 2008 12:43 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
The 80's part of that question was Hendrick
It was more of a comparison of numbers in their prime. Of course, Jordan was injured a lot so a few of his years are missing a good pile of numbers.
For some reason, I don't enjoy watching Big Mac hit #62, but I fondly remember Ray Lankford blasting the ball out of the park in the same game. He had one sweet swing!!
by miniboscorino on Nov 16, 2008 2:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The wording
is ambiguous at best. But it’s cool.
by spants on Nov 16, 2008 9:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
interesting......
Ok, Ruth, Simmons, Hornsby, Eckersley, Smith, Schmidt, Griffey, Jr, the next choice… wow…. if they both are in a good mood both are dangerous, if they are in a bad mood both are equally a pain in the butt, Barry would be my reluctant choice, Hendrick, Pujols is great but I’d take Foxx at this point. But, another couple years of Pujol putting up numbers like he has and this choice will change. Since no one has forgotten Ruth, I choose Gehrig.
People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.-Rogers Hornsby
by thegashousegang on Nov 16, 2008 8:42 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Yes
The Ruth vs Gehrig one is poorly worded. I think its a shame that Gehrig doesn’t even more praise for his accomplishments. He may have actually been the home run king had it not been for, well, the fact that he died. I have to go look up how old he was.
For some reason, I don't enjoy watching Big Mac hit #62, but I fondly remember Ray Lankford blasting the ball out of the park in the same game. He had one sweet swing!!
by miniboscorino on Nov 16, 2008 3:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Gehrig was around 36
when he quit, and you have to wonder if his last full season was being effected by the early stages of the disease. He probably wouldn’t have gotten over 700 home runs, but if he played 5-6 more healthy years, he could have gotten close.
For some reason, I don't enjoy watching Big Mac hit #62, but I fondly remember Ray Lankford blasting the ball out of the park in the same game. He had one sweet swing!!
by miniboscorino on Nov 16, 2008 3:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It is a real tragedy what happened to Gehrig.....
I think he is always overlooked for he was quiet, shy, reserved and not a showboating type of guy. He sure could hit and if he had been able to have a career until at least 40 who knows what records he would’ve set. I went back and re-read it and see I read it wrong.
So, Ruth or Gehrig? Gehrig’s career was cut short, but Ruth’s career with the bat was shorter because of his years pitching. Because Ruth could pitch, and pitch well, especially in the series I would choose Ruth. Thank you for pointing this out to me. It isn’t worded badly, I just didn’t read it correctly.
People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.-Rogers Hornsby
by thegashousegang on Nov 16, 2008 7:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The Yanks owners
said he was too old to play and I believe they were going to ship him to the A’s I think. The Yanks had a cousin team, I can’t remember who, that they sent all their old players and those they deemed “useless” to for young prospects.
Shrewd business men, those yank owners.
For some reason, I don't enjoy watching Big Mac hit #62, but I fondly remember Ray Lankford blasting the ball out of the park in the same game. He had one sweet swing!!
by miniboscorino on Nov 16, 2008 8:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That would indeed be the KC A's...
In the 50-s the Yanks used to send all their old players and useless prospects to the Kansas City A’s as you mentioned. They literally raped the A’s for years sucking up all their talent and giving nothing, and I mean nothing, in return.
Bobby Shantz was one of the excellent pitchers they stole from the A’s back in the 50’s. Shantz came in a one sided trade in which the Yanks also picked up Clete Boyer. One of the other hitters the Yanks got from their “unofficial farm club” was Roger Maris. Yeah, they traded to the A’s Don Larsen.. who ended up in his less than 2 years with them going 2-10. They also traded to them Billy Martin who was gone from the A’s a year later.
That baseball let this happen was a joke. Problem is, I could see the the current Commissioner allowing something like this to happen also…..
As for the Babe, he ended up signing with the Boston Braves…. So he started in Boston, with the Sox, and ended up in Boston with the Braves…. But, if the KC A’s would’ve existed at that point I am sure he would’ve ended up there! Can you imagine how many players the Yanks could have gotten from the A’s for him?!!!!
People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.-Rogers Hornsby
by thegashousegang on Nov 17, 2008 3:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I also remember hearing
the Yanks loved to sign all the good prospects, as there was no draft Example: Herzog got a larger signing bonus than Mantle. So, as a result, they had the deepest, oldest, and best minor league system for many many years. Imagine how many HOF never had the chance to get there because of those Yanks.
For some reason, I don't enjoy watching Big Mac hit #62, but I fondly remember Ray Lankford blasting the ball out of the park in the same game. He had one sweet swing!!
by miniboscorino on Nov 17, 2008 6:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Gehrig
I read a few years ago that he started exhibiting symptoms of ALS in the mid-1930s. One game, in particular, he hit would should have been an easy triple, but as he rounded second, he fell and couldn’t get back up for a few minutes. He missed the rest of the game, but was fine the next day. So he was being affected even then, yet he was amazingly productive. How much greater could he have been with good health?
"Better teach this kid some control before he kills somebody" - Lou Brown (Major League)
by TurdFerguson on Nov 18, 2008 12:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Well, you coudl say that Ruth would have hit 900 had he not been a pitcher for seven years
I think the thing that makes the argument slant so heavily toward Ruth was that he probably would have been a HOF pitcher (seriously, look at his 1916 season), but then switched to play outfield, and amass those absurd HR totals. There hasn’t been another player to show that level of dominance on both sides of the ball.
Also, Babe Ruth, Only one MVP award. That is crazy.
They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...
by Valatan on Nov 17, 2008 12:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Speaking of crazy
Ruth had an ERA in the World Series of 0.87…
"Better teach this kid some control before he kills somebody" - Lou Brown (Major League)
by TurdFerguson on Nov 18, 2008 1:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Hmmm.....
Gibson, Simmons, Hornsby, Eckersley, Ozzie, Rolen, Griffey, Manny, Jordan, Pujols, and Gehrig.
The toughest decision here was Ruth vs. Gibbie. But, in the end I had to go with the guy who caused the league to lower the mound…I don’t think we’ll ever see that again in baseball.
Patiently awaiting the day Colby Rasmus does this: .275/.381/.551/.932, 29HR, in St. Louis...
by RunninRedbird on Nov 16, 2008 9:47 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I totally read that as Josh Gibson
vs Ruth. I need clarification on that before I even start my list. If it was Bob, then I give the Babe a huge edge, if it was Josh…much closer. I might give the edge to Gibson over Ruth in that scenario. If only he had a BR page.
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
by mattyfrommo on Nov 16, 2008 10:28 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That's what i was assuming
because how could you compare Ruth and Gibson unless you are picking the pitcher Ruth as opposed to the hitter Ruth who shows up later in the poll. If it’s Josh Gibson, I’d pick Ruth. If it’s Bob, I’d pick Gibson.
After that, I go…
Simmons
Hornsby
Eckersley
Ozzie
Schmidt
Junior
Barry
Hendrick
Pujols
Gehrig (although, I’ve already got a first baseman, so I might go Ruth, but it all depends on who in the heck, I’m picking in the first question).
Our country reeks of trees. Our yaks are really large. And they smell like rotting beef carcasses. And we have to clean up after them. And our saddle sores are the best. We proudly wear women's clothing. While searing sand blows up our skirts.
And the buzzards, they soar overhead. And poisonous snakes will devour us whole. Our bones will bleach in the sun. And we will probably go to hell. And that is our great reward. For be-ing the-uh Ro-yal Canadian Kilted Yaksmen!
by Tackle Box on Nov 16, 2008 11:06 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Oops...
It could very well be…I forgot about Josh Gibson and anytime I see just Gibson listed, I immediately think of Bob.
Patiently awaiting the day Colby Rasmus does this: .275/.381/.551/.932, 29HR, in St. Louis...
by RunninRedbird on Nov 16, 2008 2:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Bob Gibson
For some reason, I don't enjoy watching Big Mac hit #62, but I fondly remember Ray Lankford blasting the ball out of the park in the same game. He had one sweet swing!!
by miniboscorino on Nov 16, 2008 3:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Ruth then
Ruth probably wins out over either Gibson, but since we are going everyday players vs pitcher, I definitely go with one of the top hitters of all time.
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
by mattyfrommo on Nov 16, 2008 4:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Um
For the purposes of gibby vs ruth, its pitchers.
However, I do love the numbers he put up in 1919: 2.97 era, 133 innings, 29 home runs, 114 rbis, and a .322/.454/.657 line.
For some reason, I don't enjoy watching Big Mac hit #62, but I fondly remember Ray Lankford blasting the ball out of the park in the same game. He had one sweet swing!!
by miniboscorino on Nov 16, 2008 4:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
well that does make more sense
Since I was tremendously confused from the start, I am gonna base it on both.
I still go with Ruth over Gibson as a pitcher/player. It might be closer than I think though. While we would never know how great of a pitcher Ruth could have ended up being, the same can also be said about Gibson as a hitter. Hell, he was great enough of an athlete that he probably would have put up some damn scary stats as a hitter in the 20’s (you know, if it wasn’t for that racist policy in baseball at the time).
Anyway to get on with it:
Simmons (I like the old-timey players, and Piazza always annoyed me anyway)
Hornsby
Hoffman
Ozzie
Schmidt (I love Scotty, but his bat was not in the same league)
Grif
Barry
Silent George
Pujols
Gehrig (my all-time favorite Yankee)
* sarcasm might be involved in this comment
by mattyfrommo on Nov 16, 2008 5:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Go look up Ruth's last season as a pitcher
and see his offensive production. Its hilarious.
For some reason, I don't enjoy watching Big Mac hit #62, but I fondly remember Ray Lankford blasting the ball out of the park in the same game. He had one sweet swing!!
by miniboscorino on Nov 16, 2008 3:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Not as agonizing as i expected
Not to say I didn’t feel twinges but I’m relieved that I can feel objective and maintain a hometown edge: Ruth, Simmons, Hornsby, Eckersley, Ozzie, Schmidt, Griffey, Barry, Hendrick, Pujols. Ruth could pitch a little, and like Bob, he was a World Series monster.
by slochaos on Nov 16, 2008 10:39 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Right now I would have to pick Foxx
But after a couple of years, when Pujols starts to rack up more bulk stats, I might change my mind.
by vivaelpujols on Nov 16, 2008 9:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I guess that depends on what you call their "prime"
If you’re comparing their age 24-27 years than Foxx has to be the pick. His OPS+ was over 180 every season and over 200 twice during that period. He only played until age 34, so those would probably be his “prime” years.
I don’t think we’ve seen Alberts prime years yet, but if they’re anything like this season (190 OPS+) I’ll take Albert.
"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller
by fourstick on Nov 17, 2008 10:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
With Foxx
his numbers are a little more skewed than Albert’s. He had so many years of great production, but some years, his 300+ avg was sacraficed for massive amounts of RBI and HR. However, he still has a lot of mind boggling numbers, and I don’t know what kind of glove he had, so that debate is still open.
For some reason, I don't enjoy watching Big Mac hit #62, but I fondly remember Ray Lankford blasting the ball out of the park in the same game. He had one sweet swing!!
by miniboscorino on Nov 17, 2008 6:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
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