lol, Negro League.

i'm not ignoring them. Gibson, Charleston, Paige and many more players in the Negro League were fantastic, but we have to have the numbers. It would be unfair to say that Josh Gibson was better than Hank Aaron without the numbers. Unless you can give me a source where I can see legitimate stats, then maybe I will add some.

On a side note, I'm going to make a Top 100 and then we'll fix it from there.

I always thought it would be more interesting if the list was sorted by best players at each postion, rather than one giant list. Seems better and a tittle less subjective that way (to me). The only problem is guys who changed positions, like Rod Carew and Alex Rodriguez. My lists are a little sporadic so bear with me.


Catcher
Johnny Bench
Yogi Berra
Roy Campanella
Ivan Rodriguez
Mike Piazza
Mickey Cochrane
Carlton Fisk
Gary Carter
Josh Gibson
Thurman Munson
Ernie Lombardi
Gabby Hartnett
Bill Dickey
Elston Howard
Steve O'Neill
Buck Ewing
Ted Simmons
Joe Torre
Jorge Posada

First Base
Lou Gehrig
Jimmie Foxx
Hank Greenberg
Ernie Banks
Willie McCovey
Harmon Killebrew
Eddie Murray
Rod Carew
Orlando Cepeda
Tony Perez
Jeff Bagwell
Jim Thome
Dick Allen
Cap Anson
Todd Helton
Albert Pujols
Mark McGwire
Gil Hodges
Roger Connor
Don Mattingly
Will Clark
Johnny Mize
Steve Garvey
Keith Hernandez

Second Base
Rogers Hornsby
Eddie Collins
Joe Morgan
Nap Lajoie
Charlie Gehringer
Jackie Robinson
Roberto Alomar
Frankie Frisch
Ryne Sandberg
Craig Biggio
Jeff Kent
Nellie Fox
Bill Mazeroski
Bobby Doerr
Lou Whitaker
Bobby Grich
Larry Doyle
Willie Randolph

Third Base
Mike Schmidt
George Brett
Eddie Mathews
Brooks Robinson
Wade Boggs
Home Run Baker
Ron Santo
Chipper Jones
Pie Traynor
Graig Nettles
Stan Hack
Darrell Evans
George Kell
Judy Johnson
Ray Dandridge
Jimmy Collins
Scott Rolen
Bob Elliott


Short Stop
Honus Wagner
Alex Rodriguez
Cal Ripken
Robin Yount
Luke Appling
Lou Boudreau
Barry Larkin
Derek Jeter
Arky Vaughan
Joe Cronin
Alan Trammell
Pee Wee Reese
Phil Rizzuto
Luis Aparicio
Ozzie Smith
Omar Vizquel
Nomar Garciaparra
Willie Wells
Vern Stephens
Hughie Jennings
George Davis
Dave Concepcion
Miguel Tejada
Joe Sewell
Dick Groat
Tony Fernandez

outfielders and pitchers to come

Left Fielders
Ted Williams
Stan Musial
Barry Bonds
Rickey Henderson
Willie Stargell
Carl Yastrzemski
Al Simmons
Shoeless Joe Jackson
Manny Ramirez
Lou Brock
Billy Williams
Monte Irvin
Jim Rice
Ralph Kiner
Goose Goslin
Tim Raines
Minnie Minoso
Albert Belle
Ed Delahanty
Fred Clarke
Frank Howard
Jesse Burkett
Joe Medwick
Moises Alou
Joe Carter
Bob Johnson
Jose Cruz Sr.
Bobby Veach
Kirk Gibson

Center Fielders
Willie Mays
Ty Cobb
Joe DiMaggio
Mickey Mantle
Tris Speaker
Ken Griffey Jr.
Duke Snider
Billy Hamilton
Kirby Puckett
Larry Doby
Oscar Charleston
Earl Averill
Jim Wynn
Dale Murphy
Hack Wilson
Fred Lynn
Wally Berger
Vada Pinson
Cesar Cedeno
Amos Otis
Cool Papa Bell
Andruw Jones
Jim Edmonds
Richie Ashburn
Willie McGee

Right Fielders
Babe Ruth
Hank Aaron
Frank Robinson
Roberto Clemente
Mel Ott
Pete Rose
Tony Gwynn
Paul Waner
Al Kaline
Reggie Jackson
Sam Crawford
Dave Winfield
Vladimir Guerrero
Larry Walker
Andre Dawson
Harry Heilmann
Reggie Smith
Dave Parker
Dwight Evans
Gary Sheffield
Sammy Sosa
Harry Hooper
Ichiro Suzuki
Tony Oliva
Rocky Colavito
Roger Maris
Sam Rice
Bobby Bonds

Designated Hitters
Paul Molitor
Frank Thomas
Edgar Martinez
David Ortiz
Harold Baines
Don Baylor
Chili Davis
Hal McRae

Starting Pitchers
Walter Johnson
Christy Mathewson
Grover Alexander
Roger Clemens
Lefty Grove
Cy Young
Warren Spahn
Tom Seaver
Steve Carlton
Bob Feller
Bob Gibson
Sandy Koufax
Greg Maddux
Pedro Martinez
Randy Johnson
Satchel Paige
Nolan Ryan
Jim Palmer
Whitey Ford
Carl Hubbell
Juan Marichal
Phil Niekro
Eddie Plank
Gaylord Perry
Mordecai Brown
Fergie Jenkins
Kid Nichols
Robin Roberts
John Smoltz
Dizzy Dean
Ed Walsh
Wes Ferrell
Bert Blyleven
Don Sutton
Don Drysdale
Red Ruffing
Ted Lyons
Curt Schilling
Jack Morris
Smokey Joe Williams
Bob Lemon
Lefty Gomez
Luis Tiant
Tom Glavine
Hal Newhouser

Relief Pitchers/Closers
Mariano Rivera
Trevor Hoffman
Dennis Eckersley
Rollie Fingers
Goose Gossage
Bruce Sutter
Lee Smith
Jeff Reardon
Sparky Lyle
Dan Quisenberry
Hoyt Wilhelm
Billy Wagner
John Franco
John Wetteland
Tug McGraw
Mike Marshall
Roberto Hernandez
Jeff Montgomery
Robb Nenn
Troy Percival
Tom Henke
Rick Aguilera
Francisco Rodriguez
Jose Mesa
Kent Tekulve
John Hiller
Randy Myers
Todd Worrell
Rod Beck

Clemens is way too high. Also I like the giant incorporated list. And I only think it is particularly subjective as you get down the list. The top spot is obvious and the top 10 is generally pretty indisputable.

Can Barry Bonds not be number 2?

True. I'll put him at number one

I'm no Baseball nut by any description, but I was recently reading about a player from the early 20th century named Josh Gibson, apparently he was awesome, just wondered what you guys thought.

I have a question?
Is it a problem that Barry Bonds is at number one? Just look at his numbers, I mean, he is a certain number one pick. And dont give me that steroids bullshit, please.

Ruth has a distinct advantage over Bonds in average, OB%, SLG%, OPS, Adjusted OPS+, WAR (he also happens to be #1 all-time in each of those categories aside from OB%, where he's #2); most offensive statistical rate measurements Ruth's career>Bonds'. Add on cultural impact and the fact that Ruth was an outstanding pitcher early in his career and I'd say the top spot is the Babe's and only the Babe's.

All that said, Bonds should probably be at #2. Cobb, Mays, Young, Williams, Wagner, Johnson, Hornsby, Musial, Aaron, Mantle would probs follow in some order or another.

thank god somebody gave me valid reasoning. Most people just say he "cheated" because he used steroids. I have no problem with the Babe being number one, but Bonds is number two. However, I must say, I strongly disagree with the order you present.

Cobb, Mays, Young, Williams, Wagner, Johnson, Hornsby, Musial, Aaron, Mantle

Im sorry, but Cy Young doesn't belong anywhere near the top ten, despite his astronomical numbers. He pitched in the dead ball era, while Walter Johnson excelled in the live-ball era. Aaron behind Musial and Hornsby is also questionable. Aaron was excellent in the World Series, while Musial, Hornsby, and even Williams were held below their usual numbers. Mays had a better all-around game than Cobb did. Mantle is fine where he's at, his numbers could have been a lot better if his knees weren't so screwed up.

I would say...Ruth, Bonds, Mays, Johnson, Aaron, Cobb, Williams, Wagner, Gehrig, and maybe Lefty Grove, but that ten spot could be a lot of players.

Yeah I didn't list the rest of those guys in the order I thought they should be on the list, just kinda threw them out there. My top 10 would look pretty similar to yours. Mays and Cobb are my #3/4 and after that the ordering gets difficult.

I strongly disagree with Bonds being # 2 and if you don't change it then this list will forever be a joke. Sorry to be mean. I wouldn't have him in the top 5. He's a douchebag. Without steroids he could/should be in the top 10 but fuck not top 5. It's his own goddamn fault for cheating so don't take it out on me for knocking him down a few spots.

BEFORE YOU CALL ME ANOTHER BONDS HATER...he was my FAVORITE player in the 90's and 2000 but I don't give a shit who you are, if your a hitter and you take steroids then your a douchebag asshole who should be severely punished or banned from playing in the MLB. He should be in the Hall of Fame but he shouldn't be the all-time home run king or single season home run record holder.

He hit more home runs as he got older, he was visibly BIGGER than before. Steroids DID help him play better and don't deny it. All 3 players that passed Roger Maris' season record tested positive for steroids.

I realize that Ruth is the greatest when you go by criteria or whatever but he wasn't dominant on defense. I would suggest you put Willie Mays at # 1. He was GREAT on both offense and defense and didn't need steroids to help him hit home runs when he played in one of the toughest ballparks to hit home runs.

660 home runs, over 3,000 hits, 12 gold gloves, and he's an MLB champion. Come on now, he beats Bonds. Of course Ruth had the biggest impact so I'm not saying he shouldn't be # 1 but at least consider Mays to be at the top for 5 minutes.

I'll settle with Mays at # 2 though. Get Bonds out of the top 3 for the love of god. Ty Cobb would be rolling in his grave!