Splits

Ty Cobb? Babe Ruth? Ted Williams? Willie Mays? Lou Gerhig? Hank Aaron? Insert your player here...

Personally, I think it is Ty Cobb. "The Georgia Peach" was the best in the "dead ball" era and that holds water. He was a racist but he was the best. His spikes were up. He played to win. The Tigers were lucky to have him.

Insisted that he was not a super athlete, rather that he had a great
desire to win.

Was quoted as saying "I've got to be first all the time — in everything."

Best hitter of his era, if not of all time.

Has a career batting average of .367.

Won 12 batting titles, including 9 in a row from 1907 thru 1915.

Third all time in stolen bases with 892.

Second in runs scored with 2,245.

Second in career hits with 4,191.

Led the American League in slugging eight times.

Scored 100 runs 11 times in his career.

Drove in over 100 runs seven times in his career.

Led the American League in runs five times.

Led the American League in hits eight times.

Played for 24 years; 22 years with Detroit, two with Philadelphia.

Youngest AL player to reach 1,000 hit level (24-years old).

Batted under .320 only once in his career.

Batted over .400 three times.

Ted is a close second. If he didn't go and serve in WWII he would probably be the best. I want to see what everyone thinks on this topic.

If you want plug your current player that might be the best ever make your move here. I don't think they can beat the crew I put up...

Who is the best baseball player ever?

In my opinion the greatest baseball player of all time is Willie Mays. I don't think there was a greater all around player in the history of the game. He was the ultimate 5 Tool player. He hit for average, power, had speed to burn, had a great arm, and was perhaps the best defensive CF ever.

He finished his career with 660 home runs, which was third all-time until his god-son came along. He missed part of the 1952 and all of the 1953 season due to military service. The year he returned in 1954 he hit 41home runs and in 55 he hit 51. If not for his military service, he would have been first to 700 home runs, and might have topped Ruth's 714. He played most of his career in pitcher friendly parks (The Polo Grounds and candlestick park).

I only saw him play later in his career, when he was a shell of his former self, but in his prime he was the greatest (again, just my opinion).

Who is the best baseball player ever?

Well you probably can name a few players that fit the category with argument. But to be fair the game has changed so much that it is difficult to identify the real truth without so many considerations. Baseball has gone through massive expansion and during its growth periods you can easily argue that both leagues had talent that was watered down for some time. I don't think that is the case today as the talent has caught up to the expansion. Keeping in mind that the baseball is not soft and has not been soft for at least thirty years, the mound is lower which gives greater advantage to the hitter, the ball parks are smaller, the gloves are bigger, etc. That said I do think that the atheletes today have greater athletic talent when it comes to range and fitness...but skills are a bigger part of this game than say basketaball, football and soccer.

Mays and Aaron didn't play in large ballparks, Mantle played in a gigantic one...a field today that in part is now a Yankee museum...Tony Kubek once said that while he played with the Yankees in the early 60's Mickey Mantle must have lost 100 Hr's in Yankee's Death Valley that would have been a homerun in any other park...and to his disadvantage he was not a pull hitter especially from the right side where he had his best power. Babe Ruth had the left field porch but when he hit a home run it was well gone. Ted Williams lost half of his career to WW II and the Korean War...Willie Mays was great at everything! During their period of play the leagues were limited in teams and every team had good pitching to face. I quess looking at Babe Ruth and his rediculous homerun and batting average, keeping in mind what an incredible pitcher he too was with Boston...my vote would have to go to Ruth...Ted Williams would have to be my pick as the greatest hitter of all time...even though his career was well shortened by military duty for his country.

Nuf Ced Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Jan 16, 2008	Posted on: May 12, 2008 11:35 am Score: 92 Who is the best baseball player ever? ..you could also add Josh Gibson to this list even though he never got the chance to play in the Majors. They didn't keep very good records in the Negro Leagues but don't they say Gibson may have hit over 800 career HR's? [ Reply to Comment ]
Shermboat19 Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Dec 14, 2007	Posted on: May 12, 2008 12:31 pm Score: 96 Who is the best baseball player ever? ..you could also add Josh Gibson to this list even though he never got the chance to play in the Majors.Nuf you can add anyone you want. I didn't qualify the question by saying they had to have played in MLB. [ Reply to Comment ]
jonnyteach Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Jan 3, 2007	Posted on: May 13, 2008 11:56 am Score: 95 Who is the best baseball player ever? In my opinion the greatest baseball player of all time is Willie Mays. I don't think there was a greater all around player in the history of the game. He was the ultimate 5 Tool player. He hit for average, power, had speed to burn, had a great arm, and was perhaps the best defensive CF ever. He finished his career with 660 home runs, which was third all-time until his god-son came along. He missed part of the 1952 and all of the 1953 season due to military service. The year he returned in 1954 he hit 41home runs and in 55 he hit 51. If not for his military service, he would have been first to 700 home runs, and might have topped Ruth's 714. He played most of his career in pitcher friendly parks (The Polo Grounds and candlestick park). I only saw him play later in his career, when he was a shell of his former self, but in his prime he was the greatest (again, just my opinion). [ Reply to Comment ]
Tommyeagle Reputation: 96 Level: Superstar Since: Mar 29, 2007	Posted on: May 13, 2008 1:44 pm Score: 89 Who is the best baseball player ever? Well you probably can name a few players that fit the category with argument. But to be fair the game has changed so much that it is difficult to identify the real truth without so many considerations. Baseball has gone through massive expansion and during its growth periods you can easily argue that both leagues had talent that was watered down for some time. I don't think that is the case today as the talent has caught up to the expansion. Keeping in mind that the baseball is not soft and has not been soft for at least thirty years, the mound is lower which gives greater advantage to the hitter, the ball parks are smaller, the gloves are bigger, etc. That said I do think that the atheletes today have greater athletic talent when it comes to range and fitness...but skills are a bigger part of this game than say basketaball, football and soccer. Mays and Aaron didn't play in large ballparks, Mantle played in a gigantic one...a field today that in part is now a Yankee museum...Tony Kubek once said that while he played with the Yankees in the early 60's Mickey Mantle must have lost 100 Hr's in Yankee's Death Valley that would have been a homerun in any other park...and to his disadvantage he was not a pull hitter especially from the right side where he had his best power. Babe Ruth had the left field porch but when he hit a home run it was well gone. Ted Williams lost half of his career to WW II and the Korean War...Willie Mays was great at everything! During their period of play the leagues were limited in teams and every team had good pitching to face. I quess looking at Babe Ruth and his rediculous homerun and batting average, keeping in mind what an incredible pitcher he too was with Boston...my vote would have to go to Ruth...Ted Williams would have to be my pick as the greatest hitter of all time...even though his career was well shortened by military duty for his country. [ Reply to Comment ]

Shermboat19

Who is the best baseball player ever?

Who is the best baseball player ever?

Who is the best baseball player ever?

Who is the best baseball player ever?

Who is the best baseball player ever?