Top 3 19th Century First Baseman

[AstrosFan]

We know that Brouthers, Connor, and Anson were the best 1B of the 19th century. In what order do you rank them? I would like to see discussion, not just lists.

[leecemark]

--Anson's peak wasn't quite as dominant as Brouthers, but he had the best career of any 19th century player. Cap retired with the vast majority of hitting records to his name. He would still own some of them had his early seasons not been so short (scheduled that way and not due to any missed time on his part). Conner has an arguement for better peak than Anson, but can't match Brouthers there and is well behind Anson for career value.

[KCGHOST]

I have it Anson, Connor, and then Brouthers.

[Baseball Guru]

Anson/Brouthers/Connor for me:)

[Buzzaldrin]

I wrote on another thread in this forum a bunch of arguments as to why Connor cannot possibly be considered as good a player as Brouthers. i won't write them all again, but I will say that Connor's slight edge in the field does not even come close to bridging the enormous difference in their hitting. Anson also couldn't field like Connor, but his longevity and his standing at the forefront of baseball for so long and accomplishing what really are impossible feats (I mean, hello- this guys's third all time in RBI despite not playing a season of more than 100 games until he was 32, in an era when that age was usually past retirement) gives him my number two vote.

But Dan Brouthers is one of the best hitters of all time, hands down, he wins for me.

I am, however, curious what might have been if Dave Orr hadn't had his stroke. He had just an amazingly consistent eye- not one single time in his career did he finish out of the league top five in batting, and to be cut down so tragically at the age of 30, shortly before they moved the mound back- heck, he could have hit .500! Guess we'd be talking about four first sackers in that case.

[The Kid]

Anson/Brouthers/Connor for me:)

Thats what I have, too. :dance