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An Olympics program on TV stated the 1992 US Basketball Dream Team is the greatest team in the history of team sports. Looking back at over 150 years of the best baseball teams that include All Star teams and World Tour teams, I am asking for your opinion as to what was the greatest baseball team ever assembled that you feel was better than the Dream Team?
"He's tougher than a railroad sandwich."
"You'se Got The Eye Of An Eagle."
Hopeful traditionalist
Are you looking for a team which played over a short time run, such as a travelling squad of players? Or are you seeking a team which represents a longer time frame? Here are some possible teams for consideration:
1) Tris Speaker and a team filled with his peers from his heyday toured the world, somewhat late in his career but while Speaker was still at his peak. I forget the year, but it was discussed in the recent biography authored by Gay.
2) A team filled with the best players from the Negro Leagues which played well against AL/NL allstars might qualify.
3) 1928-1932 Philadelphia A's.
4) 1972-1974 Oakland A's
I would be inclined to choose the latter, but out of sentiment I would be biased.
Catfish Hunter, RIP. Mark Fidrych, RIP. Skip Caray, RIP.
A fanatic is someone who can't change his mind and won't change the subject. -- Winston Churchill.
Experience is the hardest teacher. She gives the test first and the lesson later. -- Dan Quisenberry.
The 1928 As and the 1934 AL all star team come to mind.
That As team had Cochrane, Cobb, Speaker, Collins, Foxx, Simmons, and Grove. Also Max Bishop. You could make a credible all time team with those guys, and only be lacking at third base and short.
The 2000 NL all star team has got to be the best.
If Mcgwire and Piazza weren't hurt, it may have been the best lineup ever.
1. Larkin
2.Jones
3. Guerrero
4. Mcgwire
5. Piazza
6.Sosa
7. Kent
8.Edmonds
9. Johnson
How good was this team?
on the BENCH they had Bonds, Griffey, Sheffield, Alfonso, and A Jones, Giles, and Helton, all of whom had MVP quality seasons.
Among their other starters were Maddux, Glavine and Brown
Jeff Bagwell, in the middle of a 47 132 .310 season, did not make the team. Tony Gwynn did not make the team. Moises Alou, who in the first half had a line of .359 .420 .657 did not make the team.
Keep in mind that, besides maybe Larkin, ALL of these guys were in their prime.
Last edited by willshad; 07-21-2012 at 07:52 PM.
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Charles Barkley made the comment that the Dream Team had at least 10 Hall of Fame Players on it. I haven't taken time to check his statement.Originally Posted by abolishthedh
Yes, any baseball team that played for one or more games should be considered.
"He's tougher than a railroad sandwich."
"You'se Got The Eye Of An Eagle."
Registered User
Maybe we are looking for a team made up of Hall of Famers at nearly every position?
"He's tougher than a railroad sandwich."
"You'se Got The Eye Of An Eagle."
Well the 2000 NL all star team has a bunch of HOF quality players, but due to either steroids, or voter inability, most of them will not make it to the HOF in all likelihood.
HOFers
Johnson
Maddux
Glavine
Piazza
Griffey
C Jones
Guerrero
Kent
Larkin
Borderline or steroid guys
A Jones
Bonds
Sosa
Mcgwire
Brown
Edmonds
Sheffield
Helton
Hoffman
Giles
That's 19 guys who had borderline Hof careers or better. Nearly all of them were in the prime of their careers. Every position has at least one HOFer.
Last edited by willshad; 07-21-2012 at 08:18 PM.
The Natural
I think in one winter latin league Willie Mays Roberto Clemente and another famous big star played on the same team and as Bill james pointed out - they won the pennant
1. The more I learn, the more convinced I am that many players are over-rated due to inflated stats from offensive home parks (and eras)
2. Strat-O-Matic Baseball Player, Collector and Hobbyist since 1969, visit my strat site: http://somgamersparadiseforum.smfforfree4.com/index.php
The Natural
they were so good they went winless losing the ASG 6-3
I guess the AL was full of super humans
1. The more I learn, the more convinced I am that many players are over-rated due to inflated stats from offensive home parks (and eras)
2. Strat-O-Matic Baseball Player, Collector and Hobbyist since 1969, visit my strat site: http://somgamersparadiseforum.smfforfree4.com/index.php
Well that AL team just may have been the second best team ever.
Alomar
Jeter
A-rod
I-rod
Giambi
Delgado
Manny
Ripken
Mcgriff
Bernie
Pedro
Rivera
Nomar
Edgar
Posada
They were kind of weak in the outfield, and starting pitching, however.
Last edited by willshad; 07-21-2012 at 08:30 PM.
xFIP?! I laugh at you!
I don't think I agree with the premise. The '92 Olympic basketball team wasn't really a team in the normal sense. They were not part of an organized league. The team wasn't put together by a shrewd GM through a draft, trades, or free agency. They were hand picked to play against vastly inferior competition for a tournament that lasted about two weeks.
Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.-Crash Davis
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It's really hard to say just how good these basketball 'dream teams' really are. For the most part they are NBA all stars playing against guys who would not even make the NBA as bench players. Of course they are going to look unstoppable. The MLB all star teams are playing against other MLB all stars, so their competition is much greater.
The Natural
sorry we disagree
1. The more I learn, the more convinced I am that many players are over-rated due to inflated stats from offensive home parks (and eras)
2. Strat-O-Matic Baseball Player, Collector and Hobbyist since 1969, visit my strat site: http://somgamersparadiseforum.smfforfree4.com/index.php
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This is not correct. The Dream Team has 11 HOFers...and Christian Laettner. Had they gone with Shaq instead of Laettner, like most people wanted, it would have been 12 for 12. Barkley may have made that statement before Chris Mullin was rightfully inducted this past year.
Last edited by Matthew C.; 07-21-2012 at 08:51 PM.
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And I wouldn't count a team put together by fans and one manager to compete in one game exhibition.
For a team competing in a tournament for an actual prize, the 1992 Dream Team would be hard to top...
For a whole season, how about a team comprised of:
Chris Chelios
Pavel Datsuk
Steve Duschene
Sergei Federov
Dominik Hasek
Brett Hull
Igor Larionov
Nick Lidstrom
Luc Robitille
Brendan Shannahan
Steve Yzerman
Last edited by Matthew C.; 07-21-2012 at 08:54 PM.
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In other news, the A's beat the Yankees tonight. I guess we know which team has the most talent...
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The Natural
well a team that WENT WINLESS could hardly qualify for the greatest team ever dont ya think
1. The more I learn, the more convinced I am that many players are over-rated due to inflated stats from offensive home parks (and eras)
2. Strat-O-Matic Baseball Player, Collector and Hobbyist since 1969, visit my strat site: http://somgamersparadiseforum.smfforfree4.com/index.php
xFIP?! I laugh at you!
I was wondering about some of those powerhouse USSR Olympic hockey teams.
Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.-Crash Davis
http://sfgiants-forum.com/forum/index.php
Registered User
I don't think they should be eligible either. But because they only played in one exhibition game, not because I think they are worse than the AL because they lost that one game.
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It is harder the more spots that have to be filled. It is easier to find 12 HOFers than 19 or 25 or however many a NFL team has. Even the best NHL or Olympic teams ever assembled will have multiple Christian Laettners thrown in the mix. The Dream Team may have been easier to put together, but 11/12 legit HOfers is tough to beat.
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1887 1888 1928 1930 1943 1968 1985 1987 2004
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The Top 100 Pitchers In MLB History
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The Natural
how about De La Salle High Football 1992-2003 they went undefeated 12 straight years
beating two time USA Today National Champion Mater Dei 4 straight times, never once trailing at any point in any game,
beat Then #1 ranked LB Poly in 2001 and then #2 ranked LB Poly in 2002 never trailing at any point in either game,
beat 18 time hawaii state champion St Louis, never trailing at any point in the game,
beat 9 time Louisiana state Champion and former national champion Evangel Christian
1. The more I learn, the more convinced I am that many players are over-rated due to inflated stats from offensive home parks (and eras)
2. Strat-O-Matic Baseball Player, Collector and Hobbyist since 1969, visit my strat site: http://somgamersparadiseforum.smfforfree4.com/index.php
The Natural
Larry Bird was a shell of himself and basically didnt play
this is a farce
1. The more I learn, the more convinced I am that many players are over-rated due to inflated stats from offensive home parks (and eras)
2. Strat-O-Matic Baseball Player, Collector and Hobbyist since 1969, visit my strat site: http://somgamersparadiseforum.smfforfree4.com/index.php
Registered User
Outside of Bird and Johnson the rest were all in their primes. Any team that is in the running for the distinction will have some players no longer in their primes.
Bird played all eight games, started 3, and played enough to make the 7th most FG on the team. He played and played well, actually. Shot 53% from the field, was 4th on the team in rebounds per game and was second on the team in 3 pointers made. All with a horrible back. If this is your 11th best player...
Last edited by Matthew C.; 07-21-2012 at 09:28 PM.
1885 1886 1926 1931 1934 1942 1944 1946 1964 1967 1982 2006 2011
1887 1888 1928 1930 1943 1968 1985 1987 2004
1996 2000 2001 2002 2005 2009 2012
The Top 100 Pitchers In MLB History
The Top 100 Position Players In MLB History
Registered User
This is an interesting perspective. There have been high school or lower level college teams that have dominated at obscene levels that for many reasons cannot be approached by professionals. Relative to their peers, I am sure some of these teams are very impressive and would be in the running.
I guess we really need to narrow our search as little bit; define our terms.
Are we looking for pro-only teams? Exhibition teams count? All Star teams? How many games does the team need to play? Etc.
1885 1886 1926 1931 1934 1942 1944 1946 1964 1967 1982 2006 2011
1887 1888 1928 1930 1943 1968 1985 1987 2004
1996 2000 2001 2002 2005 2009 2012
The Top 100 Pitchers In MLB History
The Top 100 Position Players In MLB History
I think it was pretty clearly stated that he's looking for teams that include all star teams...and the BEST, not the 'most dominant'. A high school team dominating other high school teams is not the 'best' team. I think that 2000 NL team is hard to beat, considering they had so many HOF caliber players, all in their prime, and could fill every position with an all time great, and also had multiple HOFers and MVP caliber players at several positions. You could almost make TWO all time great teams out of that roster.
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