ESPN's Top 100 MLB Players of All Time

[pheasant]

Piazza and Thome are WAY too low, as is Arky Vaughan.

[The Commissioner]

I'm probably being biased but who else would it be? I suppose Babe Ruth or maybe Jim Thorpe would be the next best choices.

I wouldn't even rate Jordan as the best basketball player. I would have had both Chamberlain and Robertson ahead of him.

As far as best athlete, it depends on whether they meant the best individual athlete or most dominant athlete in their sport? They never made that clear, which may account for some of the wacky voting. Either way, it still wouldn't be Jordan. If they were going for best individual athlete it should have been Jim Thorpe. If they were going for most dominant than it should have easily been Gretzky.

[Cap78]

Anyone else think fisk is too high? Sure he played a long time and was a solid player, great for catching standards...then i see how far down campanella was...even if his career was cut short, he ought to be higher up

[chicagowhitesox1173]

Anyone else think fisk is too high? Sure he played a long time and was a solid player, great for catching standards...then i see how far down campanella was...even if his career was cut short, he ought to be higher up

I think Piazza should be higher than Fisk. It's kinda tough to say where he should be ranked if theyr'e going by career.

[Cap78]

I think Piazza should be higher than Fisk. It's kinda tough to say where he should be ranked if theyr'e going by career.

Bill james catchers - campanella = 3, piazza =4, fisk = 6

[brett]

I wouldn't even rate Jordan as the best basketball player. I would have had both Chamberlain and Robertson ahead of him.

As far as best athlete, it depends on whether they meant the best individual athlete or most dominant athlete in their sport? They never made that clear, which may account for some of the wacky voting. Either way, it still wouldn't be Jordan. If they were going for best individual athlete it should have been Jim Thorpe. If they were going for most dominant than it should have easily been Gretzky.

The competition and depth was much deeper when Jordan played, and deeper still today. Chamberlain was going up against "top" centers who were about the same size as Jordan. Dolph Schayes was 6-7 195. Jordan was 6-6 210. Jordan lead his league in win shares in 9 straight seasons in which he began on the team's roster. He won 6 championships in leagues with an average of 250% as many teams as Russell had to beat to win 12 IOW his teams surpassed approximately 150 other teams in winning those championships, versus fewer than 100 teams that Russell's Celts surpassed in winning 12.

[dgarza]

I'm thinking that, because we don't see Ozzie Smith yet, means we WILL see him ranked higher....

Ozzie over Frank Thomas...

[chicagowhitesox1173]

I think the biggest head scratcher is Steve Carlton at 26.

Also when Nolan Ryan is ranked higer than Lefty Grove, Pedro Martinez and Warren Spahn you know your list is in trouble.

[SamtheBravesFan]

I think the biggest head scratcher is Steve Carlton at 26.

Also when Nolan Ryan is ranked higer than Lefty Grove, Pedro Martinez and Warren Spahn you know your list is in trouble.

I honestly thought Nolan Ryan would have been in the Top 25.

[chicagowhitesox1173]

I honestly thought Nolan Ryan would have been in the Top 25.

I thought for sure Koufax would make their top 25 too.

[chicagowhitesox1173]

These will more than likely be the remaining pitchers.
Cy Young
Walter Johnson
Roger Clemens
Greg Maddux
Tom Seaver
Randy Johnson

[PVNICK]

Brooks Robinson way too high. Nice to see Matthews get his due, Collins and Lajoie over Alomar (who was the ultimate ESPN highlight guy) and Kaline over Reggie.

[toomanyhatz]

Grove is the one that's waaaay too low for me. Ryan ahead of him? Are you kidding me? And as much as I love Koufax as a player, there's no way he dominated as much or as long as Grove, who should absolutely be the top lefty, no questions asked. Top 25 for sure, and maybe top 10.

Pleasantly surprised at how high they have Foxx, though. Probably deserves to be a touch higher, but ranked better than I expected.

[Bothrops Atrox]

Ozzie Smith has been a historians favorite for a long time. 1st ballot, 15 ASG appearances, top 5 on every subjective SS list ever made, etc.

And when you look at his 73 WAR (41st all time), traditional and sabermetric opinion seem to be lining up with Ozzie. not that I would have him that high, but traditional opinion and sabermetrics agree that his high placement is not among the most questionable on the list.

[BigRon]

Yikes!

Most egregious error so far? Probably Ryan, at 35- unless they really meant that he was number 35 on the pitchers' list! To be fair, Ryan's probably in the mid-high 20s for a pitcher, so....

Brooks Robinson 43- way too high- a fine player, but closer to 100 than 43.

Roberto Clemente 33- Clemente and Paul Waner were almost the same player- Waner's what- 92?

Carlton 26- he's probably around 15- 16 as a pitcher, so top 50's possible- but 26?

Banks is quite a bit too high at 51, Griffey Jr. seems too high at 34, but at least he's not miles out of line.

Alexander at 50? Absurd- he has a case as the greatest pitcher ever, and certainly is in the top 5. Shouldn't be below top 20 or so overall.