Greatest Players Of All Time?

[TonyK]

Last week I listened to one talk show arguing who the greatest golfers of all time were, and another talk show arguing who the greatest basketball players of all time were. Even BBF has several Greatest (Fill In The Blank) of All Time polls running right now.

So who started all of this?

Was it Henry Chadwick? It couldn't have been during the 1870's as there were not enough players to compare yet. It had to begin during the 1880's and 1890's, and then by 1910, every famous player, manager, or official had their own greatest players of all time list. Today, it is an important topic on the Hotstove League Circuit and nearly every sport has books written about their top 100 players of All Time. People will even buy your book about who you think the greatest players of all time were. That's amazing.

Long ago in some saloon or cigar store or grandstand somewhere, a few guys sat down and began the first argument over who was the greatest 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, OF, P and C of All Time. Someone printed their list in the newspaper and the debate began.

Or was it one person's idea? Fans looked over the man's list and improved upon it with their own picks. Whoever it was sure created an endless topic that keeps fans occupied during the off seasons.

[TonyK]

Have I stumped the panel?

[SABR Steve]

Baseball has always had comparisons and assessments. The further one goes back the more difficult it is to be found.
I remember reading Billy Sunday's assessment of catchers in the early part of the 20th Century: Kling, Bresnahan, Archer, and Meyers.
Everyone has their all-star team, which is more appropriate than a 100 best.

[Pere]

The record of cumulative accomplishment derived from Chadwick's box scores just naturally suggests comparison between players and over time.