Derek Jeter vs Ernie Banks

[Sean Ryan]

Who do you take and why?

[NJMetfan4life]

Banks. HOF better player IMO. bonus, al sharpton wont accuse me of being racist.

[Sean Ryan]

Banks. HOF better player IMO. bonus, al sharpton wont accuse me of being racist.

Derek Jeter is a Hall of Famer, most likely first ballot.

[Imgran]

Banks. Hard to argue with 500 HR's from the shortstop position.

I also pick Banks because he had the grace to... get this... move from the shortstop position when his glove became a liability and his team had just acquired a better shortstop. -- even though Andre Rodgers wasn't exactly an A-Rod (or... wait... he is... but you know what I mean...).

[VIBaseball]

Banks. Hard to argue with 500 HR's from the shortstop position.

I also pick Banks because he had the grace to... get this... move from the shortstop position when his glove became a liability and his team had just acquired a better shortstop. -- even though Andre Rodgers wasn't exactly an A-Rod (or... wait... he is... but you know what I mean...).

Well, 296 anyway before he moved in '62. I read another account that said leg injuries caused the move to 1B. It's also interesting to see that Andre Rodgers was the Cubs' backup first baseman in 1961. I think I'll look back at the stories of the day to see what was said then.

[ElHalo]

Banks. HOF better player IMO. bonus, al sharpton wont accuse me of being racist.

Jeter's a HoF'er too, and is also black, so that comment is somewhat inexplicable.

I go with Jeter (although it might be homerism because I normally go with peak over career); Jeter's already played 600 more games at SS than Banks... and that was really all Banks had. He was a pretty lousy 1Bman; his highest WARP3 at 1B was 6.1 followed by a 5.2; Jeter's done better than that every single year of his career except his injury year. Jeter has been a pretty lousy fielder much of the time, although he's gotten significantly better as he's moved into his 30's, but he's been able to maintain high offensive output much better than Banks did. Banks was never able to put up an EQA of even .290 after age 29; Jeter's been over .300 each of his last three years. Banks aged badly; Jeter's been able to avoid that so far, and there are no indications that he's falling off a cliff any time soon.

[Westlake]

I'll take Banks for now. I think they're both overrated. However, Jeter still has a long way to go and will climb up the ladder past many good SS before he is done.

[Urbanshocker13]

Jeter's a HoF'er too, and is also black, so that comment is somewhat inexplicable.

I go with Jeter (although it might be homerism because I normally go with peak over career); Jeter's already played 600 more games at SS than Banks... and that was really all Banks had. He was a pretty lousy 1Bman; his highest WARP3 at 1B was 6.1 followed by a 5.2; Jeter's done better than that every single year of his career except his injury year. Jeter has been a pretty lousy fielder much of the time, although he's gotten significantly better as he's moved into his 30's, but he's been able to maintain high offensive output much better than Banks did. Banks was never able to put up an EQA of even .290 after age 29; Jeter's been over .300 each of his last three years. Banks aged badly; Jeter's been able to avoid that so far, and there are no indications that he's falling off a cliff any time soon.

Jeter is half black half Irish, but yes that comment is somewhat inexplicable. (Just had to point out that Jeter is Irish!)

I went with Banks, mostly on the 500 HRs. It's kind of hard to compare them. Banks was a homerun hitter, wasn't known for his speed and played most of his games at first. They actually curently have the same exact OPS+ 122. Jeter is more of an BA hitter, his speed is more of a factor, I'lll say that Jeter is better at defence. His Defence isn't great and overrated but he is better then Banks, especially because Banks spent more time a first then short and wasn't that great at first, I understand that was paet due to injury. Jeter is a Hall of Famer probally first round especially if he gets 3000+ hits which I think he will. They are both great players and Legitimate HOFers. Their comparisons is bit strange to me, besides Banks playing at short for part of his playing days I see them as differents type players.

[KCGHOST]

I was surprised to see that Banks led Jeter in career win shares and WARP3. Considering that they have the same OPS+ one has to wonder if my gut reaction of Jeter being better is right. Granted Banks played seven more seasons than Jeter has.

[hellborn]

If I wanted a player for one year and could choose from either one in his prime, I'd go with Banks. He peaked early, but was really good at that peak and could probably handle SS about as well as Jeter. It's not a slam dunk...Jeter's '99 was pretty awesome. Banks sustained that level over three years, though.
For a career, I'd go with Jeter, because he's still an excellent player while Banks' later years were mostly just average. Banks is kind of like the '50s-'60s version of Nomah.

[Imgran]

Nomar Garciaparra could have wet dreams about being anywhere near as good as Ernie Banks. He was really special in his day but Nomar's prime was cut short by a string of nasty injuries that chased him out of shortstop and he never quite regained his swagger offensively.

[Westlake]

Nomar Garciaparra could have wet dreams about being anywhere near as good as Ernie Banks. He was really special in his day but Nomar's prime was cut short by a string of nasty injuries that chased him out of shortstop and he never quite regained his swagger offensively.

What exactly are you talking about? At his best, he WAS as good as Ernie Banks. Having your prime cut short doesn't mean you weren't as good as someone, just that you got unlucky and were hurt all the time.

Or do you really overrate Banks that much? First you said he hit 500 HR from the SS position, which is very false, and now this. He was great for about 7 years. That's it. After that he was an average to below average first baseman.

[philkid3]

Banks. Jeter has an outside but still realistic shot at passing him for me, but it's Banks.

Also, as someone pointed out, he should get hella points in this comparison for moving to first to make room for a better fielder while Jeter stubbornly dug in his heels and forced a much better fielder to change positions for him.

Banks. HOF better player IMO. bonus, al sharpton wont accuse me of being racist.

Jim Bottomley > Ron Santo?

[Disgruntaledmarinerfan]

As of now, I consider Banks the better player of the two.

I'm fairly sure though, by the time Jeter retires, I will have Jeter ahead of Banks.

[dabigyankeeman]

Derek Jeter because he is so much younger than Banks.