My One-Man Team

[Jackaroo Dave]

If you could choose one player and clone him as many times as needed to play all the positions, from DH to closer, who would you choose?

I think I'd pick Buck Ewing, who actually did it, pitching a creditable 47 innings with 3.45 ERA. His arm was very good, and he actually played a lot of third base and a handful of games at the other positions.

[chicagowhitesox1173]

I would have to go with Babe Ruth.

[ol' aches and pains]

I would have to go with Babe Ruth.

We have a winner. That was a quick thread.

[Jackaroo Dave]

We have a winner. That was a quick thread.

OK, if you want a left handed catcher and infielders. It's not really baseball, though.

[pheasant]

Honus Wagner was extremely versatile and he had a rocket arm. He would be a decent choice.

[ol' aches and pains]

OK, if you want a left handed catcher and infielders. It's not really baseball, though.

Not to mention he's dead, if you want to get all literal about it.

[Tyrus4189Cobb]

Ewing, Ruth, and Wagner are all fine choices. It really boils down to the most versatile guys, the most qualified being pre-1920s before specialization. There's also Pete Rose, though he never caught and can't pitch. Harmon Killebrew played several spots, but would do poorly at speed positions. Bill Hall could do anything, wasn't a bad pitcher, but was a poor hitter.

Monte Ward played all over, as did his contemporary Bob Caruthers. Their short stature may make them poor first basemen and catchers, though. Christy Mathewson was very athletic, often left in by McGraw to hit.

My choice is either Buck Ewing or (surprisingly) Bob Gibson. Polishing his already decent hitting creates a stellar player already able to pitch and field. As a three-sport college varsity athlete with fielding skills on the mound, I'm sure learning the ropes of other positions wouldn't prove too difficult

[Jackaroo Dave]

Ewing, Ruth, and Wagner are all fine choices. It really boils down to the most versatile guys, the most qualified being pre-1920s before specialization. There's also Pete Rose, though he never caught and can't pitch. Harmon Killebrew played several spots, but would do poorly at speed positions. Bill Hall could do anything, wasn't a bad pitcher, but was a poor hitter.

Monte Ward played all over, as did his contemporary Bob Caruthers. Their short stature may make them poor first basemen and catchers, though. Christy Mathewson was very athletic, often left in by McGraw to hit.

My choice is either Buck Ewing or (surprisingly) Bob Gibson. Polishing his already decent hitting creates a stellar player already able to pitch and field. As a three-sport college varsity athlete with fielding skills on the mound, I'm sure learning the ropes of other positions wouldn't prove too difficult

Actually, I thought of Gibson, too, for the reasons you mentioned. Ward and Carruthers are really good choices. I think Dave Foutz would be another on those lines. At 6'1" he'd be a good target at first, but I don't know about catching. Well, Connie Mack caught.

[VIBaseball]

Martín Dihigo is also highly qualified.

[Ben Grimm]

Anybody remember stories of that Toe Nash kid a decade or so ago? IIRC, he supposedly pitched in the 90s and launched balls out of the park from both sides. Not sure what became of him, but there was a lot of hype about him at the time.

[Nimrod]

Jimmie Foxx

[pheasant]

Walter Johnson was a decent hitter and a strikeout artist. He would be a good choice.

[GiambiJuice]

Babe Ruth has to be number one, considering his dominant hitting and pitching. I'd be willing to put up with poor defense in the infield.

[pheasant]

Bert Campaneris was very versatile defensively. However, Giambi has a very valid point. How would any team beat a team with a 130 ERA+ and a 200 OPS+? That's a scary thought. I'd take my chances with the terrible fielding up the middle.

[bluesky5]

Smoky Joe Wood

Josh Hamilton was a pitching prospect. But LH.