Mainstream All-Time Teams

[Bill Burgess]

I'd like to do a little experiment here. If, one wanted to choose their all time teams, A & B, on Fever, and draw as little fire as possible, who should they choose?

Remember, if one were averse to criticism, and wanted to play it dead safe, be conservative, risk-free as possible, no daring choices, what would their A & B teams look like?

Here's who I think I'd select.

-------A----------------------B
1B---Gehrig-----------------Foxx
2B---Hornsby---------------Collins
SS--Wagner----------------J.Lloyd
3B--Schmidt----------------A-Rod
LF--Cobb------------------Mantle
CF--Mays-----------------Speaker
RF--Ruth------------------Aaron
1C--Bench-----------------J.Gibson
2C--Berra-----------------Cochrane
DH--T. Williams------------B.Bonds
P---W. Johnson------------G. Maddux
P---C. Mathewson---------B. Feller
P---G. Alexander-----------S. Koufax
P---L. Grove---------------C. Young
LR---W. Spahn-------------B. Gibson
LR---R. Clemens------------J. Marichal
SR---R. Johnson------------M. Brown
CL---P. Martinez-----------S. Paige

Man. J. McGraw------------C. Mack
Ass. J. McCarthy-----------C. Stengel

I'd like to see if there are many who feel that there are even more mainstream selections to be had. This is just an experiment.

*LR=long relief, SR=short relef, CL=closer

Bill Burgess

[BoSox Rule]

Can I just ask why the worst (not really a bad thing) of our generation's HOF locks is the only one starting?

[nightal]

Bill,

Other than Cobb being on the first team, I have no real problem with it.

[nightal]

Hope I gotcha bud.

No, my only real problem is Pedro over Bob Gibson---Remember, we are trying to win and "Bob Gibson" would.................


Now, get Joe DiMaggio the hell off and put in Tris Speaker.

[Bill Burgess]

Al,

No, my only real problem is Pedro over Bob Gibson---Remember, we are trying to win and "Bob Gibson" would.................

Now, get Joe DiMaggio the hell off and put in Tris Speaker and remove Campanella and put Yogi on the "B" team.

You DID "Get me"! Do you think that Gibbie would be the more conservative "safe" choice today? Would you stick Pedro back on the B squad? Who would replace Bob on the B's?

If we replace Joe with Tris, and Roy with Yogi, does Roy go onto the B team?

I had thought that today's folks would not have heard of Tris, so I was trying to think outside my own thoughts.

Beantown Guy:
You must be meaning Roger Clemens? So what would your most conservative, safe choices be? Who goes home and who comes in? Give me your best shots.

Bill Burgess

[nightal]

I think it is becoming the norm to discover the greatness of Tris Speaker. Never before, have I heard such a change of heart over discovering what a great player he was by as many people. (young and old).
On the flip side, DiMaggio's reputation has, and is, suffering more each day as people realize, while he was a great player, he was by no means as "perfect" as oldtime sportswriters have led us to believe. And by this I mean both on and off the field. I believe Speaker was his superior both at the plate and in center field.
As far as Gibson over Martinez: Move Pedro to the "B" team and Bob to the "A".
Forget my "since removed" comments on the catchers, I didn't see Berra was already on the first team.

And as far as petty stuff from anyone: I'll quote DeNiro in The Deer Hunter---"This is This"
These are the best at each position, like it or not.

[eephus75]

Ozzie Smith might be thought of more than A-Rod at short.

[BoSox Rule]

Beantown Guy:
You must be meaning Roger Clemens? So what would your most conservative, safe choices be? Who goes home and who comes in? Give me your best shots.

I think I was wrong. I realize Maddux is a starter on the B team. I was going to say Pedro, Roger, and Randy are better than him but Maddux is the only starting, but he's only on the second team.

[nightal]

Ozzie Smith might be thought of more than A-Rod at short.

No, lad. From a Cardinal fan since 1966. I can name around 4 shortstops better than the Oz for this team.

1.Arky Vaughan
2.Ernie Banks
3.Robin Yount
4.Barry Larkin

Rest assured, A-Rod is the proper choice for the "B" team.

[eephus75]

Nightal,
I had started to get cocky and was going to post "close to a dozen better choices off the top of my head" but didn't want to get Bill started...

Ozzie Smith
Alan Trammell
Dave Concepcion
Luis Aparicio
Cal Ripken, Jr
Ernie Banks
Barry Larkin
Pee Wee Reese
Arky Vaughn
Luke Appling
Roy McMillan

[Bill Burgess]

eephus75,

Good, good brother. I won't start. It's Christmas. Say what thou wilt. No starting on Christmas.

Bill the gentle

[RuthMayBond]

P---S. Koufax

if you want to completely discount the first part of his career, his home park, the high mound ...

[nightal]

if you want to completely discount the first part of his career, his home park, the high mound ...

Remember: "This is This"

You cannot put a better team out there, sorry

[Bill Burgess]

Good, good brother Jeff,

This time out, I'm trying to think like a generic fan. The most dominant pitchers of the last 60 yrs. were Feller, Koufax, Ryan, Clemens, Johnson. I'm trying to "see" out of different eyes.

So, if my mainstream selections don't seem so "mainstream" to you, you must make suggestions, and try to keep them risk-free and above criticism.

And so, your well-chosen selections are . . .?

Bill Burgess

[eephus75]

Bill,
Please. There are no generic fans. We all love the game in our own way, and embrace its players for different reasons.

And thank you for your Christmas kindness.