All-Time All-Era Team

[AstrosFan]

Inspired by this classic post from Metal Ed, I would like to see everyone's all-time team of players who could be successful in any era, dating back even to 19th century baseball. Fill out every position as best you can. If you want, you can expand the lineup to a full team roster.

[Tyrus4189Cobb]

Well, "successful in any era" stipulates the challenge of roster size, relief pitching, and DH. If we're going back to 19th century ball, I need some guys who can play barehanded, right?

Considering all this, I present to you my All-Era Team, Mr. AstrosFan.

1. Billy Hamilton (LHB)- a five-tool OFer who can deal with rough play up to and including 20th century. He goes in left.
2. Ty Cobb (LHB)- see above, but I would put him in right field
3. Willie Mays (RHB)- Can execute everything flawlessly; adapts to all eras. Plays in center.
4. Lou Gehrig (LHB)- Quintessential RBI man
5. Alex Rodriguez (RHB)- adds modern five-tool playing. He plays third.
6. Honus Wagner (RHB)- premier shortstop and versatile infielder
7. Joe Morgan (LHB)- sets stage to be scored by Bench. More pop than Collins and better fielding/baserunning than Hornsby
8. Johnny Bench (RHB)- Thrived in pitcher-favoring eras
9. (pitcher)

OF: Babe Ruth (LHB)- Greatest slugger who would play DH or the field depending on what's going on. Can dominate post-deadball era.
C: Buck Ewing (LHB)- Barehanded, gritty catcher if needed. Otherwise, still a great player
1B: Albert Pujols (RHB)- more modern offense
2B/SS: Rogers Hornsby (RHB)- another possible DH
UTIL: Pete Rose (SHB)- switch hitter who can play virtually all positions

SP: Walter Johnson (RHP)- Dominates pre-1920 and can become effective for afterward generations
SP: Greg Maddux (RHP)- baseball smarts are great regardless of era
SP: Charlie Radbourn (RHP)- another tactful pitcher who's workhorse ethic suffices in all eras
SP: Pedro Martinez (RHP)- If he can dominate PED baseball, he can dominate all
SP: Randy Johnson (LHP)- overpowering lefty who did well in offensive eras

RP: Hoyt Wilhelm (RHP)- spot starter and durable reliever
RP: Sandy Koufax (LHP)- Useful in pitcher eras and can learn more junk to fool guys
RP: Dan Quisenberry (RHP)- Again, smarts aren't era dependent
RP: Billy Wagner (LHP)- Adds more south-paw to pitching and can be closer
RP: Mariano Rivera (RHP)- Living legend

The pitching picks come with the premise that they can use their pitches regardless of the actual baseball being used. Could Rivera throw a cutter with a dirtied, 1906 baseball? Otherwise, I'd have to rethink it.

[Biofury]

Ok, I'll play

RF) B. Ruth / Most obvious "duh" pick. Don't forget, he's an effective pitcher too.
CF) W. Mays / Best centerfielder ever. Even though the stats dont show it, Mays would be a serious SB compiler too.
LF) O. Charleston / Best player in the negro leagues, another 5-tool Willie Mays type. I'd move him to LF in this case.
3B) M. Schmidt / Power and glove.
SS) H. Wagner / There really isnt a better shortstop, unless you must have your HR counts.
2B) E. Collins / Very good at everything, hitting, fielding and running, except hit homers. J. Morgan just missed.
1B) L. Gehrig / another "duh" pick.
C) J. Gibson / second greatest hitter of the negro leagues and plays catcher. However, I like Bench or Mackey here too.

Bench:
T. Williams
T. Cobb
R. Henderson / The Ricky says, the "Rickey must play and reset the steals record during the deadball"

Starters
R. Johnson / A 6'10" pitcher who throws fastball strikes consistantly can dominant in any era.
L Grove / Dominant pitcher during one of the most offensive eras of baseball.
C Young / No explanation needed.
W Johnson / Another "duh" pick.

Bullpen
S. Koufax / your team's pretty good if Sandy is in the pen
R. Gossage
M. Rivera
D. Eck.

[pheasant]

Ruth-rf
Cobb-cf
Bonds-lf
Gehrig-1b
Jackie Robinson-2b
Wagner-ss
Schmidt-3b
Bench-catcher

Pete Alexander, Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, and Christy Mathewson would be my starters; and in that order. Similarly, Mo Rivera and W Johnson would be my relievers.

[pheasant]

Ruth-rf
Cobb-cf
Bonds-lf
Gehrig-1b
Jackie Robinson-2b
Wagner-ss
Schmidt-3b
Bench-catcher

Pete Alexander, Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, and Christy Mathewson would be my starters; and in that order. Similarly, Mo Rivera and W Johnson would be my relievers.

[pheasant]

Ruth-rf
Cobb-cf
Bonds-lf
Gehrig-1b
Jackie Robinson-2b
Wagner-ss
Schmidt-3b
Bench-catcher

Pete Alexander, Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, and Christy Mathewson would be my starters; and in that order. Similarly, Mo Rivera and W Johnson would be my relievers.

The Deadball era bumped out Ted Williams and Rogers Hirnsby

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Ruth-rf
Cobb-cf
Bonds-lf
Gehrig-1b
Jackie Robinson-2b
Wagner-ss
Schmidt-3b
Bench-catcher

Pete Alexander, Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, and Christy Mathewson would be my starters; and in that order. Similarly, Mo Rivera and W Johnson would be my relievers.

Wow, a "perfect" team other than I would replace Cobb in CF with Willie Mays.

[AstrosFan]

I would like to see people's reasons for their choices. People can just list pitchers, rather than dividing them into starters and relievers, if they so choose. I was just considering starters when I started the thread. But people can include relievers if they want.

[Tyrus4189Cobb]

Given the rules, I didn't simply heap together the greatest at each position. I constructed a team that I believe could survive in each era. Otherwise, I would've included greats like Cy Young, Lefty Grove, Tris Speaker, Eddie Collins, Mike Schmidt, Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, etc.

[pheasant]

Wow, a "perfect" team other than I would replace Cobb in CF with Willie Mays.

That's ironic, especially since the toughest decision for me was centerfield. Willie almost got my vote. He would have been very valuable in the Dead Ball era as well. Cobb and Willie to me is pretty much a coin flip

[pheasant]

I would like to see people's reasons for their choices. People can just list pitchers, rather than dividing them into starters and relievers, if they so choose. I was just considering starters when I started the thread. But people can include relievers if they want.

I went with mostly 5 tool players because of the Dead Ball era. Thus, Teddie and Hornsby got dumped. Also, my picks represent all of the eras for the most part. The Big Train got moved to the bullpen due to his lack of a versatile repertoire. However, his 100 mph fastball with pin-point control coming from a wicked sidearm delivery would be awesome for the bullpen.

[Bigfoot 88]

C-Johnny Bench: His defensive ability will translate into any era, plus he had great power for a catcher.

1B-Jimmie Foxx: His strong build translates into a power first baseman in any era.

2B-Rod Carew: His averages translate into any era, especially the dead ball period.

3B-George Brett: His average and ability to hit the ball in the gabs is essential for the deadball era. Good speed and defense as well.

SS-Honus Wagner: I see his triples translating into homers in the modern era, and his speed makes him a prototypical shortstop in any period.

LF-Ted Williams: Anybody that dedicated to hitting is bound to succeed in any situation.

CF-Willie Mays: THE 5-tool player.

RF-Babe Ruth: His strength assures that at worst he is a Jim Thome type of player in the modern era. That's a pretty high floor, I'll take it.

SP-Randy Johnson: A 6-10 power pitcher would have his dominance amplified with a higher mound.

SP-Greg Maddux: Intelligence transcends eras.

SP-Walter Johnson: His rubber arm makes him a Nolan Ryan type pitcher at worst.

SP-Pete Alexander: Like Maddux, very smart and he proved he could transition.

SP-Lefty Grove: Power fastball and sharp curve works in any era.

SP-Roger Clemens: I believe he could step in Walter's place and things would be pretty similar.