Greatest Player by Position: Thanks and Discussion Thread

[Tyrus4189Cobb]

Greatest Player by position 2012
Catchers-
1) Johnny Bench- 139 pts
2) Yogi Berra- 124 pts
3) Mike Piazza- 95 pts
4) Mickey Cochrane- 90 pts
5) Roy Campanella- 71 pts
6) Ivan Rodriguez- 68 pts
7) Gary Carter- 66 pts
8) Carlton Fisk- 56 pts
----Bill Dickey- 56 pts
10) Gabby Hartnett- 45 pts

First base-
1) Lou Gehrig- 150 pts
2) Jimmie Foxx- 132 pts
3) Albert Pujols- 116 pts
4) Jeff Bagwell- 88 pts
5) Johnny Mize- 69 pts
6) Hank Greenberg- 61 pts
7) Frank Thomas- 50 pts
8) Willie McCovey- 30 pts
9) Cap Anson- 29 pts
10) Dan Brouthers- 29 pts

Second base-
1) Rogers Hornsby- 139 pts
2) Eddie Collins- 120 pts
3) Joe Morgan- 110 pts
4) Nap Lajoie- 102 pts
5) Charlie Gehringer- 75 pts
6) Jackie Robinson- 73 pts
7) Rod Carew- 39 pts
8) Frankie Frisch- 34 pts
9) Roberto Alomar- 18 pts
10) Craig Biggio- 15 pts
-----Ryne Sandberg- 15 pts

Third base-
1) Mike Schmidt- 150 pts
2) Eddie Mathews- 132 pts
3) George Brett- 120 pts
4) Wade Boggs- 104 pts
5) Chipper Jones- 93 pts
6) Ron Santo- 69 pts
7) Brooks Robinson- 36 pts
8) Frank Baker- 34 pts
9) Paul Molitor- 28 pts
10) Scott Rolen- 18 pts

Shortstop-
1) Honus Wagner- 160 pts
2) Alex Rodriguez- 144 pts
3) Arky Vaughan- 117 pts
4) Cal Ripken- 113 pts
5) Robin Yount- 83 pts
6) Ernie Banks- 73 pts
7) George Davis- 44 pts
8) Derek Jeter- 42 pts
9) Joe Cronin- 32 pts
10) Barry Larkin- 31 pts

Left field
1) Ted Williams- 183 pts
2) Barry Bonds- 173 pts
3) Stan Musial- 153 pts
4) Rickey Henderson- 133 pts
5) Carl Yastrzemski- 108 pts
6) Ed Delahanty- 57 pts
7) Joe Jackson- 54 pts
8) Al Simmons- 47 pts
9) Pete Rose- 38 pts
10) Manny Ramirez- 31 pts

Center field
1) Willie Mays- 144 pts
2) Ty Cobb- 139 pts
3) Mickey Mantle- 115 pts
4) Tris Speaker- 107 pts
5) Joe DiMagio- 90 pts
6) Ken Griffey Jr.- 80 pts
7) Duke Snider- 53 pts
8) Billy Hamilton- 38 pts
9) Jim Edmonds- 36 pts
10) Richie Ashburn- 7 pts
----Kirby Puckett- 7 pts
Right Field
1. Babe Ruth- 180 pts
2. Hank Aaron- 162 pts
3. Frank Robinson- 141 pts
4. Mel Ott- 124 pts
5. Al Kaline- 81 pts
6. Roberto Clemente- 73 pts
7. Reggie Jackson- 66 pts
8. Sam Crawford- 37 pts
9. Tony Gwynn- 32 pts
10) Vladimir Guerrero- 23 pts

Staring pitchers-
1) Walter Johnson- 248 pts
2) Cy Young- 208 pts
3) Greg Maddux- 196 pts
4) Roger Clemens- 193 pts
5) Pete Alexander- 186 pts
6) Lefty Grove- 185 pts
7) Randy Johnson- 144 pts
8) Tom Seaver- 136 pts
9) Christy Mathewson- 129 pts
10) Warren Spahn- 94 pts
11) Pedro Martinez- 82 pts
12) Kid Nichols- 53 pts
13) Bb Gibson- 42 pts
14) Bob Feller- 41 pts
15) Steve Carlton- 30 pts

Relievers
1) Mariano Rivera- 129 pts
2) Hoyt Wilhelm- 104 pts
3) Goose Gossage- 82 pts
4) Dennis Eckersley- 81 pts
5) Trevor Hoffman- 68 pts
6) Billy Wagner- 53
7) Dan Quiz- 32 pts
8) Lee Smith- 29 pts
--Rollie Fingers- 29 pts
10) Bruce Sutter- 21 pts

[Tyrus4189Cobb]

First, a big thanks to everyone who voted, especially those who dragged themselves onto their computer for each round. I love doing this. I hate ending it because now I have to wait another year!

I keep my mouth shut for the duration of the voting. Feel free to discuss anything you like because I am.

First Base: Besides my surprise in Pujols, nothing here. Moving on.
Center field: Not too excited to see last place tied because of seven meager votes, especially since one is Ashburn. Great player, but I think there are others better
Right Field: Not too thrilled about Guerrero making it. He makes HoF for me, but it ends there.
Starting Pitcher: I wish I had seen more love for Carl Hubbell in the voting and Charlie Radbourn in the HMs.
Relievers: How boring are we that the first six are the exact order of last year? I also don't understand the infatuation with Eckersley. I've come to accept it.

[BigRon]

Good lists, Ty. We each have our opinions- that's why we have voters- but I won't quibble too strenuously with most placements. My biggest disagreements are with Anson and Brouthers at first base- not because they weren't great players- they clearly were- but because the game they played was SO different. I also don't see Vlad Guerrero as top 10 in RF, though he too was a great player.

Thanks for running the poll.

[CandlestickBum]

Relievers: How boring are we that the first six are the exact order of last year? I also don't understand the infatuation with Eckersley. I've come to accept it.

His peak, fairly unique delivery and that great shag/mullet.


Thank you for running this. Might even start participating next year now that I feel I won't embarrass myself, too badly.

[PVNICK]

Nice job. My quibbles such as they are: Ivan Rodriguez seems too high at C, Cronin instead of Trammell as SS, Manny @ LF: figuring in defense Raines, Fred Clarke, Stargell to name three might be better choices. Vlad instead of Waner in RF seems like the omissionest of the omissions. I too don't see it with Eck even though in 78-79 he was a big favorite of mine. In the end most of the polls look similalar to how I ranked them.

[Tyrus4189Cobb]

Overall I really like how the lists turned out. I can always count out on BBF to turn in some good ones. In celebration of our five year anniversary, I have some fast facts, too:

-Mike Schmidt and Lou Gehrig hold the record for most unanimous #1 votes picks (4 years in a row). Gehrig has accumulated more points over this time, though (630 pts/63 #1 votes vs. 650 pts/65 #1 picks).

-Willie Mays has the most points of anyone over the five years with 863

-Players who have never moved their positions (excluding #1 spot) are Jimmie Foxx, Eddie Collins, Hank Aaron (#2 slot); Mickey Mantle and Frank Robinson (#3 slot); Wade Boggs, Mel Ott, Tris Speaker (#4 slot); Carl Yastrzemski (#6 slot)

-Highest point total needed to crack top ten: 45 (Gabby Hartnett 2012). Lowest: 7 (Kirby Puckett and Richie Ashburn 2012)

-Players who only made it once: Harmon Killebrew (2009), Jud Wilson (2008)*, Dwight Evans (2011), Christobal Torriente (2009)*, Kirby Puckett (2012), Richie Ashburn (2012), Gary Sheffield (2009), Vlad Guerrero (2012)

Couldn't think of any more. The largest jumps/drops have been done by many players. If anyone ever wants results, just say the word. Give me credit!

[Bigfoot 88]

Thank you!

[chicagowhitesox1173]

Good lists, I was surprised Reggie Jackson got alot of votes though. I think I would rather have Vladimer Guerreo over him.

[fenrir]

I wish Mantle would have finished ahead of Mays and Cobb, though I recognize I'm in the minority with that opinion. Also wish Maddux would have at least finished #2 (wasn't he ranked #2 a few years ago?). I suspect Sheffield didn't crack the top ten RF due to the steroid issue, but me personally I would take him over Vlad and Gwynn any day.