Best Baseball Player by Birth Year: 1854

[Cowtipper]

Here's a fun project idea I had - we are going to name the best baseball players by birth year. The rules are simple: Vote for who you believe to be the best player on the given list, with each player on that list sharing the same year of birth.

You are allowed to vote for a maximum of two players (because oftentimes it seems individuals prefer not to choose between batters and pitchers, rather choosing one of each).

A few of the early years are already taken care of for us, as there was only one person who played Major League Baseball born that year.

A couple notes about this project:

1) The lists are constructed using information from Baseball-Reference.com. They are rather arbitrarily made, however I think they will cover the top players from each year.

2) The lists will, at most, contain 20-25 names.

3) Only MLB players (including NA players) are being considered for this project. I am omitting Negro Leaguers, pre-Major Leaguers, Japanese guys etc. for the sake of ease.

4) Though I am including only major league players, for those who spent time playing in the pre-Major League era or the Negro Leagues (et cetera), you may take into consideration this peripheral playing experience. Weigh it as as you see fit.

5) The poll will stay open for one week.

Which of the following individuals was the best player? You may vote for up to two players.

Myron Allen
Charlie Bennett
Joe Borden
Jack Gleason
George Gore
Jumbo McGinnis
Blondie Purcell
Old Hoss Radbourn
Dave Rowe
Pop Snyder
Oscar Walker
Will White

Best players by birth year:

1831: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/berkena01.shtml"]Nate Berkenstock[/URL]
1832: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/carlle01.shtml"]Lew Carl[/URL]
1833: None
1834: None
1835: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/wrighha01.shtml"]Harry Wright[/URL]
1836: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pearcdi01.shtml"]Dickey Pearce[/URL]
1837: None
1838: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/birdsda01.shtml"]Dave Birdsall[/URL]
1839: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/barkeal01.shtml"]Al Barker[/URL]
1840: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/reachal01.shtml"]Al Reach[/URL]
1841: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/brainas01.shtml"]Asa Brainard[/URL]
1842: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/startjo01.shtml"]Joe Start[/URL]
1843: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/woodji01.shtml"]Jimmy Wood[/URL]
1844: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/z/zettlge01.shtml"]George Zettlein[/URL] (best batter: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cravebi01.shtml"]Craver[/URL]/[URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fislewe01.shtml"]Fisler[/URL])
1845: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pikeli01.shtml"]Lip Pike[/URL]
1846: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/leonaan01.shtml"]Andy Leonard[/URL]
1847: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/whitede01.shtml"]Deacon White[/URL]
1848: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cummica01.shtml"]Candy Cummings[/URL] (best batter: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bechtge01.shtml"]George Bechtel[/URL])
1849: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/suttoez01.shtml"]Ezra Sutton[/URL] (best pitcher: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/devliji01.shtml"]Jim Devlin[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?111884-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1850"]1850[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/o'rouji01.shtml"]Jim O'Rourke[/URL]/[URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/spaldal01.shtml"]Al Spalding[/URL]
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?111973-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1851"]1851[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mathebo01.shtml"]Bobby Mathews[/URL] (best batter: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/shaffor01.shtml"]Orator Schafer[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?112078-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1852"]1852[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/ansonca01.shtml"]Cap Anson[/URL] (best pitcher: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bradlge01.shtml"]George Bradley[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?112192-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1853"]1853[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mannija01.shtml"]Jack Manning[/URL]
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?112194-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1929"]1929[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/howarel01.shtml"]Elston Howard[/URL]/[URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/simmocu01.shtml"]Curt Simmons[/URL]
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?112079-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1930"]1930[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/pl/player_search.cgi?search=Harvey+Kuenn"]Harvey Kuenn[/URL] (best pitcher: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lawve01.shtml"]Vern Law[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?111974-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1931"]1931[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mayswi01.shtml"]Willie Mays[/URL] (best pitcher: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bunniji01.shtml"]Jim Bunning[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?111885-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1932"]1932[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/willsma01.shtml"]Maury Wills[/URL] (best pitcher: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/podrejo01.shtml"]Johnny Podres[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?111568-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1933"]1933[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/colavro01.shtml"]Rocky Colavito[/URL] (best pitcher: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/o'delbi01.shtml"]Billy O'Dell[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?111475-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1934"]1934[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/aaronha01.shtml"]Hank Aaron[/URL] (best pitcher: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pascuca02.shtml"]Camilo Pascual[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?111351-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1935"]1935[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/robinfr02.shtml"]Frank Robinson[/URL] (best pitcher: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gibsobo01.shtml"]Gibson[/URL]/[URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/koufasa01.shtml"]Koufax[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?111224-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1936"]1936[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/killeha01.shtml"]Harmon Killebrew[/URL] (best pitcher: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/drysddo01.shtml"]Don Drysdale[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?111134-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1937"]1937[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/maricju01.shtml"]Juan Marichal[/URL]/[URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/robinbr01.shtml"]Brooks Robinson[/URL]
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?110934-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1938"]1938[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mccovwi01.shtml"]Willie McCovey[/URL]/[URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/perryga01.shtml"]Gaylord Perry[/URL]
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?110695-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1939"]1939[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/y/yastrca01.shtml"]Carl Yastrzemski[/URL] (best pitcher: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/niekrph01.shtml"]Phil Niekro[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?110421-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1940"]1940[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/stargwi01.shtml"]Willie Stargell[/URL] (best pitcher: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tiantlu01.shtml"]Luis Tiant[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?110027-Best-Player-by-Birth-Year-1941"]1941[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rosepe01.shtml"]Pete Rose[/URL] (best pitcher: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/woodwi01.shtml"]Wilbur Wood[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?109867-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1942"]1942[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jenkife01.shtml"]Fergie Jenkins[/URL] (best batter: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/allendi01.shtml"]Dick Allen[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?109748-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1943"]1943[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/morgajo02.shtml"]Joe Morgan[/URL] (best pitcher: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnto01.shtml"]Tommy John[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?109644-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1944"]1944[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/seaveto01.shtml"]Tom Seaver[/URL] (best batter: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/nettlgr01.shtml"]Nettles[/URL]/[URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/staubru01.shtml"]Staub[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?109523-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1945"]1945[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/carewro01.shtml"]Rod Carew[/URL] (best pitcher: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/palmeji01.shtml"]Jim Palmer[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?109337-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1946"]1946[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jacksre01.shtml"]Reggie Jackson[/URL] (best pitcher: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hunteca01.shtml"]Catfish Hunter[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?109207-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1947"]1947[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/benchjo01.shtml"]Johnny Bench[/URL] (best pitcher: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/ryanno01.shtml"]Nolan Ryan[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?109067-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1948"]1948[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/garvest01.shtml"]Steve Garvey[/URL] (best pitcher: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/houghch01.shtml"]Hough[/URL]/[URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/nolanga01.shtml"]Nolan[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?108888-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1949"]1949[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/schmimi01.shtml"]Mike Schmidt[/URL] (best pitcher: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/reuscri01.shtml"]Rick Reuschel[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?108751-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1950"]1950[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/guidrro01.shtml"]Ron Guidry[/URL] (best batter: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/downibr01.shtml"]Brian Downing[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?108541-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1951"]1951[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/winfida01.shtml"]Dave Winfield[/URL] (best pitcher: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/blylebe01.shtml"]Bert Blyleven[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?108385-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1952"]1952[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lynnfr01.shtml"]Fred Lynn[/URL] (best pitcher: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dennyjo01.shtml"]John Denny[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?108282-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1953"]1953[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/brettge01.shtml"]George Brett[/URL] (best pitcher: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/suttebr01.shtml"]Bruce Sutter[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?108052-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1954"]1954[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cartega01.shtml"]Gary Carter[/URL] (best pitcher: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/eckerde01.shtml"]Dennis Eckersley[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?107962-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1955"]1955[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/y/yountro01.shtml"]Robin Yount[/URL] (best pitcher: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/morrija02.shtml"]Jack Morris[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?107816-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1956"]1956[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/murraed02.shtml"]Eddie Murray[/URL] (best pitcher: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/welchbo01.shtml"]Bob Welch[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?107702-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1957"]1957[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/whitalo01.shtml"]Lou Whitaker[/URL] (best pitcher: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/stiebda01.shtml"]Dave Stieb[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?107622-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1958"]1958[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/henderi01.shtml"]Rickey Henderson[/URL] (best pitcher: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hershor01.shtml"]Orel Hershiser[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?107528-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1959"]1959[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/raineti01.shtml"]Tim Raines[/URL] (best pitcher: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/burnsbr01.shtml"]Burns[/URL]/[URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mooremi01.shtml"]Moore[/URL]/[URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/worreto01.shtml"]Worrell[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?107461-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1960"]1960[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/ripkeca01.shtml"]Cal Ripken, Jr.[/URL] (best pitcher: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/valenfe01.shtml"]Valenzuela[/URL]/[URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/violafr01.shtml"]Viola[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?107383-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1961"]1961[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mattido01.shtml"]Don Mattingly[/URL] (best pitcher: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/keyji01.shtml"]Jimmy Key[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?107300-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1962"]1962[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/clemero02.shtml"]Roger Clemens[/URL] (best batter: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/strawda01.shtml"]Darryl Strawberry[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?107226-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1963"]1963[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnsra05.shtml"]Randy Johnson[/URL] (best batter: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/martied01.shtml"]Martinez[/URL]/[URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mcgwima01.shtml"]McGwire[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?107148-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1964"]1964[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bondsba01.shtml"]Barry Bonds[/URL] (best pitcher: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/goodedw01.shtml"]Gooden[/URL]/[URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/saberbr01.shtml"]Saberhagen[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?107068-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1965"]1965[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/biggicr01.shtml"]Craig Biggio[/URL] (best pitcher: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/brownke01.shtml"]Kevin Brown[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?106994-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1966"]1966[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/maddugr01.shtml"]Greg Maddux[/URL] (best batter: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/walkela01.shtml"]Larry Walker[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?106917-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1967"]1967[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/smoltjo01.shtml"]John Smoltz[/URL] (best batter: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/loftoke01.shtml"]Kenny Lofton[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?108977-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1968"]1968[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/thomafr04.shtml"]Frank Thomas[/URL] (best pitcher: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mussimi01.shtml"]Mike Mussina[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?111672-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1969"]1969[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/griffke02.shtml"]Ken Griffey, Jr.[/URL] (best pitcher: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/riverma01.shtml"]Mariano Rivera[/URL])
[URL="http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?111777-Best-Baseball-Player-by-Birth-Year-1970"]1970[/URL]: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/thomeji01.shtml"]Jim Thome[/URL] (best pitcher: [URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/averyst01.shtml"]Avery[/URL]/[URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/liebejo01.shtml"]Lieber[/URL]/[URL="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/seleaa01.shtml"]Sele[/URL])

[Cowtipper]

I went with Old Hoss Radbourn, who is worlds better than anyone else on the list. If I didn't commit myself to voting for one batter and one pitcher in these polls, I would have seriously considered giving my second vote to Deacon White's talented brother, Will. In just ten seasons, he won 229 games, posted a 2.28 ERA and completed 394 of the 401 games he started. With neutralized statistics, his record balloons to 666-134 with a 1.78 ERA!

Since I do oblige myself to vote for one batter, however, I went with George Gore, though I gave Charlie Bennett serious consideration as well.

[Cowtipper]

Just a couple days left.

[chicagowhitesox1173]

Hoss Radbourne, maybe Goerge Gore as 2nd.