Baseball's Best List

Me and a buddy of mine were talking about the greatest baseball players of all time and it got me to thinking...how about the best starting lineup? Doin' it...

Batting first, Second Baseman, Pete Rose: The man had a .303 career batting average and has the third longest hitting streak behind DiMaggio and Willie Keeler (who played in the 19th century). He had longevity playing from 1963-86 for only three different teams, was a 17 time all star and has three World Series rings. Also, how does 4,256 sound? Yeah that's career hits and through his 24 year career that's about 185 hits a year. He had 200+ hits ten times and in 1973 had 230 hits. I know his primary position was in the outfield, but there are too many great outfielders and Rose is not able to be left off this list. Scandals aside the man is a perfect lead off man and can get the job done.

Batting second, Center Fielder, Joe DiMaggio: His 56 game hitting streak has not been touched since 1978 when Rose hit 44. He is a monster in on base percentage (.398) and has power (361 career HRs, 1537 RBIs). Had a .325 batting average through 13 seasons and missed three years because he fought in WWII. Can you say bad-ass? This guy came back from "The Great War" to help his fellow Yankees win four World Series in six years ('47, '49 '50 '51). Dominance in its truest form...not to mention the man married Marilyn Monroe, PIMP.

Batting third, Right Fielder, George Herman "Babe" Ruth: The number three man is always the best hitter on the team. Some would argue to put the Babe in clean up but I beg to differ. Having Ruth bat third forces pitchers to pitch to him when you have the next man in the lineup, and with his un-juiced 714 homers, he is a big stick. With Rose and DiMaggio, one is bound to be on base when it's time for Ruth to bat. So with his career .342 average and 2217 RBIs, you are nearly guaranteed runs in the first inning. Not to mention that if your pitcher goes down and you desperately need someone you can call on The Babe. He pitched in 163 games with a 2.28 ERA and 488 strikeouts. All around best player on the team.

Batting fourth, Left Fielder, Ted Williams: The man is arguable the best hitter of all time. While he may not have had the streak of DiMaggio or the jacks of Ruth, he was simply put the most clutch hitter of all time. Was "robbed" of the MVP in 1941 by Joe DiMaggio, the year he hit .400 (finished at .406 for best single season batting average of all time). Through 19 seasons he hit .344 and also, like other men of his time, went to WWII. All jokes aside, no baseball player now would enlist into an armed force to defend our country. Derek Jeter may be a great ball player but he is definitely a pretty boy as compared to each of the men on this list. But anyway, Williams would be the best cleanup man to, like I mentioned in Ruth's description, to force opposing teams to pitch to the men ahead of him. Managers would have a difficult time deciding whether to pitch or intentionally walk any of these guys.

Batting fifth, First Baseman, Mickey Mantle: Entering the league as a Yankee in 1951, to help ease the pain of the retirement of Joe DiMaggio, Mantle was an immediate success in the MLB. With a career batting average of .298 and 536 HRs, force pitchers to pitch to the likes of Williams and Ruth. Plus no matter who is on the mound, he is powerful from both sides of the plate recording 372 HRs from the left and 164 from the right. 10 times in his career he hit home runs from both sides of the plate in the same game. Moonshots...

Batting sixth, Shortstop, Cal Ripken Jr.: The Iron Man of the MLB, Ripken played in 2,632 straight games, not to mention his production. Traditionally, up to this point, shortstops were not powerful and they were more agile to play their positions. Ripken was among the first to bring in the age of power. He had 3,184 hits and 431 HRs all with the Baltimore Orioles. In 2,302 games at shortstop, Ripken had 225 errors resulting in .1 errors per game. Not only would he provide a clutch bat in the lineup but not much would get by the man. Solid on all fronts.

Batting seventh, Third Baseman, Michael Jack Schmidt: Not only did the man help bring one of two World Championships to Philadelphia, but he is the only Phillies Hall of Famers to play his entire career with the Phightin’ Phils. Ok, let me put my Philly pride aside for a second…World F***king Champions!!! Alright now that that’s out of my system, Schmidt batted .267 with 548 homeruns through 18 seasons. His career 1,595 RBIs are tied for 32 all-time. With his 548 homeruns he ranks 13. He had 10 gold gloves in his career and can is definitely the best third baseman of all time.

Batting eight, Catcher, Johnny Bench: Not only did he retire with more homeruns than any other catcher (389) but he was also known as one of the best defensive catchers of the time. He won 10 gold gloves during his illustrious 17 year career and helped the Reds win back to back World Series' (1975 & 1976). And with the Starting Pitcher I have lined up, Bench is the only one that could command his stuff. Bench was a first ballot Hall of Famer and was nearly error-proof (.05 per game). During the post season, had 10 homeruns (five total in his four World Series appearances) and a post season batting average of .266. In the 1976 World Series however, Bench went 8 for 15 with two homers. Captain Clutch.

Batting ninth, Pitcher, Satchel Paige: I am going by National League rules so Paige must bat. Who cares though because no one is going to hit off of him. His birthday is not specified but it is argued that he took the mound for the last time at age 60 (3 shutout innings for the Kansas City Athletics)...wow. He had longevity and his stats do not give him enough credit. He only played professional baseball for six years but was in the negro leagues for much longer. He began in the Negro Leagues in 1926. That is 34 years of highly competitive baseball. In the Negro Leagues, Paige is said to have had a season best 31-4 record, a stretch of 21 straight wins and 64 consecutive scoreless innings. Joe DiMaggio said Paige was "the best he had ever faced." To think the way baseball history could have been changed if this Negro Leaguer would have played his entire career in the majors.



So this is my all-time starting lineup. I want to make a starting rotation for pitchers and maybe even back ups for the positions. Get back to me if you have any opinions about who you think is more deserving. I'm sure the Pete Rose addition may rub some of you the wrong way because there are so many very talented second basemen, but it was the only place I could fit him. He is very deserving of the spot just for his bat. It might make it easier if I make decade teams as well starting with 1920-present. Either way, comment this post and let me know your thoughts.

p.s. week 17 in the NFL looks phenomenal and I'll try and get you guys an analysis of this week in football. Happy Holidays all.