In your opinion, who was the best MLB player from 1980-1990? Boggs, Mattingly, Gwynn, Brett?
101152
Mattingly....Then Gwynn
504890
I am completely enamored and astounded by the legend that is LeRoy Satchel Paige. The stories you hear about how he would tell his outfield to stay in the dugout because he didnt need them, inducing only infield hits or striking out the batter...its mind-boggling. Big Satch simply dominated any game he played in, even into his 50's. his win total completely blows cy young out of the water. Satchell Paige was better.
77044
Current or of all time? \n\nFor Current -- I'm going with the Rocket (Rodger Clemens). he's older than most players in the league, yet still throws in the upper 90's. last season he entered a game as a pinch hitter in the 14th inning and still threw a shut out. He's unbelievable, plus he has the competitive attitude I like (plus he isn't afraid to throw at batters' heads to back 'em off the plate).
312932
Some i remember, not all by any means: Dan Quisenberry, Bret Saberhagen, Buddy Biancalana, Frank White, Steve Balboni.. and that is all i remember! Just search for these names on yahoo - you'll find the rest for sure! Cheers!\n\nHere you can find the rest: (just looked it up)\nhttp://www.baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/roster.php?y=1985&t=KCA
522451
1. Willie Mays (best outfielder of all time, great homerun hitter - 4th all time, and very high batting average.\n\n2. Babe Ruth (maybe the best player in baseball history, set many HR records, revolutionized baseball)\n\n3. Mickey Mantle\n\n4. Ty Cobb\n\n5. Ernie Banks\n\n6. Barry Bonds\n\n8. Joe Dimaggio
354167
Naw, no team compares to 86 Mets. Even better than my 87 Twins.\n\nThe 1986 New York Mets were the best team in the majors, and knew it. Their swagger, cockiness, and 108-54 record annoyed opponents, who were probably already frustrated by the Mets' uncanny knack for winning. The animosity between the Mets and the rest of the league led to no fewer than four bench-clearing brawls that season. After one fight, so many Mets were ejected that Davey Johnson was forced to alternate relievers Jesse Orosco and Roger McDowell in right field. \n\nFirst baseman Keith Hernandez summed it up perfectly -- "we had replaced the Yankees as the team they loved to hate." With George Steinbrenner in the Bronx, that was a remarkable achievement. \n\nIn every facet of the game, the Mets were deep, talented and passionate. The best starting five in the majors gave way to a bullpen with several superb closers, the lineup featured good power and blazing speed, while an above-average defense boasted several Gold Glove-caliber players. As skipper, Davey Johnson established himself as one of the best tacticians in the game. Ironically, the team which had run away with the NL East crown in such efficient fashion -- 21½ games ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies -- found themselves struggling in the post-season against both Houston and Boston. But, helped by timely hitting, "rally caps", and Bill Buckner's famous miscue in Game Six of the World Series, the Mets rode a wave of emotion to their second World Championship.
542160
Canseco got what he had coming. I used to be a big fan of his. I am from Cincinnati but I rooted for the A's in the 90 world series against the Reds because I liked Canseco, McGuire, Dave Stewart and others so much but I fell out of favor with those guys. I would never deny a 12 year old kid my autograph. Jose is a dick and that's why he's poor and has to scrum off of his brother Ozzie now, even though he's broke too!!
986162
Man, you answered your own question, by saying: "... How many guys actually shoot for this record? Most don't care."\n\nBy that yardstick alone, Cal's record of 3,198+ consecutive games played is EXTRAORDINARY!  If no one else cares, and this outstanding player, who did it everyday in the same Oriole uniform, at that--did do it, then isn't that one he11 of an acomplishment?  \n\nOf the three former players eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame this next year, i.e., Ripken, Mark McGwire, and lovable Mr. Tony Gwinn, Cal is the most dominant, the most durable, and yes, the most reliable of the three, and dang well better be inducted on the first ballot, or there is something wrong 'round here.
1118584
Wells is on pace to be the Ken Griffey Jr. of this generation- a great outfielder who can hit for average as well as power.\n\nGlaus is a feared power hitter that can pound the ball off of lefthanders- a solid corner infielder but does strike out alot.\n\nHalladay, the ultimate weapon for the Jays.. a good 4 seam and 2 seam fastball, can throw in the 90's and also has good breaking ball- as well as an almost perfect palmball that forces alot of batters to head to the bench
1017553
Well let me see if i can narrow it down.For catching it is hands down Jason Varitek,by far the best catcher and captain of ALL time,for pitching I have ALOT,but i think I will give the title to Jonathan Papelbon.He is not only the best closer(besides Foulky and Timlin),but he is the best rookie:)for infield i am really starting to like Mike Lowell and Kevin Youkilis[poor Youk,he keeps getting hit:(],for outfield i guess i will have to say....Manny Ramirez.don't get me wrong i absolutely LOOOOVE all of the players,but there is just something about Manny:)and last but definitely not least for DH i am going to say Big Papi(and not because he is the only one,but because he is the BEST!!!!!!!!:)
409499
Their were left handed infielders.\nDon Mattingly played 2B and 3B\nfrom 1982 to 1983 until he was \nswitched to 1B in 1984 as his everyday\npostion.\n\nLen "Nails" Dykstra played one year at Short Stop in the minors.
665173
I think Cool Papa was without a doubt the better player. Ernie Banks had a great power stroke but never in your wildest dreams can you learn to be as quick as lightning. Speed is a gift that you are born with, something that cannot be taught. Cool Papa was unquestionably the fastest man to ever play the game. Ricky Henderson would have pissed in his pants if Cool Papa played in the major leagues. His defense was stellar and he was a spectacular lead-off hitter.
1045143
Original Answer -- *Shoeless Joe Jackson*\n\nI rethought this question and I have rethought my answer. \n\nThis is a question that by far is impossible to answer, because at times have come and gone baseball has changed, the games played has changed, the strength of the batters and pitchers has changed. Medicine has changed and Performance Enhancing Drugs have been introduced.\n\nI think there is no way that you can compare Ty Cobb, to Ernie Banks, Willie Mays, Barry Bonds..... booooooo... hiss...., or any other player. If you were specific to a year to a decade it may be a bit easier to judge, but even then you need to make sure that the grading scale has not changed from the beginning of the decade to the end.\n\nBy far you can not compare a player in the 90's to the 00's  why?\nWell PED's were not banned by MLB in the 90's but now they are. So the players in the 90's had the advantage, even early in this decade. So unfortunately most of our answers are moot and unfair answers. They like everything else is an opinion.
1183735
Long in '56, Mattingly in '87\n\nGRIFFEY, JR.  in '93......how could you forget him
432745
Mike's Defense couldn't even begin to approach Robinson's. The idea of that is absurd. Brooks Robinson was a defensive phenom the likes of which has not been seen since. We are talking about a man who perfected the barehanded fielding of a bunt and throwing to first in the same motion. This is the man who nearly single  handedly won the 1970 world series with his dazzling display of defense. The fewest errors Schmidt committed in over 100 game in a season was 15. He committed as many as 27. The most Brooks committed in over 100 game in a season was 18. In my mind it is not even close. Brooks is the greatest hands down. As far as hitters at third Pie Trainer was a much better hitter than Mike and a better fielder. Mike is not rated among the top fielding third basement at all by most experts of the game.
719531
Mike Schmidt of the PHILLIES, one of the best (if not the best) third baseman's to play the game. As a kid I used to watch him crank out homers at Veterans Stadium. Michael Jack Schmidt was THE MAN.
876831
Wow, that is a goood question, I am a bit prejudiced towrds the Yankees, but I think historically this still valid. The best catchers of my youth are Bench, Fisk or Munson.\n1.Mickey Cochrane \n2.Johnny Bench\n3.Yogi Berra \n4.Josh Gibson\n5.Carlton Fisk\n6.Ivan Rodriguez\n7.Roy Campanella\n8.Elston Howard\n8a.Thurman Munson\n9. Mike Piazza\n10. Bill Dickey\nSorry if it seems like their are alot of Yankees, but that is the way I see it.\n\nHey Disgraced, it was Jackie Robinson, not Hank Aaron.\n\nIn retrospect I think Gibson could be #1 but he was not allowed to play at the same time as many of  his contemporaries, by far he is the best hitter of the bunch.