We've all played this game before...and it's fun...and simple (sort of). With Labor Day, comes the best time to be involved in fantasy sports. Fantasy Baseball is coming to an end, while September call ups are on the horizon. Fantasy Football drafts have begun and sports freaks get to talk trash from now until December.
All of this "fantasy" talk, gets me thinking: What if we could travel in Bill and Ted's phone booth to what ever era we wanted, and assemble the greatest baseball line up of all time?
That would be awesome right? Well, here's your chance...sort of. Below you will find MY all time Major League Baseball line up. The stipulations are easy. This isn't just a list of "the best players at each position", it's the building of an actual lineup. If you had to win ONE game, tonight, who would you want as your team?
Here is what I based my line up on:
- Each player would be playing in his prime...and injury free.
- Steroids aren't a factor. We'll assume everyone is clean to keep things simple.
- They would be facing the CURRENT era of baseball. (ie, ballparks, pitchers, hitters...etc)
- One player per offensive position WITH a DH.
- One starter, one set up guy and one closer.
Seems pretty simple right? I thought that too...but I've done this same thing 5 or 6 different times over the past few years, and I always find myself struggling to put together a lineup with no weaknesses. So here it is...
Batting order and defensive position:
1. Rickey Henderson - LF - Best lead off hitter in the history of the game as far as I'm concerned. Rickey would draw a walk or get a single, then be on 3rd base by the 4th pitch of the next at bat. You don't see that anymore...and that's a damn shame. This quote sums it up best: "Today, I am the greatest of all time" - Rickey's biggest fan...(Rickey Henderson)
2. Joe Morgan - 2B - I didn't get to watch Morgan play much (I'm 28), but I've seen enough classic games and studied his numbers to know that he's a) one of the best second basemen of all time. and b) he's a perfect No. 2 hitter in this lineup. He hit for some power and flat out hit the ball...period. He was a great fielder and had some speed. I think this one is pretty obvious.
3. Ken Griffey Jr - CF- If you know me or have read my tweets/posts, you'd know Ken Griffey Jr. is (not was) my idol. In his prime, he could hit anything. He blasted home runs, he stole bases...he did it all offensively. Defensively though, how many teams have a No. 3 hitter in their line up capable of what Griffey could do? Not many. It's hard to find a player in the history of baseball that was as effective in the CF as he was at the plate. Without those injuries, he'd be the greatest of all time...without a doubt.
4. Hank Aaron - DH - Again, as a 28 year old...Hammerin' Hank was really in my wheel house...but I know how lethal he was. You don't hit that many home runs by accident. He did his job better than everyone else in the history of baseball (Bonds included - steroids)...hit the ball over the fence. Hank Aaron hitting behind Ken Griffey Jr? Yummy.
5. Albert Pujols - 1B - This is an easy one for me. Pujols will have some sick career numbers when he finally calls it quits. He doesn't strike out, he hits home runs, he drives the ball all over the field...and he plays really good defense. He's a No. 3-5 hitter in ANY lineup, and in mine, he bats right behind Hank Aaron.
6. Kirby Puckett - RF - Kirby...oh Kirby. I watched Puckett as a kid growing up in Minnesota...and that makes me spoiled. He was a one of a kind talent AND personality. It was impossible NOT to love Kirby as a person AND a player (um, during his playing years...not after...). He had a smile that lit up the room, but he had the game to light up your pitching staff. There were a few years where Kirby was the best hitter the game had seen in a while. Had the strike of '94 not stopped him...he would have set a MLB record for doubles in a season (he had 32 through 108 games, to go along with 112 RBI). His defense was great too...but not good enough to make CF on this roster. Kirby in RF, is just fine...having Kirby in general...is just fine.
7. Mike Schmidt - 3B - I remember Mike Schmidt being really good...and once you check out his stats, you realize he WAS really good. He gets in my line up due to his bat and glove. He was one of the best at his position for both, and there just aren't that many other third basement that I'd want hitting behind Kirby. This is probably the most debatable one for me...but Mikey S was monster.
8. Cal Ripken Jr. - SS - You can't find a lot of negative things to say about Cal Ripken Jr. He played the game the way it was supposed to be played. He played hard, he played often, and he played awesome. Most people think of Ripken's defense when they hear his name (with good reason), but his hitting was awesome (even though his mechanics weren't). Google it...I'm serious...Ripken could hit. If you can honestly tell me a SS that you'd rather have playing in the field and hitting in your line up in the 7th game of the World Series, please do...I'm all ears.
9. Johnny Bench - C - OK, this one might surprise some people. I never got to see Johnny Bench play live...but I have seen more than enough game film from his playing days to know that he was the best catcher of all time. I had a tough time deciding between Bench and Ivan Rodriguez, but steroid speculation with Pudge upsets me. Besides, Bench was an awesome hitter. He was also a tough nosed catcher...and what more could you ask for as your No. 9 hitter?
Pitching Staff:
Pedro Martinez - Starting Pitcher - This was by far the hardest choice I made on this roster. Pedro gets the nod over all other pitchers, because during his prime...there was a stretch of 3 or 4 years where he was seriously un-hittable. Maybe it's my age and the era I grew up in, but Pedro was intimidating on the mound and no one wanted to face him in October. Even later in his career...he was still feared. I looked at the position of Starting Pitcher on THIS roster like this: If I needed 7 innings of shutout baseball against the best lineup in baseball history, for one game, who would I want taking the mound? I'm sure I'll get some heat on this one...but if you've ever seen Pedro pitch, you know he increases your chances of winning...by a lot.
Mariano Rivera - Setup - No need to elaborate on this one...he's the best ever. He created that position. And he has made a lot of current players, A LOT of money.
Dennis Eckersley - Closer - Completely opposite style of personalty than Rivera, but same results. "The Eck" mastered the closers role. Sure, there are other pitchers that have played baseball that could get 3 outs in the 9th inning of the biggest game of all time...but Eckersley did it with style and intimidation. What better way to wrap up a game, with this lineup, than with THAT fist pump? Really......try and answer that....
I'm interested to see what other people would use as their line up. Please, leave a comment with your all time line up below. Elaborate if you want, that's fine with me :)
(great artwork below)
