Is Mike Schmidt the greatest player of the last 40 years, relative to the all-timers?

[Senser81]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_League_Baseball_All-Time_Team

Looking at the composition of the MLB All-Time team, there are very few players of recent vintage. I'm going to throw out the DH's (Harold Baines??) and the relief pitchers, because they are specialists that don't really compare to regular players and don't really have any comparable players from previous eras.

The pitchers are all from eras prior to the 70's. You have some relatively recent second team selections like Joe Morgan, Cal Ripken Jr., and Brooks Robinson. Willie Mays played a few years in the 1970's (which were a joke), but he was really a 1950's-60's era player.

The only two recent guys who measure up to the all-time greats are Johnny Bench and Mike Schmidt. I would argue that Bench's selection to the first team over Yogi Berra is highly questionable, and at the very least Berra is on the same level as Bench.

But I think Mike Schmidt is the clear choice for 3B. Brooks Robinson was a great fielder and a clutch hitter, but he didn't have the power or production of Mike Schmidt.

[NAHSTE]

Barry Bonds?

[Irish]

Alex Rodriquez is a better 3rd baseman all time than Mike Schmidt. So no.

[Guest]

I'll take Robinson over Schmidt by a close margin. Granted, Schmidt's offensive numbers are better, but he played in a different time than Robinson where offensive numbers were starting to take off. Robinson also has yet to have an equal as a defensive player.

[Senser81]

Barry Bonds?

Steroids?

[Senser81]

Alex Rodriquez is a better 3rd baseman all time than Mike Schmidt. So no.

Steroids?

[EmpireWF]

With the exception of the two years he played under 100 games, Paul Molitor was consistently awesome for two decades.

[NAHSTE]

Steroids?

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bondsba01.shtml#1986-1998-sum:batting_standard

Barry's (presumed) pre-roid years still poop down the mouth of Mike Schmidt's peak numbers. Schmidt was the better power hitter but in terms of all-around skills give me Bonds every time. And I hate the guy.

[FedEx227]

I don't understand why we aren't allowed to count the steroid guys? It happened, they played, there wasn't a plan in place to avoid them so why put your head in the sand and act like it didn't happen.

With that said Schmidt is a beast but Bonds, Rodriguez and Griffey in my mind were better players.

[NAHSTE]

I don't understand why we aren't allowed to count the steroid guys? It happened, they played, there wasn't a plan in place to avoid them so why put your head in the sand and act like it didn't happen.

With that said Schmidt is a beast but Bonds, Rodriguez and Griffey in my mind were better players.

Cue the w2b bitch fest in 5 ... 4 ... 3 ... 2 ...

[Leftwich]

I can't say Mike Schmidt is the GOAT because of my disdain for the Phillies.

[Senser81]

I don't understand why we aren't allowed to count the steroid guys?

You can count them, and I can ask "steroids?" when you do.

[jms493]

pete rose? :toddfather:

[FedEx227]

You can count them, and I can ask "steroids?" when you do.

No doubt and that's fine but I'd chose all three of those over Schmidt.

[Senser81]

No doubt and that's fine but I'd chose all three of those over Schmidt.

Really? What about the steroids?