25 Greatest of All Time

[nflman2033]

I was a big fan of George Brett, but he wasn't that good of a fielder and he had injury problems. I would probably leave him out of the top 25 even though he was great.

Schmidt on the other hand was IMO the best 3rd baseman of all-time. He was a great fielder and a great hitter who hit with power. He led the entire MLB in HRs 6 different times, and led the NL in HRs 8 different times...I don't know how many players can make that claim, much less Gold-Glove winning 3rd basemen.

I don't know how a person could say Schmidt was especially a reach. Which 3rd basemen would you rank above him?

again senser is dead on, people want to look at Schmidt's BA. and balk, but look at everything else, especially in that he is no doubt the 2nd best fielding 3B of alltime, sure not the glamour of being a SS, but combine that with his hitting, he is the best all around 3B of alltime(I guess I could throw ARod in there but the roid era guys just have too many question marks

 

[trojan49er]

Not having Bonds is biased at best. Yes, the steroids inflated his power numbers, etc etc etc. His pre-steroid numbers alone merit being on this list. The steroids arent what gave him stats deserving of the top 25, theyre what gave him stats deserving of top 3 discussion. Steroids or not, Bonds was one of the best to ever put on a uniform

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

I was a big fan of George Brett, but he wasn't that good of a fielder and he had injury problems. I would probably leave him out of the top 25 even though he was great.

Schmidt on the other hand was IMO the best 3rd baseman of all-time. He was a great fielder and a great hitter who hit with power. He led the entire MLB in HRs 6 different times, and led the NL in HRs 8 different times...I don't know how many players can make that claim, much less Gold-Glove winning 3rd basemen.

I don't know how a person could say Schmidt was especially a reach. Which 3rd basemen would you rank above him?

Well, Arod for sure is a better player than Schmidt. But even if you consider Arod a SS, which is fine, I think a better question would be, is there a 3B who deserves to be on the list, period? I say no.

I just think I can find 25 guys better than Schmidt (and Brett, and Yaz for that matter, the other guy included that for sure wouldnt make my list), with minimal effort. Arod & Bonds are definately better players than Schmidt. Stan Musial, Manny Ramirez, Lefty Grove, Clemens, Pedro, you get the idea.

I'm just not as high on Schmidt as most, part of that due to my bias of that entire era. I think that era was a down period for baseball in general in terms of great players. Particularly pitchers, considering a guy like Jack Morris is one of the guys who you can talk about as the best the era had to offer.

EDIT-Musial is on his list, I missed that.

 

[Senser81]

Well, Arod for sure is a better player than Schmidt. But even if you consider Arod a SS, which is fine, I think a better question would be, is there a 3B who deserves to be on the list, period? I say no.

Schmidt was the better fielder, and ARoid obviously has benefited from the steroids. That said, ARoid has only led the majors in HRs 3 times compared to Schmidt's 6, and he's won 2 Gold Gloves compared to Schmidt's 10.

I just think I can find 25 guys better than Schmidt (and Brett, and Yaz for that matter, the other guy included that for sure wouldnt make my list), with minimal effort. Arod & Bonds are definately better players than Schmidt. Stan Musial, Manny Ramirez, Lefty Grove, Clemens, Pedro, you get the idea.

Well, then you are splitting hairs. No way a one-dimensional player (Ramirez) and a guy who had 6 good seasons (Pedro) are better than Schmidt. Sorry.

I'm just not as high on Schmidt as most, part of that due to my bias of that entire era. I think that era was a down period for baseball in general in terms of great players. Particularly pitchers, considering a guy like Jack Morris is one of the guys who you can talk about as the best the era had to offer.

LOL at not being high on Schmidt's 'era', then completely ignoring the effect of steroids on guys like ARoid, Bonds, Clemens, and Ramirez.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

LOL at not being high on Schmidt's 'era', then completely ignoring the effect of steroids on guys like ARoid, Bonds, Clemens, and Ramirez.

I already praised the OP for leaving off the steroid guys. I can see the argument either way, myself personally, I would include them if I made up a list. I can't ignore 15 years like they never happened.

The 80's were weird. Cookie cutter stadiums all with similar dimentions, astro turf carpets that either led to groud balls flying up the gaps all the way to the wall, or true consistant hops that made fielding easier, and for whatever reason, a lack of dominant pitchers in comparison to other eras.

 

[dell71]

Well, then you are splitting hairs. No way a one-dimensional player (Ramirez) and a guy who had 6 good seasons (Pedro) are better than Schmidt. Sorry.

Agreed on Manny. However, I have to say if Koufax can be included, who only had 5 good seasons then so can Pedro.

 

[Senser81]

Agreed on Manny. However, I have to say if Koufax can be included, who only had 5 good seasons then so can Pedro.

I wouldn't include Koufax over Lefty Grove.

 

[dell71]

I wouldn't include Koufax over Lefty Grove.

I wouldn't either, but he's on the OP's list & no one's quarrelled with that selection.

 

[Senser81]

I wouldn't either, but he's on the OP's list & no one's quarrelled with that selection.

He's had so many bad lists in the past, I didn't want to quarrel on everything. I'd put Steve Carlton before Koufax, too.

 

[dell71]

Makes sense.