# Quick Poll: Your Top 3 Greatest Baseball Players Ever **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [July 11, 2009, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-poll-your-top-3-greatest-baseball-players-ever/502637 "2009-07-11T03:04:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-poll-your-top-3-greatest-baseball-players-ever/502637/1 "2009-07-11T03:04:35Z")
Use any criteria you like, just keep it to 3. Explain if you think it’s necessary. Mine: Babe Ruth Ted Williams Lou Gehrig ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-poll-your-top-3-greatest-baseball-players-ever/502637/2 "2009-07-11T03:06:18Z")
1. Ted Williams 2. Babe Ruth 3. Joe Dimagio ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-poll-your-top-3-greatest-baseball-players-ever/502637/3 "2009-07-11T03:09:26Z")
Willie Mays Babe Ruth Virtual dead heat between those two Too many tied for third. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-poll-your-top-3-greatest-baseball-players-ever/502637/4 "2009-07-11T03:21:41Z")
Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, and Barry Bonds. Yeah, I know. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-poll-your-top-3-greatest-baseball-players-ever/502637/5 "2009-07-11T07:47:28Z")
1. Babe 2. Splinter 3. Ty I discount Bonds for the 'roids, or else he’s #3 ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-poll-your-top-3-greatest-baseball-players-ever/502637/6 "2009-07-11T08:14:08Z")
Ruth,No explanation needed Ryan,7 no-hitters,12 one-hitters,18 two-hitters.(Plus the Beat-Down he threw on Robin Venturas ass is legendary) Rose or Cobb tuff choice(or mebbe Joe Shlabotnik) ---
**Author:** ![Jules\_Andre](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jules_andre/32/9334_2.png) [@Jules\_Andre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jules_Andre)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-poll-your-top-3-greatest-baseball-players-ever/502637/7 "2009-07-11T10:18:19Z")
1. Willie Mays 2. Babe Ruth 3. Albert Pujols ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-poll-your-top-3-greatest-baseball-players-ever/502637/8 "2009-07-11T10:20:45Z")
Dick Tidrow, Al Hrabosky, and Manny Sanguillen. Actually, I’d just like to throw [Hank](http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/aaronha01.shtml) into the discussion. George Herman is universally accepted as the best, and after him, there’s many for whom a case can be argued - here’s a good [list](http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/100_Greatest_Baseball_Players). ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-poll-your-top-3-greatest-baseball-players-ever/502637/9 "2009-07-11T13:50:04Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, and Barry Bonds. > > Yeah, I know. I HATE Barry Fucking Bonds… But yeah. You pretty much nailed it. I tried hard to come up with a pitcher I could justify putting on instead of Bonds, but I couldn’t. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-poll-your-top-3-greatest-baseball-players-ever/502637/10 "2009-07-11T13:55:30Z")
I think pitchers are in their own category, they only play every 4-5 days and they don’t hit. I would say Bonds(and the other cheats) are right out. His offensive stats are inflated particularly towards the end of his career and he might not have played as many years due to age and the usual drop off in performance. He was a lock for the HOF regardless. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-poll-your-top-3-greatest-baseball-players-ever/502637/11 "2009-07-11T15:42:39Z")
Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Roberto Clemente. Nuff said. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-poll-your-top-3-greatest-baseball-players-ever/502637/12 "2009-07-11T15:49:52Z")
Ruth, Cobb, Bonds. ---
**Author:** ![SmashTheState](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@SmashTheState](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmashTheState)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-poll-your-top-3-greatest-baseball-players-ever/502637/13 "2009-07-11T15:58:31Z")
Jackie Robinson Bill “Spaceman” Lee Pete Rose ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-poll-your-top-3-greatest-baseball-players-ever/502637/14 "2009-07-11T16:30:01Z")
Cy Young, Babe, Ted Williams ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-poll-your-top-3-greatest-baseball-players-ever/502637/15 "2009-07-11T16:32:02Z")
1. Babe Ruth 2. Babe Ruth 3. Babe Ruth ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-poll-your-top-3-greatest-baseball-players-ever/502637/16 "2009-07-11T16:49:31Z")
Cobb Dimaggio Mays When I was a kid, my dad and I were at a Cubs game when this very old man asked my dad if he’d carry a baseball to where Willie Mays was signing things. My dad did, and didn’t even look at the ball, but Willie did before he signed it. Asked my dad whose it was, and had dad bring the man down. Willie thanked the man for the honor of asking him to sign it, did so and gave it back. There were maybe a half dozen other names on the ball. I remember DiMaggio, Mantle, Ted Williams, and Sandy Koufax off the top of my head. The old man said something about keeping it special, and he was going to leave it for his grandson someday. I often wonder what happened to that ball. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-poll-your-top-3-greatest-baseball-players-ever/502637/17 "2009-07-11T17:02:32Z")
Ruth Williams Bonds ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-poll-your-top-3-greatest-baseball-players-ever/502637/18 "2009-07-11T17:33:16Z")
> [@Mr Bus Guy](#): > > …The old man said something about keeping it special, and he was going to leave it for his grandson someday. I often wonder what happened to that ball. Great story! I remember reading that Joe DiMaggio visited the White House during one of Reagan’s and Gorbachev’s summit meetings, and had both autograph a baseball. Now _that_ would be a collectible. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-poll-your-top-3-greatest-baseball-players-ever/502637/19 "2009-07-12T23:55:07Z")
Cy Young had 511 wins. Next is Walter Johnson with 417. The next are down to 373. It is baseballs unbreakable record. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-poll-your-top-3-greatest-baseball-players-ever/502637/20 "2009-07-12T23:56:29Z")
Mays, Williams, Ruth. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-poll-your-top-3-greatest-baseball-players-ever/502637.md?page=2)