A simple one vote poll and feel free to explain your vote or argue over others.
Gehrig. Pujols might catch him, but only if the back half of his career looks like Hank Aaron’s.
Gehrig, but Pujols is catching up.
You should have a NOTA option, since it is conceivable that someone might want to vote for a candidate that you didn’t list.
And is there a reason Pujols isn’t listed, or are you not allowing active players?
And why is Musial in the left fielder pollwhen he played more games at first base?
I’d take Pujols here as well. Gold Glove defense and an impeccable batting line.
So far, he’s relatively untainted by the steroid scandals. I have a sinking feeling that may change, but a man can dream.
The only reason we don’t talk about Gehrig as the best Yankee ever is because he played on the same team as Babe Ruth.
Even notwithstanding the consecutive games streak, he was insanely good and might have had three or four more years at that same high level if ALS hadn’t taken him down – after age 30 he collected his two best home run years, his only batting title, four of his five league-leading OBP years, his two slugging titles and two OPS titles.
Gehrig was incredible. Just plain dominating all the first base statistics. He’s been underrated because of Ruth and Ripken, but was a monster hitter by any standard.
Gehrig for now, it will eventually be Pujols, barring catastrophe.
I have no idea where you put Musial. It’s not like you can easily pin him down to an OF position or even a time where he only played 1B and stayed there. Call him baseball’s ultimate utility guy and leave it at that?
Pete Rose. This is probably the best place to put him, but you could put him at second base, third base, right field, or left field.
You really think Rose was better than Gehrig though? I’d like to see that argument… .340/.447/.632 is quite a bit better than .303/.375/.409.
Or put another way, Gehrig’s average season was a good bit better than Rose’s best season, at least with the bat.
For most of these polls (except for LF) those left off don’t actually matter as we are only looking for #1. Rose was not #1 at 1st. Not was Ernie Banks as much as I loved him. Pujols would have had a lot of votes if I included him and I wish I had added the 11th.
The list came from here but is 3 years old.
SDMB Baseball Hall of Fame vote #2: First Basemen - Straight Dope Message Board