My thought on “Best player ever” by Major League Baseball franchise. I found it more difficult to do with newer franchises, since often there is no clearcut choice.

Arizona Diamondbacks - Luis Gonzalez
Atlanta Braves  - Hank Aaron, a no brainer.
Baltimore Orioles  - You can make a case for Cal Ripken, Eddie Murray or Brooks Robinson.
Boston Red Sox  - Ted Williams (another no brainer)
Chicago White Sox  - Frank Thomas or maybe Joe Jackson
Chicago Cubs  - Ernie Banks
Cincinnati Reds - Pete Rose, or Johnny Bench
Cleveland Indians - Bob Feller
Colorado Rockies – I’ll take Todd Helton over Larry Walker.
Detroit Tigers - Ty Cobb ( another no brainer)
Florida Marlins - Luis Castillo. you can also make a case for Hanley Ramirez, possibly even Gary Sheffield.
Houston Astros - I’ll take Jeff Bagwell over Biggio. Bagwell hit for more power.
Kansas City Royals  - George Brett (best by far)
Los Angeles Angels  - I’ll take Garret Anderson over Nolan Ryan.
Los Angeles Dodgers  - Sandy Koufax. Jackie Robinson & Duke Snider are close.
Milwaukee Brewers - Robin Yount
Minnesota Twins - Harmon Killebrew over Rod Carew and Kirby Puckett.
Montreal Expos – Gary Carter over Andre Dawson.
New York Mets - Tom Seaver (another no brainer)
New York Yankees – Babe Ruth over Gehrig, Mantle, DiMaggio.
Oakland Athletics - Reggie Jackson over Rickey Henderson.
Philadelphia Phillies - Mike Schmidt.
Pittsburgh Pirates - Roberto Clemente.
San Diego Padres  - Tony Gwynn (no brainer again) 
San Francisco Giants  - Willie Mays.
Seattle Mariners - Ken Griffey Jr.
St. Louis Cardinals - Stan Musial over Albert Pujols. You can create a good argument for either, IMO.
Tampa Bay Rays – I’ll say Carl Crawford for now, but no obvious choice.
Texas Rangers  - My choice here is Ivan Rodriguez.
Toronto Blue Jays  - Roberto Alomar
Washington Senators- Walter Johnson

I may have missed one or two here and there, your thoughts, anyone?

No one's touchin this one?

Well...I like some of your choices... although you are right about some of the newer teams, it's hard to pick a player. (Especially since some teams have really great active players at the moment, like Bryce Harper and Jason Werth for the Washington Nationals, and Evan Longoria and BJ Upton for the Tampa Bay Rays.)

Well...I like some of your choices... although you are right about some of the newer teams, it's hard to pick a player. (Especially since some teams have really great active players at the moment, like Bryce Harper and Jason Werth for the Washington Nationals, and Evan Longoria and BJ Upton for the Tampa Bay Rays.)


Most of the newer franchises are more difficult.

Most of the newer franchises are more difficult.

Exactly, given that they've been around for only a few years.

Maybe ten years from now we might be able to evaluate the players on those teams a little more?

Exactly, given that they've been around for only a few years.

Maybe ten years from now we might be able to evaluate the players on those teams a little more?


It might help.