I met Ken Jr. when I worked at the casino- he was NOT juicing- I can tell you that for sure.

He had two huge scars on the inside of both wrist were he had broken them- one time running into the outfield wall- the other playing around with his kids in a freak accident. Very nice, descent and humble guy. At first he was reluctant to talk, but when he realized I worked there and didn't want an autograph- he was very cordial. We talked nearly an hour-my whole lunch break while he played a slot machine. Just a regular guy, very funny. We didn't talk much baseball-only that he thought salaries were out of control and the Mariners were having a hard time putting a contract together. He was hurt and they wanted to lowball him to keep A Rod. He was disapointed that they were not more loyal to him. It was very cool hearing about his family and life on the road. He asked a lot a questions about my family as well. When I left I really felt like I made a new friend. He shook my hand and told me thanks for listening- he had been a little down lately missing his kids and wife. Class Act and great ballplayer!!

Dido, but the steroid years takes him away from Mats or Mantle as my all around best player I ever saw. Mantle when young could do it all before the knees went bad. Don't recall Musial playing, other than highlights on TV.

Bo Jackson had the chance to be the greatest, but we know how that turned out.

Guess I should have defined the question better.

Here in no particular order are names of players who had stretches of times in their career where they seemed to me to be "dominant", as in pitching or playing so well that you'd pick them first if you were drafting for one of two all-start teams that would face off in a 7-game series played over 11 days (i.e. 3 starts for the pitcher; 7 starts for the position player):

George Brett; Jim Rice; Ken Griffey, Jr.; Greg Maddux; Rickey Henderson; Albert Belle; Pedro Martinez; Ron Guidry; Jim Palmer; Roger Clemens; Albert Pujols; Cal Ripken, Jr.; Andre Dawson; Dave Parker; Dwight Gooden; Randy Johnson; Zach Greinke; Bret Saberhagen; Johan Santana; Tim Lincecum; Mike Schmidt; Orel Hershiser

Add-ons: Eddie Murray, Fred Lynn

I leave out Ryan intentionally. In my mind he was never dominant in the sense of being the guy that, before the game even started, I would take him as the guy I'd want to start. I actually was in attendance at his first no-hitter. I didn't realize what I was watching until my dad told me as we left that "you'll never see one of those again!" and that it was something called a "no-hitter". Whatever it was, Ryan didn't look essentially dominant. Hell, Otis got good wood on that last put-out. That's what I remember. Domination is Rivera or Randy Johnson or Curt Schilling, not some flame-thrower who may or may not get lit the ****-up like a christmas tree. Ryan's best finish in the Cy Young was runner-up in 1983. I think most of my fans thought of him as a helluva pitcher, but not someone to dread if he was scheduled to start against your beloved club tomorrow.

Paul Molitor does belong in the conversation, in my mind. In terms of who I would want to bat in a high-stakes situation, he definitely had times in his career where he'd be my number one. Helluva player; helluva approach. I think Yount has to be in here, too, but in 1982 I was rooting so hard for McRae and Wilson that I don't think I could give Robin a fair shake. McRae was definitely the guy I'd want that year in a RBI situation, not Yount. Was Yount ever "dominant" in my mind? Hmm, I can't really say he was. But I don't think I was fair to him. He was definitely a great player though and a good guy, too, which counts for something. Don't know that I would have ever taken him over Brett though for a one-week series. But I can understand why others would. Mattingly? ****er didn't deserve the MVP in 1985 over Brett. You know my ass is biased. ****in' Mattingly was a helluva player, though.

Steve Carlton is omitted only because I don't recall getting to see him play that much, given how little coverage there was of Phillies games back in the day. I definitely remember, though, him being on the short-list of best pitchers in the game.

Barry Bonds pisses me off. He was great before he started taking the 'roids. Rightfully he belongs here, but I just can't list him because I need some time and distance from the cheatin' bastard to fairly evaluate him. A-Rod, you @#$@! Sheffeld used to tear up the box scores, but I never saw many of his games. I bet I'd have him on here if I had.

Before my time (I was born in December, 1965): Willie Mays and Frank Robinson. At first I listed Frank, but then I realized that a lot of what made me think of him as so awesome when I was a little kid was done when I was a pre-schooler, so I must not have understood it as well. I think I'd put Yaz on this list, just based on how he played in Royals Stadium late in his career. Early in his career, he must have been an absolute terror. I love Hank Aaron, but by the time I saw him play live, he was a bit long in the tooth, as a DH for the Brewers. Oh yeah, I just remember about Eddie Murray. He belongs on the list. Guy would come into Royals Stadium and crank. Fred Lynn had stretches, too. Yeah, I need to put him on this list.

Used to watch Belle and Pedro in White Sox Park. In person, absolutely dominant. That was a good stadium to see games back in the 1990's because no one else would go to the weeknight ones. You could set right up by the on-deck circle. Frank Thomas belongs on this list if there was a guarantee that the umpires would be a bunch of punk-ass bitches and only call strikes in that little 3-inch vertical zone that they used for Thomas through much of his early career. I'm assuming the umpires would be chosen randomly though from throughout the history of the game.

Roy Hobbs- the best there ever was to play the game.

Nolan Ryan




Brett

Speaking as someone with a PhD in mathematical statistics and who does very damn well in fantasy baseball, let me say this about Bo Jackson. If you never saw him play, please just shut the heck up about his unimpressive stats. That guy was absolutely incredible. He's on the short list for most amazing athletes of all time.

No offense to stat geeks. :toast: I'm just talking sports smack here. ;)

It's best baseball players, not athletes. He doesn't even deserve to be brought up in the discussion...sorry.

You're right. I'm just sayin', Man, that guy did some stuff on the baseball field that is just not do-able. Great athlete. :toast:

Not to derail the conversation, but here's an interesting posting from Sam Mellinger regarding Brett, Bo Jackson and David Howard:

http://mellinger.kansascity.com/entr...te-bo-jackson/

Hey, if it was best athletes to play baseball...hell yeah.

Frank White should get some love too. He is a great person and a friend. He made it look so easy out there and was pretty clutch as a hitter too. If you guys would see all the Gold gloves, Silver Slugger and awards he has in his rec room- you would realize he is a Hall Of famer. He was much respected in the game except by Reggie asshole Jackson- I am sure you know the play I am talking about. F N Yankees!!

Ozzie Smith was prob a bit better in the field than Frank but not quite the hitter.

Cal Ripkin Jr. still amazes me what he did.

If they WANTED to Lebron, Kobe, Durant, and Paul would DOMINATE the sport/Hootie

Frank may own a silver slugger, but he didn't win it.

Never saw him play, but Babe Ruth should be considered the best of all time.