My rankings of the greatest baseball players ever, starting with number 1, in order.

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Number 14: Eddie Collins

He was one of the early collegiate players to come into the game, and he was widely respected as one of the smartest baseball players around. He was a team captain, playing in the middle of the field at second base and having the respect of his teammates. Collins was one of the best defensive second basemen ever, playing at a time when second sackers were not regarded as defense-first. He was also a terrific hitter. More of a top-of-the-order type than a big bopper, Collins usually batted third for Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics, hitting goodly numbers of doubles and triples along with plenty of singles and walks. When economics led Mack to break up his great team, Collins went to the Chicago White Sox and played second and batted third there too. Collins was one of the honest members of the 1919 "Black Sox" that threw the World Series.

After that, Collins stayed with the decimated Sox, managed them for a couple of years, then returned to finish his career with the rebuilding Athletics, as Mack once again was putting together a powerhouse. He finished out his career as a pinch-hitter and coach, going out with another winner. Collins was one of the greatest World Series performers of all time, participating in 6 Fall Classics and batting 42-for-118, a .328 average, with 10 walks and 14 steals in 34 games.

Collins earns 270.09 points in the rating system.

Collins' stats: .333 average, 743 steals, 1818 runs scored, 1503 walks, 3311 hits, 574 Win Shares.

posted by Shawn Weaver at 5:26 PM

 

Number 13: Lou Gehrig

When all the votes are counted, the choice for most inspirational baseball player would likely be for the Iron Horse, player of 2130 consecutive games. Gehrig was the first baseman of some of the greatest baseball teams ever, as a member of the 1920s and 30s New York Yankees. He teamed with Babe Ruth as the most able back-to-back hitters ever, and handled his position with deftness and skill. Gehrig also stayed in the lineup, day in and day out, with aches and pains both minor and troubling. He didn't beg off when the race was won, or when it was lost. He did bat leadoff a couple of times when the team was on the road, and then came out of the lineup, to preserve the streak. But nobody begrudged him that, not when he was so solid and such a stand-up guy.

Then, as he was winding down his career, he suddenly lost it. The power in his swing, the spring in his step, all gone. He told his manager to take him out of the lineup, and went to the doctor. The diagnosis was severe: an incurable disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which would become known for all time as "Lou Gehrig's Disease." Gehrig retired, was given a job by the city, and made a memorable farewell speech at Yankee Stadium describing himself as "the luckiest man on the face of the Earth." If he was, then fans all over were equally lucky to have seen such a man's man play. He was the greatest first baseman ever, and a classic gentleman besides.

Gehrig earned 270.43 rating points.

Gehrig's stats: .340 average, 493 homers, 1991 RBI, 1510 BB, 1888 runs, 162 triples, 23 grand slams, .361 and 10 homers in the World Series, 489 Win Shares.

posted by Shawn Weaver at 7:17 PM

 

Number 12: Tris Speaker

"The Grey Eagle" is a good answer to the question, "Who was the greatest defensive outfielder of all time?" He was also a terrific hitter, with statistics that stand out even in the "Dead Ball" era, when he started his career. After the Babe Ruth Revolution, Speaker's numbers look even better. He was a widely respected ballplayer of the early 20th century, often paired with Ty Cobb in memory because they were contemporaries and played the same position. This pairing only intensified when both ended their careers as veterans playing for Connie Mack's A's in 1928.

Speaker was swift of foot and powerful at bat, able to cover much ground in the outfield and move to the ball even before the crack of the bat. He could power extra-base hits with great frequency, still holding the career record for doubles. Also called "Spoke," he was held in high esteem by teammates and rivals alike. Of all later ballplayers, he might be best compared to Joe DiMaggio, for grace and swiftness afield and power at the plate.

Speaker earns 270.98 points in the rating system.

Speaker's stats: .344 average, 117 HR, 223 triples, 793 doubles, 433 SB, 1881 runs, 630 Win Shares.

posted by Shawn Weaver at 2:54 PM