MLB Players vote on the all-time greats

A few years ago I was able to pick up an obscure title called Players Choice on ebay. The dust jacket says that it was put together by a couple of SABR guys Eugene and Roger McCaffey, neither of which are still members according to the directory, and was published in 1987, with a celebrity forward no less. 

The premise of the book is simple and somewhat brilliant, it’s a survey of players, coaches and managers both living and active.  They mailed over 5,000 surveys, and received replied from 645 people.  The surveys asked all types of questions, all time all star teams, best curveball (some one tell Lederer that Bert was ranked third behind Koufax and Bridges), best throwing arm on a position player, best defensive team, best hit and run guy, best clutch hitter ect…

Anyway it really is a fascinating book, I figure I’ll dip into it now and then, because one it has some really interesting stuff in it, but also because well its pretty tough to find (Amazon has only 1 used copy). 

One of the sections in the book is Players’ Choice The Greatest Players of All Time some interesting names from the list: Ken Boyer, Dave Concepcion, Lefty Gomez, Travis, Jackosn, George Kell, Marty Marion, Red Rolfe, and Bobby Richardson.

What else do we have how about Sandy Koufax as the best money pitcher of all time, followed by Bob Gibson.  Curiously Dr. K polled ahead of Tom Terrific. 

The ’27 Yankees as the greatest team of all time… the ’61 Yankees a distant 2nd.  The Weaver Orioles didn’t make the top 20. 

Stengel and Joe McCarthy the top two skippers.

Dick Groat the greatest hit and run man of all time.

Ted Williams the greatest clutch hitter of all time, with nearly double the votes of second place finisher Yogi Bera.  Count the Ringz.

Cesar Cedeno and Dick Allen the two most popular picks for players who never lived up to their potential. 

Bill Klem the polled as the best ump ever. 

Peter Rose did more to inspire his team than anyone else.  More than 4 times as many votes as second place Joe D.  I wonder if Joe D was as willing to put his money where his mouth was.

80% of respondents thought someone was a better shortstop than Honus Wagner.  Arky Vaughn wasn’t a top 20 vote getter, Rogers got more votes as the greatest SS of all time than Vaughn. 

Joe D was a better outfielder than: Ted Williams, Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, Ty Cobb, Stan Musial, Tris Speaker AND BABE RUTH!

Charlie Gehringer was the greatest second baseman ever.  Maz finished higher than Joe Morgan. 

The best answer? When asked which sports writer knew the most about baseball, the third place finisher was a guy by the name of NONE OF THEM, who picked up 8.5% of the vote… and no it wasn’t multiple choice. Red Smith and Dick Young must be on the ball.

I admit I picked out some things that struck me as funny, but in all honesty it really is a neat book.