Best / Greatest baseball player ever, redux

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Posted By: Frank Wakefield

As I studied the National Pastime I decided that Ty Cobb was the greatest ball player ever.

At some point I wondered if I was wrong, thinking maybe Babe Ruth was.

But after reading The Glory of Their Times, and listening to the cds (what a treasure), and after more reading from the old days, I decided Honus Wagner was the best. I still think that.

Seems that most here think Ruth was the best... This below is for those guys, from Today in Baseball... Obviously, some folks remain infatuated with the home run.

1942
Publisher A.J. Spink‚ in The Sporting News‚ reports on the result of a poll of 100 former major leaguers and managers as to who their choice is as best player of all time. Ty Cobb is the overwhelming pick‚ getting 60 of the votes cast. The remaining 42 votes are divided among 14 players: Honus Wagner(17): Babe Ruth (11); and Rogers Hornsby and Ross Youngs (2 votes each). The following players each received one vote: Lou Gehrig‚ Ed Delahanty‚ Tris Speaker‚ Joe DiMaggio‚ Mel Ott‚ George Sisler‚ Eddie Collins‚ Christy Mathewson‚ Walter Johnson‚ and Jerry Denny. Among those who reveal they voted for Cobb are Speaker‚ Collins‚ Sisler‚ Johnson‚ Al Simmons‚ Connie Mack‚ and Jack Coombs.




I did not know who Jerry Denny was, so I looked him up. Do any of you recall hearing of him (before looking up his stats)?