Barely OT: ESPN Ranking Greatest Players

[Gecklund311]

That is where people usually differ when it comes to Robinson's place on these kind of lists - some want to give him extra points for historical impact while others like myself will ignore it. To me, his legacy is best seen by looking at the list itself, and seeing Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Bob Gibson, Frank Robinson, etc - players who may not have been on there if not for Jackie Robinson's courage.

I don't know enough about the exact methods James uses to rebut him in an informed way, but if I'm making the list Robinson probably comes in fifth at his position and likely between 60 and 70 overall. Hornsby, Collins, Joe Morgan, and Lajoie would be ahead of him in that order, with Robinson next just ahead of Gehringer and Biggio. Longevity was really Robinson's huge issue, through no fault of his own as he got started late, but he only had a five year stretch where you could call him great.