Author Topic: Most Consequential MLB Player  (Read 1879 times)

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Offline Mathguy

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Most Consequential MLB Player
« Topic Start: December 01, 2016, 01:39:43 PM »
Which baseball player had the most impact in MLB history ?

Offline Natsinpwc

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Re: Most Consequential MLB Player
« Reply #1: December 01, 2016, 01:53:20 PM »
Which baseball player had the most impact in MLB history ?
The Babe.

Offline dracnal

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Re: Most Consequential MLB Player
« Reply #2: December 01, 2016, 01:53:36 PM »
The awful person inside of me says Lou Gehrig. Look at all the people he gave ALS.

Offline imref

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Re: Most Consequential MLB Player
« Reply #3: December 01, 2016, 02:16:18 PM »
Which baseball player had the most impact in MLB history ?

Ruth, and it's not even close.

Offline houston-nat

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Re: Most Consequential MLB Player
« Reply #4: December 01, 2016, 02:30:48 PM »
Jackie Robinson.

Offline houston-nat

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Re: Most Consequential MLB Player
« Reply #5: December 01, 2016, 02:31:11 PM »
In the category of "accidental impact he didn't mean to have," Tommy John.

Online blue911

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Re: Most Consequential MLB Player
« Reply #6: December 01, 2016, 02:59:44 PM »
Cap Anson

Offline JCA-CrystalCity

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Re: Most Consequential MLB Player
« Reply #7: December 01, 2016, 03:58:39 PM »
Cap Anson
Well, at least in Ken Burns's mind.  Can you really pin the exclusion of African Americans just on him?

I'll go with Jackie, then Babe.  I'm thinking the NYY had enough in the pipeline that they would have been YUUGE! even without him.  Would have been more like how football became big in the 50s without the one superstar.

Offline Mathguy

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Re: Most Consequential MLB Player
« Reply #8: December 01, 2016, 04:47:06 PM »
I have a hard time picking between Babe Ruth & Jackie Robinson.  The popularity of the game took off once fans watched Babe Ruth hit HRs.  Also, Babe had a touch with fans, particularly kids.  Without Babe, there may not have been the $$$ in baseball to reach so many fans.

Jackie not only opened the game up to minorities, but that event increased the skill level of the population of ballplayers as a whole.  I wonder if Babe would have been so productive facing pitchers of the 1950's - or later.

Offline imref

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Re: Most Consequential MLB Player
« Reply #9: December 01, 2016, 05:33:46 PM »
I have a hard time picking between Babe Ruth & Jackie Robinson.  The popularity of the game took off once fans watched Babe Ruth hit HRs.  Also, Babe had a touch with fans, particularly kids.  Without Babe, there may not have been the $$$ in baseball to reach so many fans.

Jackie not only opened the game up to minorities, but that event increased the skill level of the population of ballplayers as a whole.  I wonder if Babe would have been so productive facing pitchers of the 1950's - or later.

Branch Rickey probably wins as the most consequential non-MLB player.

Offline mitlen

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Re: Most Consequential MLB Player
« Reply #10: December 01, 2016, 06:06:09 PM »
Branch Rickey probably wins as the most consequential non-MLB player.

I was thinking about him but backed off with the player caveat.    He did play for a bit.     :)

Offline Minty Fresh

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Re: Most Consequential MLB Player
« Reply #11: December 02, 2016, 10:38:37 AM »
Josh Gibson

Offline UMDNats

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Re: Most Consequential MLB Player
« Reply #12: December 02, 2016, 10:39:00 AM »
stan kasten

Offline mitlen

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Re: Most Consequential MLB Player
« Reply #13: December 02, 2016, 10:52:34 AM »
Josh Gibson

Damn catchers stick together.     :)

Offline sayhey

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Re: Most Consequential MLB Player
« Reply #14: December 04, 2016, 10:28:42 PM »
Jackie Robinson is a good choice but not mine. Larry Doby was right behind him. Blacks into MLB in that era would have gotten done without Robinson, which nevertheless does not diminish his trials and grace and talent.

For me it has to be Babe Ruth. Nobody close as a player and nobody close in making baseball the national game.

Offline tomterp

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Re: Most Consequential MLB Player
« Reply #15: December 05, 2016, 08:30:26 AM »
Jackie Robinson is a good choice but not mine. Larry Doby was right behind him. Blacks into MLB in that era would have gotten done without Robinson, which nevertheless does not diminish his trials and grace and talent.

For me it has to be Babe Ruth. Nobody close as a player and nobody close in making baseball the national game.

Yep.  If not Jackie, would have been somebody else. 

Offline HalfSmokes

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Re: Most Consequential MLB Player
« Reply #16: December 05, 2016, 09:35:17 AM »
McGuire/Sosa did a lot to pump up interest after 94. They definitely are up there

Offline imref

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Re: Most Consequential MLB Player
« Reply #17: December 05, 2016, 09:54:26 AM »
Clemente deserves some mention.

Offline Minty Fresh

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Re: Most Consequential MLB Player
« Reply #18: December 05, 2016, 09:58:13 AM »
Curt Flood?

Offline tomterp

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Re: Most Consequential MLB Player
« Reply #19: December 05, 2016, 11:04:15 AM »

Offline EdStroud

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Re: Most Consequential MLB Player
« Reply #20: December 07, 2016, 09:11:13 PM »
A) Babe Ruth
B) Jackie Robinson/Branch Rickey
C) Kenesaw Mountain Landis
D) Marvin Miller
E) all of the above

E........Throw a blanket over all of them

Offline tomterp

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Re: Most Consequential MLB Player
« Reply #21: December 07, 2016, 09:13:45 PM »
A) Babe Ruth
B) Jackie Robinson/Branch Rickey
C) Kenesaw Mountain Landis
D) Marvin Miller
E) all of the above

E........Throw a blanket over all of them

Uh, it was a player ranking....

Offline EdStroud

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Re: Most Consequential MLB Player
« Reply #22: December 07, 2016, 09:18:52 PM »
Uh, it was a player ranking....

saw Stan Kasten and Branch Rickey posted just went with it

Offline JCA-CrystalCity

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Re: Most Consequential MLB Player
« Reply #23: December 08, 2016, 01:55:58 PM »
Adam Eaton

Offline Slateman

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