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Trivia Challenge The "He'll always be a ..." Challenge

This isn't our regular "Trivia Challenge" as there is just one question involved and we're out to build an All-Time Team of a certain era of players who suited up for just one team in their careers. You're already ahead of me here, right? Banks at shortstop, Bench catching, Walter Johnson on the mound ....

Well, hold on just a minute there. Here are the rules ... 



  • We'll only consider players who debuted in the last 50 years -- that is, if their inaugural big league appearance was in 1957 or earlier, they are not to be considered. So, Big Train (and many, many other early pre-free-agency Hall of Famers), no dice, you are not eligible for this team.
  • Actually, neither is Banks, who debuted in 1953, but Bench is okay and besides, Yogi the Yankee debuted in the '40s AND caught a few games for the Mets in the '60s, so is ineligible on two counts.
  • Defend your choice -- provide the player, position, and if you can, who his major competition would be (and why he is clearly better). For example, Bench is arguably the greatest catcher of all time; Berra and Campanella debuted too early; Fisk, Simmons and Carter all caught for multiple teams; Parrish deserves a place in the Hall of Really Good but was no Bench. Get it?
  • NO active players. Anyone can change teams late in the career, or even midstream, right Johan?
  • We're ONLY considering major league experience -- Michael Young won't make the team -- he's active, after all and wouldn't beat out Banks anyway -- but he has only played in the bigs with Texas, so otherwise would be eligible.
  • Pitching seems likely to be toughest, though I will nominate Sandy Koufax -- oh, damn, he debuted in 1955. Any other suggestions?

Ready, Bauxites? Go! 

Posted by Mick Doherty on Thursday, August 14 2008 @ 04:44 PM EDT.
The "He'll always be a ..." Challenge | 21 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Brian W - Thursday, August 14 2008 @ 05:07 PM EDT (#190668) #
I'll start by throwing Jim Palmer in as a starter.  19 seasons with the Orioles with a 268-152 record 2.86 ERA, 126 ERA+ and three Cy Young Awards.  I'll keep looking but that's going to be tough to beat.
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Brian W - Thursday, August 14 2008 @ 05:18 PM EDT (#190669) #
Mike Schmidt looks like the HR leader amongst eligible players so he'll fit at 3B.  18 seasons with the Phillies starting in 1972.  548 career HR and a 147 career OPS+.  3 time MVP and inducted into the HOF in 1995.

Willie Stargell for LF.  21 seasons all with Pittsburgh starting in 1962.  475 career HRs and also with a 147 OPS+.  1 MVP and inducted to the Hall in 1988.

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Brian W - Thursday, August 14 2008 @ 05:28 PM EDT (#190670) #
Running down the career HR and OPS+ leaders I'll also add in:

1B Jeff Bagwell HOU (15 seasons, 149 OPS+, 1 MVP)
SS Cal Ripken Jr BAL (21 seasons, 112 OPS+, 2 MVPs and HOF)
OF Carl Yastrzemski BOS (23 seasons, 129 OPS+, 1 MVP and HOF)
DH Edgar Martinez SEA (18 seasons, 147 OPS+)

? George Brett KC (21 seasons, 135 OPS+, 1 MVP, HOF) probably not going to beat out Schmidt for the 3B job, but worth mentioning.

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Mick Doherty - Thursday, August 14 2008 @ 05:32 PM EDT (#190671) #

Brett vs. Schmidt -- that's a classic debate. But there's another one on the board, too -- Yaz and Stargell were both exclusively LF (with time at 1B) ... who goes where? Honestly, I think I'd want Yaz in the OF and Stargell at 1B with Bagwell wandering over to sit on the bench with Brett.

Of course, I'm probably missing someone obvious ... like Don Mattingly?

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TheyCallMeMorty - Thursday, August 14 2008 @ 05:38 PM EDT (#190672) #
How about Craig Biggio at 2B and Tony Gwynn in RF?

I think I'm too young to come up with anyone else good.

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Brian W - Thursday, August 14 2008 @ 05:44 PM EDT (#190673) #
OK, so here's a lineup for now:

C Bench CIN
1B Stargell PIT
2B Biggio HOU
SS Ripken BAL
3B Schmidt PHI
LF Yaz BOS
CF Puckett MIN
RF Gwynn SD
DH Martinez SEA

SP Palmer BAL
RP Kaz Sasaki SEA

Tony Oliva is also a possibility at RF, Bernie Williams at CF.  Bagwell and Brett have been mentioned as has Mattingly.  I can't find a single viable relief candidate better than Sasaki.  Closers tend to have a short lifespan but they move around the league quickly. 

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James W - Thursday, August 14 2008 @ 05:48 PM EDT (#190675) #
These two might end up being 2nd best at their positions (and curse them for '84 and '87), but the Tigers had quite a middle infield in Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker.
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Brian W - Thursday, August 14 2008 @ 05:54 PM EDT (#190676) #
I'm no longer sure about Palmer as starting pitcher.  One Bob Gibson is just barely eligible (he debuted in 1959).  It's an awfully tough choice between him and Palmer.

Also, Robin Yount should get considered at CF instead of Puckett.  I know the prime of Yount's career was at SS, but I'm really not very happy with Puckett as the best CF.

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Magpie - Thursday, August 14 2008 @ 06:51 PM EDT (#190681) #
I can't find a single viable relief candidate better than Sasaki.

John Hiller and Bob Stanley?
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paulf - Thursday, August 14 2008 @ 07:42 PM EDT (#190686) #
John Smoltz may as well be retired now. You could make the argument that he could start and close for this team.
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whiterasta80 - Thursday, August 14 2008 @ 07:55 PM EDT (#190688) #
Smoltz was one of the first names that comes to mind for me as well. Rivera would also qualify for relievers, but Trevor Hoffman would not because of a hiccup with FLA.
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AWeb - Thursday, August 14 2008 @ 09:46 PM EDT (#190690) #
If we want an entire pitching staff (and we might, what if they have to play the pre-1957 team?), I'll nominate Ron Guidry as a portsider to start. 170-91, 119 ERA+ in 2392 IP, 1778 K: 633 BB, and one of the all-time peak seasons in 1978 (25-3, 270 IP, ERA+208, WHIP 0.946). Good pitchers on one team are really hard to find in recent decades, the starters won't be up to the HoF standards of the positional players.
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Magpie - Thursday, August 14 2008 @ 10:21 PM EDT (#190691) #
Don't be too worried about the pre-1957 team. It's a myth that players used to spend their whole careers playing for the same team in the same city, created by the fact that a few New York players did so.

Remember, the pre-1957 pitching staff won't have Cy Young, Lefty Grove, Christy Mathewson, Pete Alexander, Warren Spahn.... they don't get to line up Ruth, Cobb, and Speaker in the outfield. They can't have Collins or Hornsby fighting over second base. They can't even run  Honus Wagner out there at short, which puts them in a big hole.

Okay, they kick the moderns butt at first base, but the recent guys do likewise at the other infield corner.

Be of Good Cheer!

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AWeb - Saturday, August 16 2008 @ 12:07 PM EDT (#190741) #
This thread seems to have died (it's too hard to find pitchers!), but I'll throw Brad Radke into the starting rotation, 2451IP, 1467/445 K/BB, 112 ERA+, and unlucky to have pitched half his best years on a bad team in a historically high offensive environment, and therefore ended up barely above .500 on his career (148-139).
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Mick Doherty - Saturday, August 16 2008 @ 03:55 PM EDT (#190747) #
We almost have a full roster . Can you help fill it out? We need a backup catcher (maybe Jorge Posada some day?) and another bench player, preferably an infielder (that's why Yount is on the bench behind Puckett) as well as a fifth starter, preferably a lefty and two or three relievers, preferably at least one lefty. Sasaki is listed right now, but only spent four years in Seattle and we'd prefer at least 10 (see next entry) ...

LINEUP
C Johnny Bench, CIN
1B Willie Stargell, PIT
2B Craig Biggio, HOU
SS Cal Ripken Jr., BAL
3B Mike Schmidt, PHI
LF Carl Yastrzemski, BOS
CF Kirby Puckett, MIN
RF Tony Gwynn, SD
DH Edgar Martinez, SEA

RESERVES
C *****
IF/OF Robin Yount
COR IF George Brett
COR IF Jeff Bagwell
1B/PH Don Mattingly

ROTATION
RHSP Jim Palmer, BAL
RHSP Bob Gibson, STL
LHSP Ron Guidry, NYY
RHSP Brad Radke, MIN
SP *****

BULLPEN
RHRP John Hiller, DET
RHRP Bob Stanley, BOS
RHRP Kaz Sasaki, SEA (*****)
RP *****
RP *****

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Mick Doherty - Saturday, August 16 2008 @ 03:57 PM EDT (#190748) #
An actual Trivia Question ...
There are actually only 10 men who are active who have been with the same team their entire career (of at least 10 years) to date, including the Jays'wn Doc Halladay. Three are Yankees (Jeter, Posada, Rivera) -- someone say something about them being all free agent acquisitions? Two are Braves (Jones and Smoltz) while a quarter and a six pack says you can't name all of the other four without looking them up.
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Rob - Saturday, August 16 2008 @ 05:13 PM EDT (#190749) #
Todd Helton comes to mind immediately. The other three, not so much. I'll guess Varitek, Anderson, and Kerry Wood as a wild card.
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Rob - Saturday, August 16 2008 @ 05:17 PM EDT (#190750) #
Just looked it up. If Mick's using the same list I found, I missed one (never would have guessed him) and got three right...but I think Wood should qualify as well.
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Magpie - Saturday, August 16 2008 @ 06:25 PM EDT (#190753) #
Some starting pitcher candidates: Mario Soto, Ted Higuera, J.R. Richard.

Much harder to find relievers - the late Steve Olin qualifies, and he was a fine pitcher.
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Magpie - Saturday, August 16 2008 @ 06:29 PM EDT (#190754) #
Oh, you need a backup catcher! I give you Ron Hodges!

Twelve years with the Mets. As a backup catcher.

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Mick Doherty - Sunday, August 17 2008 @ 12:03 AM EDT (#190770) #
Just looked it up. If Mick's using the same list I found, I missed one (never would have guessed him) and got three right...but I think Wood should qualify as well.

Rob, you're right, you did get three -- and your fourth, Wood, should have been on that list (the one at BaseballReference.com, right?) too, given the standards they listed. The fourth they listed that you didn't list is Eric Chavez, for anyone else's FYI .... he's really fallen off the map. Five years ago I would have described him as on a HOF path, or at least potentially so. Not so much any more.

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The "He'll always be a ..." Challenge | 21 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.