If you were awarded a MLB franchise & had the 1st 3 picks in the draft (every player in history is available) who do you take?

Easy wrote:

I'm going to add the "greatest single season with 3 rookies aged 20 or younger" parameter because otherwise, it becomes quite subjective. Given that, it's pretty easy with hindsight and a quick google search, "which mlb players have had the greatest age 20 season?" I'm also going to disqualify non-live ball players for obvious reasons (In 1888 Silver King pitched 584 innings with 64 complete games and 45 wins at age 20). My picks also cover offense/pitching/infield/outfield. It wasn't considered but by coincidence, I'm covered against the PC police as I've got a Dominican American, African American, and an old white man.

1. Alex Rodriguez - 9.2 War

2. Mel Ott - 7.2 War

3. Dwight Gooden - 11.9 War

Total - 28.3 WAR

Does anybody have a live ball-era team with three 20 year-olds with at least 1 pitcher, 1 infielder, 1 outfielder, and a higher WAR?

If we're talking 15+ seasons, still drafted before 20 years old, it becomes a crap shoot but I still keep A-rod and I guess I'll add Pedro Martinez and Mickey Mantle.

Wise Old Man wrote:

Flagpole wrote:

1) No, not underestimating Robinson. I considered him. I pick Carew. Carew hit .328 for his career and was consistently great for the entirety of his career. SUPER GREAT and deserving of this pick.

2) Ricky Henderson was not a 2nd baseman or catcher, so he can't fill those roles which are required in my picks, and he can't beat Hank Aaron in the outfield. Picking a leadoff hitter is not in my top criteria.

3) Hank Aaron was better than Willie Mays, that's why I picked him. Higher batting average, more HRs, more hits, more RBIs, great for longer in his career than Mays. Aaron even won 2 batting titles to Mays' 1. Mays was better in the field and running the bases, but that's it. Aaron is the greatest player in the history of Major League Baseball.

4) I absolutely can and will sort out the cheaters. Bonds was the greatest player you ever saw on steroids. He was a .281 hitter in Pittsburg averaging 25 HRs per season. He would have ended up with 450-500 HRs IF he stayed healthy without the steroids, and he almost for sure would have made the Hall of Fame (though Dale Murphy won 2 MVPs and isn't in, and Fred McGriff hit 493 HRs and isn't in), but no guarantee.

You are off in your Mays v Aaron comparison. First off, Mays was a vastly better fielder and played a far more important defensive position. Mays has 12 gold gloves to Aaron’s 3. That’s big as you know. Aaron has higher cumulative totals because he played more games and had more plate appearances as Mays lost 2 key seasons to the army. They are nearly indentical in batting average, OBP, SLG and home run rate per plate appearance and in fact Mays is better in OBP and SLG and significantly better WAR 156 v 141. So offensively I think it’s tied, maybe you’ll give Aaron the nod, but then you are losing out on one of the greatest if not greatest center fielders ever. Really surprised you think Aaron is better than Mays.

Wise Old Man wrote:

Wise Old Man wrote:

You are off in your Mays v Aaron comparison. First off, Mays was a vastly better fielder and played a far more important defensive position. Mays has 12 gold gloves to Aaron’s 3. That’s big as you know. Aaron has higher cumulative totals because he played more games and had more plate appearances as Mays lost 2 key seasons to the army. They are nearly indentical in batting average, OBP, SLG and home run rate per plate appearance and in fact Mays is better in OBP and SLG and significantly better WAR 156 v 141. So offensively I think it’s tied, maybe you’ll give Aaron the nod, but then you are losing out on one of the greatest if not greatest center fielders ever. Really surprised you think Aaron is better than Mays.

To add additional context, this also comes down to valuing the players at their very best versus the longevity of their being outstanding. During his best 10-15 years Mays was greatest player ever, an unsurpassed hitter, greatest fielder and amazing base runner. In his later years he declined markedly. Aaron was the great compiler who remained highly productive and outstanding even in his later career. Aaron had more excellent years. However, at his peak, which was well over a decade, Mays was the most spectacular player ever. So I guess I’ll take Mays age 20-30 >> Aaron at that age and then Aaron age 30-40 > Mays at that age.

Flagpole wrote:

Wise Old Man wrote:

You are off in your Mays v Aaron comparison. First off, Mays was a vastly better fielder and played a far more important defensive position. Mays has 12 gold gloves to Aaron’s 3. That’s big as you know. Aaron has higher cumulative totals because he played more games and had more plate appearances as Mays lost 2 key seasons to the army. They are nearly indentical in batting average, OBP, SLG and home run rate per plate appearance and in fact Mays is better in OBP and SLG and significantly better WAR 156 v 141. So offensively I think it’s tied, maybe you’ll give Aaron the nod, but then you are losing out on one of the greatest if not greatest center fielders ever. Really surprised you think Aaron is better than Mays.

1) Obviously fielding for me isn't as important as hitting.

2) Mays lost one season to military service, not two.

3) Aaron had more plate appearances for more reasons than just Mays' military service. Aaron was more durable and played at a higher level for longer. If you take Mays' 3 best seasons and compare to Aaron's 3 best seasons, Mays wins, but we're going for a career here. Aaron hit 40 HRs at age 39 and hit .301 that season. When Mays was 39, he hit 28 HRs and hit .291.

4) Aaron had a better batting average, more HRs, more hits, more RBIs, and not by just a little bit either (batting average was close). Mays was GREAT, and he would be my centerfielder if we filled out a whole team, but Hank Aaron was the greatest player in the history of Major League baseball (I don't count drug cheats or old timers who didn't play against the best possible competition).

coach wrote:

Flagpole wrote:

1) Obviously fielding for me isn't as important as hitting.

2) Mays lost one season to military service, not two.

3) Aaron had more plate appearances for more reasons than just Mays' military service. Aaron was more durable and played at a higher level for longer. If you take Mays' 3 best seasons and compare to Aaron's 3 best seasons, Mays wins, but we're going for a career here. Aaron hit 40 HRs at age 39 and hit .301 that season. When Mays was 39, he hit 28 HRs and hit .291.

4) Aaron had a better batting average, more HRs, more hits, more RBIs, and not by just a little bit either (batting average was close). Mays was GREAT, and he would be my centerfielder if we filled out a whole team, but Hank Aaron was the greatest player in the history of Major League baseball (I don't count drug cheats or old timers who didn't play against the best possible competition).

He lost 2 years to the Korean war, all of 1953 and all bit 34 games in 1952. When he returned in 1954 he was MVP.