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Bonds wasn't fit to hold Mantle's jock strap. Nor Aaron's, Mays', DiMaggio's, or Musial's. Don't you ever forget that. Bonds cheated. Bond played in an era when earned run verages throughout baseball were a good run higher than in Mickey and Willie's time. Barry you don't count. You're a zero. You are a miserable guy.

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YO STOP COMPARING BR TO BB YOU'LL ONLY COME UP WITH BS. DID YOU EVER SEE RUTH PLAY? NO! HAVE YOU EVER SEEN HIM RUN? NO! DO YOU ACTUALLY THINK AN ATHLETE FROM THE ANY RACIALLY DIVIDED ERA CAN COMPARE WITH TODAYS ATHELETES BASED ON WHAT YOU HEARD OR THE FEW BLACK AND WHITE CLIPS YOU'VE VIEWED THEN YOU'RE ONLY FOOLIN YA SELF CLETUS !!!!!

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Like it or not, Bonds is numerically the second best player in baseball history, after Ruth. When taking League Quality into account, he is ahead of Ruth.

Now how much to adjust for alleged PED use is up to you, but as it stands, Bonds and Ruth are the only two players who deserve the " best ever " crown.

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I don't think it's possibble to compare records of those who played ball in the 1920's, 30's, 40's - even the 60's, with those who are playing today. Forget the steroids and other enhancements...the game is faster, the players are all bigger, stronger and a heckuva lot faster.

The game has changed too much. For his time, there is no question that Ruth was the best -- for his time, Koufax was the best left-hander in the game. Hank Aaron holds the record for the most home runs, but if Ruth or Gehrig had played for as long as Aaron did, they might have hit 900 hr's - but neither did nor could have. Ruth was worn out when he quit and Gehrig died young.

Comparisons of that kind are, IMO, impossible.
Is Bonds the best today? Maybe. We'll have to wait and see.

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Let's face it; any player who did not come into the league after Jackie Robinson is not worthy of being considered as the best in baseball.

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How can someone say Babe Ruth was the best player in baseball when some of the best players were not allowed to play baseball in his day. Let's face it anyone who did not play after Jackie Robinson's inception into the league does not qualify to be considered as the best in baseball

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I am 44 years old and have been a baseball nut since I watched my first World Series (1969). I have also played competitively, and have always been somewhat of an analyst. My conclusion regarding who the best player ever was still remains the same (since about 1990). The award goes to Lou Gehrig. Anyone who loves the game should take a close look at this man's stats to believe it; he was phenomenal. Briefly stated: .340 avg, 493 hrs, 1995 rbis, 2721 hits, .447 ob%,

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Continuing from the above comment, I would like to add that Lou Gehrig did this in 17 seasons. However, 14 of them were full seasons. In his first two, he had under 30 at bats, and his last season was obviously cut short (28 at bats). Both his fielding and post season batting were great too. By the way, for you moderns: he could have played in any era. If around today, he would be bigger and faster the right way, due to his outstanding character.

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My pick for #2 is probably Hank Aaron. You could choose a number of different players for #3 to #10, but I would not pick Barry Bonds. His on base % is overstated due to his steroid usage, since teams were afraid to pitch to him. He continued to hit many home runs after age 35 (the age a player's power begins to diminish), which has to be the result of steroids. Also, Barry Bonds' post season batting is atrocious. He would have, no doubt, made the Hall of Fame without steroids, and still would have been considered one of the best of his era. It's a shame that most people will remember Barry more for steroids, and deep down he is haunted by this. Let this be a lesson to players: you really can't enjoy winning if you cheat. I hope to one day see players emerge, like Lou Gehrig and Hank Aaron.

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I'll vote for A-Rod. I just wish MLB would make steroids MANDATORY so we could watch him destroy all records and hit 1000 homers!!

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I guess you never heard of Willie Mays? Look at his stats. Mays was the all around player! 665 homers,over 3,000 hits. One of the greatest fielders of all time.in our age steroids is the drug. did you know that speed has been used for decades in baseball? A little bit of advantage ,would'nt you say so. Huh!

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Of course I know speed was used in baseball. Like I said above, I know the history of the game. Both Lou Gehrig and Hank Aaron did not use speed either. By the way, Willie Mays was athletic, no doubt. However, I know people who saw him play. They told me that he made many plays look harder than they actually were. He would run in on balls, misjudging them, and then run back. Joe DiMaggio and Richie Ashburn made many of those same plays look much easier. Perhaps Willie's "speed" problem was the cause. But then again, if he didn't use speed, he might not have made many of those great catches.

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And now, let's talk about A-Rod. Until he can help the Yankees (like Gehrig did) win many World Series, don't mention him. Right now, the Yankees are seven games behind the Red Sox. I realize they don't have great pitching, but if A-Rod is A-God, then why are they in second. Babe Ruth once said that a team can have nine of the best players. But if they can't gel together, then what good are they. Remember, baseball is a team sport.

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