The best single season ever by position

timconnelly · 12-14-2001, 06:43 AM

Hey guys! Wanted to ask the question of who had the greatest single season ever by position. Just step up to the plate as the spirit moves you and nominate your player and the year. Start at any position you want. Be ready to defend your choices cos I'd like to see some good debate in this thread.

I'm ging to start at the catcher position. I nominate the season of 1997 by one Mike Piazza as the greatest ever offensively. If the catcher position were not such an important position defensively, I wouldn't even look at anybody else.

Piazza had 200 hits for the season (he played 7 games as a DH) and hit 40 home runs. He also batted .362 with .638 slugging average. His .816 OWP is the highest of this century.

But we all know Mike is not the greatest defensive catcher in the world. Would we be better to go with a great season by Campy or Bench or Dickey even if it didn't quite measure up offensively? Nope, after spending some time on this, I go with Piazza in 97 over everybody.

Skipper Steve · 12-14-2001, 06:59 AM

Piazza did have the best hiting year, relatively speaking, for a C, in 1997.

How about Arky Vaughan, 1935, for SS?

Not many would say that off the tipe of their head.

timconnelly · 12-14-2001, 07:12 AM

Steve, I had to look up Arky Vaughan's 1935 season to realize you weren't kidding. But you weren't kidding!! What an incredible season: .385 batting average. 13.80 runs created per game.

Any other nominees for the shortstop position?

Skipper Steve · 12-14-2001, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by timconnelly
Any other nominees for the shortstop position?

Honus Wagner - pick a year: 04, 05, 07, or 08

Modern Day - probably A-Rod, 1996

sweaver · 12-14-2001, 07:29 AM

Well, left field is easy.

Barry Bonds, 2001.

timconnelly · 12-14-2001, 02:26 PM

Ok, started this thread, thought I'd at least play it out.

C Mike Piazza 1997
1B Mark McGwire 1998
2B Rogers Hornsby 1922
SS A-Rod 1996
3B Mike Schmidt 1980
LF Barry Bonds 2001
CF Mickey Mantle 1956
RF Babe Ruth 1920
DH Ted Williams 1941

RP Walter Johnson 1913
LP Lefty Grove 1931

Sabermetrics says 1957 was a greater season for Mantle than 1956 but I thought I'd stick with the '56 season.

BuzzBuzzard · 12-14-2001, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by timconnelly
SS A-Rod 1996

Without thinking, I would have thought there was no way he had a better season than he did in 2001. Then I just looked it up. '96 was unreal.

sweaver · 12-14-2001, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by timconnelly
Ok, started this thread, thought I'd at least play it out.

C Mike Piazza 1997
1B Mark McGwire 1998
2B Rogers Hornsby 1922
SS A-Rod 1996
3B Mike Schmidt 1980
LF Barry Bonds 2001
CF Mickey Mantle 1956
RF Babe Ruth 1920
DH Ted Williams 1941

RP Walter Johnson 1913
LP Lefty Grove 1931

Sabermetrics says 1957 was a greater season for Mantle than 1956 but I thought I'd stick with the '56 season.

Looks like good choices to me. I might suggest Johnny Bench circa 1970, Joe Morgan 1975, Pedro Martinez 1999 could be contenders.

12-14-2001, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sweaver
Looks like good choices to me. I might suggest Johnny Bench circa 1970, Joe Morgan 1975, Pedro Martinez 1999 could be contenders.

I'd add Doc Gooden 1985 to that. Then I'd put in SP - Bob Gibson, 1968 (we'll see how long that stands)

Skipper Steve · 12-14-2001, 04:26 PM

Pedro's 2000, relatively speaking, was probably slightly beter than Grove in 31 or 32.

hmrsf · 12-14-2001, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Skipper Steve
Pedro's 2000, relatively speaking, was probably slightly beter than Grove in 31 or 32.

but feared it was due to my natural bias....

12-14-2001, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Skipper Steve
Pedro's 2000, relatively speaking, was probably slightly beter than Grove in 31 or 32.

Grove is an Immortal here in the Lively Ball era so I figured if we adjust for era, wouldn't that put Lefty on top?

I'm figuring to give the edge to a great slugger in the Deadball Era and a great pitcher in the Liveball Era.

Skipper Steve · 12-14-2001, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Yogi#8Fan
Grove is an Immortal here in the Lively Ball era so I figured if we adjust for era, wouldn't that put Lefty on top?

Pedro was pitching in a lively era too.

12-14-2001, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Skipper Steve
Pedro was pitching in a lively era too.

So the ball was about the same? I hadn't realized that. Now that I remember, there are way too many reports of juiced balls helping Bonds in 2001 so.........how could I have forgotten? Whatever.

SmedIndy · 12-14-2001, 04:48 PM

Lefty is the LHP. Pedro would replace The Big Train as a RHP.

12-14-2001, 06:43 AM	#1
timconnelly Renounced Membership 1/6/02 Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: NC Posts: 266	The best single season ever by position Hey guys! Wanted to ask the question of who had the greatest single season ever by position. Just step up to the plate as the spirit moves you and nominate your player and the year. Start at any position you want. Be ready to defend your choices cos I'd like to see some good debate in this thread. I'm ging to start at the catcher position. I nominate the season of 1997 by one Mike Piazza as the greatest ever offensively. If the catcher position were not such an important position defensively, I wouldn't even look at anybody else. Piazza had 200 hits for the season (he played 7 games as a DH) and hit 40 home runs. He also batted .362 with .638 slugging average. His .816 OWP is the highest of this century. But we all know Mike is not the greatest defensive catcher in the world. Would we be better to go with a great season by Campy or Bench or Dickey even if it didn't quite measure up offensively? Nope, after spending some time on this, I go with Piazza in 97 over everybody.

12-14-2001, 06:59 AM	#2
Skipper Steve NetShrine Creator & Curator Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NetShrine WHQ Posts: 1,281	Piazza did have the best hiting year, relatively speaking, for a C, in 1997. How about Arky Vaughan, 1935, for SS? Not many would say that off the tipe of their head. __________________ Steve, Forum Administrator Please Read the NetShrine Discussion Forum Community Standards

12-14-2001, 04:26 PM	#10
Skipper Steve NetShrine Creator & Curator Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NetShrine WHQ Posts: 1,281	Pedro's 2000, relatively speaking, was probably slightly beter than Grove in 31 or 32. __________________ Steve, Forum Administrator Please Read the NetShrine Discussion Forum Community Standards

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12-14-2001, 07:12 AM	#3
timconnelly Renounced Membership 1/6/02 Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: NC Posts: 266	Steve, I had to look up Arky Vaughan's 1935 season to realize you weren't kidding. But you weren't kidding!! What an incredible season: .385 batting average. 13.80 runs created per game. Any other nominees for the shortstop position?

12-14-2001, 07:29 AM	#5
sweaver Netshrine Cleanup Hitter Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Mountain State Posts: 8,883	Well, left field is easy. Barry Bonds, 2001.

12-14-2001, 02:26 PM	#6
timconnelly Renounced Membership 1/6/02 Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: NC Posts: 266	Ok, started this thread, thought I'd at least play it out. C Mike Piazza 1997 1B Mark McGwire 1998 2B Rogers Hornsby 1922 SS A-Rod 1996 3B Mike Schmidt 1980 LF Barry Bonds 2001 CF Mickey Mantle 1956 RF Babe Ruth 1920 DH Ted Williams 1941 RP Walter Johnson 1913 LP Lefty Grove 1931 Sabermetrics says 1957 was a greater season for Mantle than 1956 but I thought I'd stick with the '56 season.

12-14-2001, 04:48 PM	#15
SmedIndy NetShrine's Historian Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Zionsville, IN Posts: 10,569	Lefty is the LHP. Pedro would replace The Big Train as a RHP.

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