Top 5 first basemen

[BronXBombers51]

I will argue strongly against McGwire. If you look at his career numbers, he had 5 brilliant seaons starting in 1996. But before that, he was nothing that special--several seasons mostly lost to injuries and in the five or so full seasons he did play, he averaged like 30 HRs with a BA around .250. Even in the late 80s and early 90s, these nothing more than Glenn Davis numbers, and no one is arguing for him as one of the best of the last 25 years.

McGwire was certainly a good player, but everything that made him great was done in the span of five years, and I don't think there is anyone around can say with a straight face that his production above and beyond his .250/30 previous career mean was not 90% attributable to steroids. McGwire provided nothing approaching the long-term stellar production of a Murray, a Bagwell or a Palmeiro.

By the way, what about Fred McGriff, shouldn't he rate somewhere on here? Here is a guy who was the model of consitency and retired with a career .886 OPS even though he played half his career before the offensive explosion of the past 10 years.

Look at McGwire's 162 game averages. Scary numbers. He's the best 1B in the last 25 years. But I ask, where's the love for Donnie Baseball? I think he's certainly Top 5.

I agree.

[acsguitar]

Donnie Baseball is the man! Top Easy

[mwb743s]

Yeah Donnie Baseball has to be among these conversations IMO

[Drunken Rhino]

Donny Baseball the top? The guy had 162 game avgerages of 90 R, 21 HR, and 99 RBI? The most HR he hit in a season was 35. That's the top 1B of the last 25 years?

Donny Baseball good, warrants arguements for top 10, and gets kudos for being THE top Tom Selleck look-a-like, but not top of the last 25 years.

[SouthBronxBombers]

Bagwell
Eddie Murray
Carlos Delgado
Jim Thome
Frank Thomas
Will Clark, if he could have stayed on the field, considering he was hitting in Candlestick and the old Ranger park, he did pretty dang well might have cracked it.

[bd3521]

Donny Baseball the top? The guy had 162 game avgerages of 90 R, 21 HR, and 99 RBI? The most HR he hit in a season was 35. That's the top 1B of the last 25 years?

Donny Baseball good, warrants arguements for top 10, and gets kudos for being THE top Tom Selleck look-a-like, but not top of the last 25 years.

9 Gold Gloves, 3 Silver Sluggers, AL MVP. You can certaintly make a case for him

[bigh0rt]

Will Clark falls into the same category of Mattingly. Great players who didn't reach milestones due to shortened careers.

Here's my Top 5:
'Big Mac' Mark McGwire
'Steady' Eddie Murray
Rafael 'Viagra = Steroids?' Palmeiro
Don 'My fingers are naked ' Mattingly
Will Clark

Like I said, the career numbers didn't quite get there, but Clark and Mattingly were both special players, moreso than Big Hurt and Bagwell, who I feel benefitted greatly from the park he was in.

[Pogotheostrich]

Bagwell, who I feel benefitted greatly from the park he was in.

The AstroDome!

[LouisC9999]

Keith Hernandez

This might be a bit off-topic, but I was just watching the "Keith Hernandez" Seinfeld episode.

That's a great one.

Vandelay! Say Vandelay!"
- George, running from the bathroom after Kramer answers Jerry's phone

"And you want to be my latex salesman."
- Jerry as he walks through the door, to George who is lying face down with his pants around his ankles

"Why's George's father talking to a man in a cape?"

[superfly]

McGwire was certainly a good player, but everything that made him great was done in the span of five years, and I don't think there is anyone around can say with a straight face that his production above and beyond his .250/30 previous career mean was not 90% attributable to steroids. McGwire provided nothing approaching the long-term stellar production of a Murray, a Bagwell or a Palmeiro.

Are you kidding? McGwire was the mark of consistent power. The guy hit 49 homers in his rookie year. For his career, he averaged 50 homers per 162 games. Injuries were what took a toll on him but as far as power hitting goes, he had no peers at 1b.