110 Greatest Baseball Players

Beginning today the LeRoy Crew will countdown the list of the 110 greatest baseball players of all time.  This list has been formed after years of debate amongst the LeRoy Crew and it has been ratified by actual hand vote by the Crew.  One member, Pete, has objected to certain aspects of the list and voted against it, while all others voted in favor.  Let the countdown begin.

110.  LHP Mike Stanton, New York Yankees.

Stanton had an illustrious career and distinguished himself in two separate stints with the Yankees.  Stanton first came to prominence in the Minor Leagues when he emerged as a top prospect with the Atlanta Braves.  His career came to fruition in Atlanta, as he proved himself as a terrific setup man and a part-time closer.  After parts of two seasons with Boston and a cup of coffee in Texas, Stanton landed in New York where he really made his mark.  He became infamous for his five-game suspension in 1998 when he intentionally hit OF Eric Davis with a pitch.  He was also part of the Yankees dynasty team that won three World Series' in a row from 1998 to 2000.  He had one of the greatest seasons in the history of the game as a setup man in 2001, when he was named to the AL All-Star team.  After finishing his time with the Yankees he went to the crosstown Mets for two years.  He was most well-known there for striking out four batters in one inning in 2004.  After his time with the Mets came to an end he went back crosstown again and rejoined the Yankees.  But his career was beginning to decline in its twilight.  After one more for the road in the Bronx he returned to Boston for another stint, but wound playing that season with three teams, including cups of coffee with both San Francisco and Washington. He then finished his career by playing a year in Cincinnati.  A year after his playing career ended it was revealed that he'd taken performance enhancing drugs throughout his career, but this list was based on his on-field performance and measurable empirical data, not speculative arguments about how much his career was aided by PEDs.  And what about his career?  His career is most outstanding for its longevity, with 19 seasons in the bigs.  Some say that longevity doesn't count for much, but remember that Stanton was a setup man and setup men come and go.  They're basically dime a dozen players.  So when one lasts for 19 seasons it's a pretty good bet that he was a good pitcher.  And Stanton was one of the best setup men to ever play the game.  He finished his career with 68 wins, 63 losses, 84 saves, and 895 strikeouts.  But the real testimony to his greatness?  He pitched in 1,178 games throughout his career and maintained a 3.92 ERA.  Clearly, he was as a reliable setup man as there was in his time.  But the PEDs are disturbing and I am forced to admit that had it not been for the drugs, he probably wouldn't have made it on this list.

Honorable mention:

CF Otis Nixon, Atlanta Braves

Nixon had a great career where he distinguished himself with two separate stints with the Braves.  He began his career with the Yankees, where he first became known as a top prospect and a terror on the basepaths in the Minor Leagues, stealing 70 or more bases three times.  He then spent parts of four seasons with Cleveland where he made his mark as a pinch runner and defensive outfielder.  He then went to Montreal where he once again combined to steal 70 bases between the Major Leagues and the Minor Leagues.  He stayed there for two more years.  He then went to Atlanta where he stole 70 plus bases in the Majors for the first time in 1991.  He was also known for his tumultuous behavior in Atlanta, being suspended twice in 1991, the first time a four-game bid for charging the mound and the second time for the remainder of the season (and the postseason) due to cocaine-related charges.  He played with the Braves for two more years.  Nixon played a year in Boston, a year in Texas, parts of two years in Toronto, had a cup of coffee with the Dodgers, and a year in Minnesota before he returned to finish his career with the Braves.  When you look at his stat line you probably see a Hall of Famer, as he finished his career with over 600 stolen bases, but his cocaine addiction probably ruined any chance of him being enshrined in Cooperstown.  Hall of Famer or naught, Nixon still wasn't good enough to crack this list.

1B Richie Sexson, Milwaukee Brewers

Sexson first came to prominence in the Minor Leagues when he was named the Carolina League MVP in 1995.  He then gained notice over the next couple of years as a top prospect with the Indians.  After Jim Thome was permanently moved to first base Sexson was traded to the Brewers, where he really made his mark.  He gained national media attention when he hit three home runs in a game in 2001, and was hailed as a star when he finished the season with 45 homers.  In 2002, he participated in the Home Run Derby, was named to the National League All-Star team, and won a Player of the Week Award in the second half of the season.  In 2003, he again participated in the Home Run Derby and was again an All-Star, hit three home runs in a game again and finished the season with 45 homers again.  Sexson played a season in Arizona and then moved onto Seattle where he became notorious for two suspensions in 2005, one two-game bid for throwing garbage onto the filed following a strikeout and a subsequent one-game suspension for arguing balls and strikes.  He was suspended again with Seattle in 2008 for six games after charging the mound.  He was released by the Mariners shortly thereafter and finished his career with a cup of coffee with the Yankees.  Sexson finished his career with over 300 home runs, but that's not good enough to get him named to this list.

LF Vince Coleman, St. Louis Cardinals

Coleman first came to prminence in the Minor Leagues, stealing 145 bases in A ball in 1983 and another 101 the next season at AAA.  He eventually finished his Minor League career with 307 stolen bases.  He then brought his act to the Majors with the Cardinals in 1985, stealing 110 bases, being named to the Topps All-Rookie Team and winning the National League Rookie of the Year Award.  In 1986 he won a Player of the Week Award and stole 107 bases.  He stole 109 bases in 1987.  In 1988 he made the National League All-Star team and stole 81 bases.  He made the All-Star team again in 1989.  He finished his career with the Cardinals by stealing 77 bases in 1990.  He then spent three seasons with the Mets, parts of two seasons with Kansas City, had a cup of coffee with Seattle, spent a season in Cincinnati and finished his career in Detroit.  Coleman was stole 752 bases in his career and probably should have been a Hall of Famer, but was declined entry by the BBWAA, due in no small part to a rape allegation and an incident in which he blinded a fan with a firecracker.  Despite his obvious base stealing abilities and the fact that he may have been the fastest player ever to step on a baseball field he still isn't good enough to make this list.