The All-Star Game is coming up, and for years I was visualizing ways to celebrate the 50th anniversary of MLB's 100th Anniversary celebration, or the 25th of its 125th Anniversary celebration. I envisioned something for this year akin to the Franchise Fours and All-Century Team ceremonies. It doesn't look as if there'll even be an all-time team for this occasion, much less what I've come up with here.
Some of these decisions can invite passionate debate. They weren't easy. I'd better be good and ready to defend these.
TEAMS OF THE HALF CENTURIES
First Half Century (1869-1918)
P: Christy Mathewson
C: Roger Bresnahan
1B: Cap Anson
2B: Nap Lajoie
3B: Frank Baker
SS: Honus Wagner
LF: Jesse Burkett
CF: Ty Cobb
RF: Willie Keeler
Second Half Century (1919-1968)
P: Warren Spahn
C: Yogi Berra
1B: Lou Gehrig
2B: Jackie Robinson
3B: Eddie Mathews
SS: Ernie Banks
LF: Ted Williams
CF: Joe DiMaggio
RF: Babe Ruth
Third Half Century (1969-2018)
P: Greg Maddux
C: Johnny Bench
1B: Eddie Murray
2B: Joe Morgan
3B: Mike Schmidt
SS: Cal Ripken Jr.
LF: Barry Bonds
CF: Ken Griffey Jr.
RF: Reggie Jackson
Now, the decade teams. Players can appear on only one each. Some selections were made for the sake of having particular legends (Alexander over Herb Pennock, Ward over Jack Glasscock). When it comes to outfielders, I make distinctions between the three individual positions and select accordingly.
Feel free to see in your mind's eye how these teams would be shown with period presentation and music.
TEAMS OF THE DECADES
1870s: Al Spalding, Deacon White, Cap Anson, Ross Barnes, Levi Meyerle, George Wright, Jim O'Rourke, Paul Hines, Orator Shafer
1880s: Tim Keefe, Buck Ewing, Dan Brouthers, Bid McPhee, Ned Williamson, John Ward, Harry Stovey, Pete Browning, King Kelly
1890s: Cy Young, Deacon McGuire, Jake Beckley, Cupid Childs, John McGraw, Hughie Jennings, Ed Delahanty, Billy Hamilton, Willie Keeler
1900s: Christy Mathewson, Roger Bresnahan, Frank Chance, Nap Lajoie, Jimmy Collins, Honus Wagner, Fred Clarke, Ty Cobb, Sam Crawford
1910s: Walter Johnson, Ray Schalk, Jake Daubert, Eddie Collins, Home Run Baker, Buck Weaver, Sherry Magee, Tris Speaker, Joe Jackson
1920s: Pete Alexander, Mickey Cochrane, Jim Bottomley, Rogers Hornsby, Joe Dugan, Joe Sewell, Zack Wheat, Hack Wilson, Babe Ruth
1930s: Lefty Grove, Bill Dickey, Lou Gehrig, Charlie Gehringer, Pie Traynor, Arky Vaughan, Joe Medwick, Lloyd Waner, Mel Ott
1940s: Bob Feller, Walker Cooper, Johnny Mize, Bobby Doerr, Bob Elliott, Lou Boudreau, Ralph Kiner, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial
1950s: Warren Spahn, Yogi Berra, Gil Hodges, Jackie Robinson, Eddie Mathews, Ernie Banks, Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron
1960s: Sandy Koufax, Joe Torre, Harmon Killebrew, Pete Rose, Ron Santo, Maury Wills, Carl Yastrzemski, Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente
1970s: Tom Seaver, Johnny Bench, Willie Stargell, Joe Morgan, Mike Schmidt, Dave Concepcion, Lou Brock, Cesar Cedeno, Reggie Jackson
1980s: Fernando Valenzuela, Gary Carter, Eddie Murray, Ryne Sandberg, George Brett, Cal Ripken Jr., Rickey Henderson, Robin Yount, Dale Murphy
1990s: Greg Maddux, Mike Piazza, Frank Thomas, Craig Biggio, Matt Williams, Barry Larkin, Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr., Juan Gonzalez
2000s: Randy Johnson, Joe Mauer, Albert Pujols, Chase Utley, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Manny Ramirez, Jim Edmonds, Ichiro Suzuki
2010s: Clayton Kershaw, Buster Posey, Miguel Cabrera, Robinson Cano, Adrian Beltre, Troy Tulowitzki, Ryan Braun, Mike Trout, Ben Zobrist
INSPIRATION FOR THESE LISTS: Sports Illustrated's The Baseball Book all-time team and all-decade teams (2006); The Sporting News Selects Baseball's 100 Greatest Players decade teams (1998); Street & Smith's Baseball "Team of the Century" (1998); New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract decade teams and position rankings (2001); BWAA all-time teams of 1969 and 1997; Sports Illustrated's Baseball's Greatest (2013); ESPN Hall of 100 (2012); SABR top 100 (1999); Athlon Sports Baseball's "All-Century Team...So Far" (2019); and other sources
