The All-Century Team: Best Season Version

Most baseball enthusiasts were probably fairly satisfied with the All-Century Team selected last year. With a few notable exceptions (Foxx and Alexander come readily to mind), voters did a decent job.

But what if you were asked to select a team based upon the century’s best season at each position? This sounds like it might be a more difficult task, fraught with endless arguments. Actually, though, I had relatively little trouble coming up with the offering that follows. (The second team was a different story, particularly since I restricted its members to players who did not appear on the first team. There have been too many great players to let one or two — specifically Ruth and Hornsby — hog spots on both squads.)

First Base: Jimmie Foxx, 1932

Foxx’s 1932 season is almost as legendary as the Beast himself. This was the year that rainouts and recent changes in certain ballparks probably cost Jimmie the seasonal home run record. In addition to his awesome offensive numbers, he also led the league in fielding average (.994) at his position. Double X was inexplicably, inexcusably, left off MLB’s All-Century Team, but he finds redemption here. (Asterisk indicates league leader.)

BA	SLG	H	HR	HR%	R	RBI
.364	*.749	213	*58	*9.9	*151	*169

Second Base: Rogers Hornsby, 1922

Although he was the National League’s greatest offensive force throughout the 1920s, he outdid himself in 1922. Had he led the league in triples, he would be the only player in history to finish first in batting average, slugging average, hits, doubles, triples, home run percentage, runs, and RBIs. No second baseman will ever have a better season. Ever.

BA	SLG	H	2B	HR	HR%	R	RBI
*.401	*.722	*250	*46	*42	*6.7	*141	152

Shortstop: Alex Rodriguez, 1996

Rodriguez combined Wagner-type average with Banks-type power. Along with his league-leading .358 batting average, he set a record for shortstops in doubles (54) and extra-base hits (91). He also scored more runs than any shortstop in history, and his 379 total bases tied Banks’ 379 in 1958 for best ever.

BA	SLG	H	2B	R	RBI
*.358	.631	215	*54	*141	123

Third Base: Mike Schmidt, 1980

Leading the Phillies to their only World Series victory is almost enough to put the preeminent third sacker on this list. As was the case for his career, the power/fielding combination rates ahead of anyone else. An MVP, Gold Glove, and World Series winner in 1980.

BA	SLG	HR	HR%	R	RBI
.286	*.624	*48	8.8	104	*121

Left Field: Ted Williams, 1941

A batting average over .400, a slugging average over.700, and an on-base percentage of .551 make this an easy choice.

BA	SLG	HR	HR%	R	RBI	BB
*.406	*.735	37	*8.1	*135	120	*145

Center Field: Ty Cobb, 1911

His inclusion may be bad for team chemistry and clubhouse morale, but in 1911 he led the league in batting average, slugging average, runs, RBIs, and stolen bases. It was an accomplishment that was never duplicated — except by himself in 1917.

BA	SLG	H	2B	3B	R	RBI	SB
*.420	*.621	*248	*47	24	*147	*144	*83

Right Field: Babe Ruth, 1921

The player is obvious, the year much more difficult. The game’s all-time greatest player put up many of the all-time greatest seasons, but I’ll take this one because of the runs and RBI totals.

BA	SLG	H	HR	HR%	R	RBI	BB
.378	*.846	204	*59	*10.9	*177	*171	*144

Catcher: Roy Campanella, 1953

His runs total and higher batting average give him the edge over Bench’s 1970 season.

BA	HR	R	RBI
.312	41	103	*142

Left-Handed Pitcher: Sandy Koufax, 1965

With all due respect to the great seasons of Lefty Grove, Sandy’s 1965 is simply superior. And the next best is probably his 1963. This season rates higher because of the strikeout record and the World Series ERA of 0.38.

W-L	PCT	ERA	CG	IP	SO
*26-8	.765	*2.04	*27	*335.2	*382

Right-Handed Pitcher: Pedro Martinez, 1999

Adjusting for conditions is tricky business, but in the greatest age of hitting (particularly power hitting) ever, Martinez put up Deadball Era numbers. His strikeout-to-walks margin is scary, and he came within one walk of becoming the first pitcher to lead his league in most strikeouts per nine innings, fewest hits per nine innings, and fewest walks per nine innings.

W-L	PCT	ERA	SO	BB
*23-4	*.851	*2.07	*313	37

Relief Pitcher: Dennis Eckersley, 1990

Not only was the Eck nearly unhittable, but you could barely coax a walk out of him. His WHIP ratio equaled his ERA, a near-ludicrous 0.61. Two saves and a 0.00 ERA in the LCS edge out his 1992 effort, which was almost as dominant.

W-L	SV	ERA	WHIP	BB
4-2	48	0.61	0.61	4

Second Team All-Century

• 1B: Lou Gehrig, 1934
• 2B: Nap Lajoie, 1901
• SS: Ernie Banks, 1958
• 3B: George Brett, 1980
• LF: Hack Wilson, 1930
• CF: Joe DiMaggio, 1941
• RF: Chuck Klein, 1930
• C: Johnny Bench, 1970
• LHP: Lefty Grove, 1931
• RHP: Walter Johnson, 1913
• RP: Bobby Thigpen, 1990

TED FARMER is a historian who lives in Blacksburg, Virginia.