My all-time team:
C - Josh Gibson
1B - Lou Gehrig
2B - Rogers Hornsby
3B - Mike Schmidt
SS - Honus Wagner
LF - Barry Bonds
CF - Willie Mays
RF - Babe Ruth
SP - Walter Johnson
Of course, some positions would be overrepresented at the top, others underrepresented; I'd rather have Ty Cobb than Mike Schmidt, for instance.
Willie Mays. The epitome of the five tool player. Only player in history to lead the league in batting average, hits, doubles, triples, homers, slugging percentage, stolen bases, outfield putouts and outfield assists in his career. Often described as the greatest fielding outfielder ever. And probably lost 150 career homers playing at Candlestick Park, which would have given him 810 total. Bill James once set out to define a points system to predict whether or not a player should be in the HoF. Mays led every player in history in James' tally.
Babe Ruth : Mind frogging position player numbers + really good pitching numbers ( regular season 10 Yrs 94 46 .671 WP 2.28 ERA + post season 3-0 .87 ERA ) make the Babe a one of a kind greatest player ever
Willie Mays. He could hit, field and was fast. Ty Cobb second and first for being an a hole. Babe restored the game after the black sox scandal and was the best home run hitter but struck out too much. Bonds was better but we all know why.
Babe Ruth. He has the stats. He was great in the field. He brought the game to a whole new level. And his legacy is immortal.
All-round skills, effort, entertainment value, attitude and class: Roberto Clemente
It's a toss up between me, Ty Cobb and Joe Jackson. Because Joe Jackson screwed himself and I never played in the MLBs, it would have to be Ty Cobb.
