Who was the Best Dominican Baseball Player Of All Time and who is the Best One Now? Post facts and opinions. I am talking about the best ones that played on U.S. official baseball teams like the American League and The National League, etc. I am not asking for Dominican teams or amateur teams in the U.S. Thanks
- Thread starter LeeStetson
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Best Dominican Baseball Player Of All Time and the Best One Now
I am going to take a guess on this one due to my personal opinion. The best Dominican baseball player of all time has to go to Juan Marichal due to his accomplishments and also inducted in baseball's Hall Of Fame. Now, as far as who is the best one now is difficult because you have Alex Rodriguez, Robinson Cano, Albert Pujols and Jose Bautista just to name a few. If we are going by statistics it should go to either Alex Rodriguez or Albert Pujols. I would like to hear the opinions of other DR1 forum writers.
Well, A-Rod may not qualify, as he was born in the U.S. Now, since pitchers are one-dimensional, some folks may never consider them, but I think that 3-time Cy Young winner, Pedro Mart?nez, is the all-time greatest Dominican-born player in MLB history.
For position players, I like the 5-tool guys, like C?sar Cede?o, Raul Mondes?, and Sammy Sosa, with Cede?o getting the edge. Untortunately, he didn't realize his full potential. A great singles hitter, the late Matty Alou, would have to be included in everybody's list of all-time greats.
For position players, I like the 5-tool guys, like C?sar Cede?o, Raul Mondes?, and Sammy Sosa, with Cede?o getting the edge. Untortunately, he didn't realize his full potential. A great singles hitter, the late Matty Alou, would have to be included in everybody's list of all-time greats.
I just asked Mr. AE, and in a split second he said "Juan Marichal".
Back in the day, when Mr. AE was young, all of the Dominican [and many American] ball players used to go to a place called La Cotica in Mata Hambre near my in-law's house [SD]. Marichel, the Alou brothers, all the big names, they were just regular guys to the locals. Juan Marichel used to love to play poker in one of the houses. The Americans who used to play winter ball there often showed up too, because they knew the Dominican players were there.
Back in the day, when Mr. AE was young, all of the Dominican [and many American] ball players used to go to a place called La Cotica in Mata Hambre near my in-law's house [SD]. Marichel, the Alou brothers, all the big names, they were just regular guys to the locals. Juan Marichel used to love to play poker in one of the houses. The Americans who used to play winter ball there often showed up too, because they knew the Dominican players were there.
Wow "La Cotica"...great memories. I used to teach at ICDA (1990-91) and that was our hangout place. Used to eat there almost every day.
Marichal is the greatest as of now, cause he's the only hall of fame inductee as of now. My personal favorite is Pedro Martinez.
Juan Marichal hands down...Pre steriod age you have quite a few oldies..J.Rijo,J.Uribe,R.Mondesi (hmm??),A.Griffin,J. Andujar,P.Perez, C.Cedeno, R.Martinez, R.Ramirez, G.Bell, etc...
NO other player in the history of MLBl has ever hit 30 home runs in his first 11 years of his career, and 6 more and it will be 12yrs.....NO other player, no Ruth, Bonds, Aaron, McGuire, A-Rod, Mantle, No other player....If you follow baseball you know who it is.... by the way Cano has never hit 30 home runs in a year......Martinez is a good second......
As a big Red Sox fan, I saw Pedro pitch a bunch of times. All I can say is, HOLY COW!! Great pitcher, if he's not the greatest?? Whoever is, Pedro is there, right next to him........
Plus the whole Don Zimmer incident...(when he had to push him down) puts him on a whole different level........
irate:
Plus the whole Don Zimmer incident...(when he had to push him down) puts him on a whole different level........
irate:Are you guys forgetting where Marichal was beat some guy repeatedly in the head with a bat? He could have killed the guy with one clean strike. This after he was going headhunting. Maybe this was more common back then but people have been killed by a bean to the head. You wouldn't ever see Pujols doing any of that.
Alex Rodriguez is an "American" baseball player. Listen to A Rod speak, and then listen to other players like Eric Aybar, Alfonso Soriano, even the great Sammy Sosa. I do not remember but didn't he turn down the DR to play on the national team. Correct me if I am wrong but I do not think A Rod learned baseball in DR.
If I had to pick one it would be Pujols, but he is no Barry Bonds.
In sports it seems some will rate you on your athletic skills and others will rate you as a "all around good guy". I think (and again MY opinion) you need to take both into consideration. On the field and off the field. On the field, you have Marichal, Alou family, etc...Present times Pujols but are you looking for someone who came up here so to speak in DR, then him and Rodriguez really would not be the ones. While right now there are some good DR players ( meaning played here as a youth and signed here, not leaving here to go to college,,etc..) time will tell whether they are able to encompass all aspects of the sport.
With all due respect Barry Bonds is no Barry Bonds - he is the chemically "improved" version that's all. I doubt given Pujols convictions he would ever do that.
For me - Damaso Garcia...no facts, just my opinion after working with him in Toronto.
With all due respect Barry had Hall of Fame numbers when he played for the Pirates.
BTW I have NEVER EVER saw a player walked as much as Barry was. I think once the NY Yankees walked him the entire game.