Ok, two parts to this answer.

First off who do you think the best retired baseball player of all time was? My pick would have to be Ted Williams. Williams was a great player. The last one to bat over .400 and he didn't care about the average he just wanted to help his team. On the last day of the season he could have not played and got his average up to .400, but he wanted to help the team. I also think that Cal Ripken Jr., Willie Mays, and Ozzie were also very good players.

Second, who do you think is the best current player in the National League and American League? In the American League I think A-Rod is the best. In the National League I have a tie between Randy Johnson and Fernando Vina. Johnson because he goes out every time it is his turn in the rotation and just pitches. he doesn't go out and get mad and curse and tyrant about he just goes out and does his job every week. He also shows a lot of heart at what really matters. His family. He declined going to play in the All-Star game this year to be with his family. I also chose Vina because one he plays for the Cardinals and two because he goes out and does his job. He may put down a sac bunt just to help the team out. He doesn't go out and do everything his own way he does what helps out the team.

Who do you think are the best players?

For the retired player, I have to agree on Ted Williams. Until someone bats over .400 he will always be the best. But the title of best player (retired) is a tough award to give. Ripken jr, Mays, Robinson, Jackson are all deserving.

For the best active players....A-ROD is a worthless player that gets payed way to much money for what he does.
For the NL I will go with either the Dynamic Duo of Johnson and Schilling or Luis Gonzalaz of the Diamondbacks. In the AL I will pick Jason Giambi of the Yankees


r2k

For me, the retired player would probably be Babe Ruth, pitching and batting, he was good at everything. Ted Williams, Cal Ripken and Ozzie Smith were deserving. In the AL I would say Carlos Delgado, although he does hit for a .275 average or so he's very reliant. In the NL, I would say Vladimir Guerrero, he can hit for average, steal, hit homeruns and field.

Best regular season player...Henry Aaron or Roberto Clemente.

Best post-season player...Reggie Jackson aka Mr. October!

Best current players...Barry Bonds is a no brainer in the NL, although Sammy Sosa is a fairly close second. In the AL I would say a healthy Nomar Garciaparra could easily be considered the top player.

Ok jazz about Nomar, but Bonds and Sosa? They only got to where they are by steroids. And if you don't think they use them look at Bonds. Hits 40 HR one year hits 73 the next. Sosa if he doesn't use them why doesn't he prove it and take a test for steroids?

Cardys...I based my opinion purely on statistics because I have no idea which players are juicing up...for all we know Ken Caminiti is correct and 70% of the players are doing it. In that case, the entire league and all of its statistics are placed into question. That being said, Bonds has been a consistently excellent player throughout his career...he is, after all, a 4 time MVP winner. The outrageous home run numbers we have seen over the past several seasons could very well be a product of steroid use...but could also be a product of a juiced up ball. If Brady Anderson and Luis Gonzalez can pull off 50 homers in a season...something's probably going on with the equipment.

I'd have to agree with Ted Williams, but would also add Hank Aaron.

As for A-Rod -- (I now live near the Rangers and see him every game that I don't turn off!) Yes, he is overpaid. But you can't fault him for good hitting. His fielding could be better. he seems to make errors in groups. However, the most important thing I feel that is wrong with him is that he cannot get hits under pressure. One example -- look at the home run contest at the All Star game. He even brought his own pitcher from Texas. And still he could not get it done. When the bases are loaded in the ninth, A-Rod comes up and invariably hits a grounder for an out or a double play.
So, what do I do? heh...heh...heh I go back to my roots, pull out my Die Hard Cubs Fan Club card and watch the Cubbies!
(I could tell you who the worst player in the American League is, but you probably already know he is a Ranger. ugh..)
Thank you gentlemen for letting me put my 2 cents worth in.

Ugh, the Cubs. It's about time Sosa figured out he should leave that town. It's been almost 100 years since the Cubs won the World Series. They have great players on that team and they still can't win the pennet. Or the wildcard. Well, it's hard to win the pennet with the Cardinals in that division. Oh, well.