Good God I didn't mean for this to turn into a Davey vs Barry thread
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I'm going to be a jerk again and challenge someone's selections. I just said in another thread that ED is my favorite Red ever, however, Frank Robinson has to be in any lineup.
EDIT: I'm sorry. I just assumed that the topic was the best all time Reds team. After re-reading I noticed that the original topic never says best, it just says your all time Reds team.
Both were one of the premier SS of their generation. Both were exciting to watch. Both deserve to be in the HOF. Add in McMillan and Cardenas in the '50s and '60s and the Reds were very good at that position for 50 odd years.
Both Davey and Barry should be on any all-Reds team.
Jim Brosnan and Bill Henry have to get some consideration. A big part of the 61 pennant winners.
Look at Vada Pinson Jr's. stats as a Red. Then look at Ken Griffey Jr's. as a Red. Pinson didn't have the power numbers that Griffey has but other than the young Willie Mays in Center, Give me the 10 straight years of Vada rarely missing a game, a gold love winner despite playing at the same time as numerous other gold glovers of that era. Griffey in hs Seattle days couldn't touch the speed of Vada Pinson. Pinson ran hard, played hard, played smart and played hurt. That's my kind of centerfielder right there. Not too mention the heroics of Eddie Roush! That man was fast in the baggy pants - deadball era of the early 1900's.
Now if the story was about players at their best and not a Red at the time, well ok, I would take Griffey's 1st ten years in Seattle over Pinson's ten in Cincinnati but not by as much as you might think. Pinson was a player that to appreciate him you had to watch him as often as possible. Same goes for Davey Concepcion and Barry Larkin. All three should be Ma.L. Hall of Famers when you consider who is already there.
Best Wishes,
Vada Pinson Fan
My All-Time Team
Catchers: Bench, Lombardi
1st Base: Perez, Kluszewski
2nd Base: Morgan, Phillips
Shortstop: Concepcion, Larkin
Third Base: Rose, Sabo
Outfield: Foster, Robinson, Pinson
Davis, Kevin Mitchell, Griffey, Jr.
Starting Rotation
Tom Seaver
Don Gullett
Mario Soto
Jose Rijo
Tom Browning (with consideration to Harang, Maloney, O'Toole and VanderMeer)
Bullpen
Randy Myers
John Franco
Rob Dibble
Will McEnananey
Jeff Shaw
Pedro Borbon (with consideration to Charlton, Eastwick, Jeff Brantley, Brosnan and Danny Graves prior to becoming a starting pitcher)
My All-Time Reds Team - players that I saw
Johnny Bench - c
Tony Perez - 1b, 3b
Joe Morgan - 2b
Barry Larkin - ss, 2b, 3b
Pete Rose - 3b, 1b, 2b, of
George Foster - of
Eric Davis - of
Ken Griffey, Jr - of
Subs:
Johnny Edwards - c
Brandon Phillips - 2b, ss, 3b, of
Dave Concepcion - ss
Ted Kluszewski - 1b
Vada Pinson - of
Starting Pitchers: (any 5 of the 8)
Jim Maloney
Jose Rijo
Mario Soto
Tom Seaver
Gary Nolan
Tom Browning
Aaron Harang
Joe Nuxhall
Bullpen:
Randy Myers
John Franco
Rob Dibble
Norm Carlton
Jeff Shaw
Pedro Borbon
Wil McEnananey