15 All-Time Greats Who Would Have Been Fantasy Baseball Monsters

Fantasy baseball has become a must for baseball enthusiasts everywhere.

And, despite how legendary today's players are, how do they size up against the player's of old?

Who would you rather pick No. 1, Babe Ruth or Albert Pujols? Who would you rather lead your rotation, Roy Halladay or Sandy Koufax?

The following is a fantasy roster comprised of past baseball legends.

Rotisserie baseball started around the late 1980s, so I only picked players whose careers ended before 1990.

Catcher: Johnny Bench

Career Line: .267/.342/.476
Average Per Season: 64 R, 23 HR, 81 RBI, 4 SB

If you're worried about position scarcity at catcher, you could do no worse than Johnny Bench.

Even by today's standards, as catchers become more offensively oriented, you could do no worse than Johnny Bench. At his best he was hitting .300, and the power is very good for a catcher. Watch out, Joe Mauer.

First Base: Lou Gehrig

Career Line: .340/.447/.632
Average Per Season: 111 R, 29 HR, 117 RBI, 6 SB

Is there anybody better?

The career line is insane enough to begin with. Then you add in 100-plus runs, 100-plus RBI and about 30 home runs per season!? Gehrig is a legend for a reason.

Even though I make it a habit to never pick Yankees in fantasy drafts, it'd be hard to pass up on Gehrig.

Second Base: Pete Rose

Career Line: .303/.375/.409
Average Per Season: 90 R, 7 HR, 55 RBI, 8 SB

Besides the stat line, Pete Rose's numbers aren't that amazing.

But, you have to remember second base is a thin position, making Rose a fantasy asset. Also, his average numbers per season are a bit deluded because of his long playing time.

At his prime he was winning batting titles, leading the league in runs and hitting doubles left-and-right. I'd draft him any day.

Shortstop: Honus Wagner

Career Line: .328/.391/.467
Average Per Season: 83 R, 5 HR, 83 RBI, 34 SB

When you consider how thin shortstop is, Honus Wagner immediately looks like a fantasy stud. 

Wagner's slash line is ridiculous, and even though he didn't have much power, he still racked up hits. His 80-plus runs, 80-plus RBI and 30-plus stolen bases per season would make Wagner a 5x5 stud.

Third Base: Mike Schmidt

Career Line: .267/.380/.527
Average Per Season: 84 R, 30 HR, 89 RBI, 10 SB

In terms of average, Mike Schmidt lags behind other players listed. Then you see the .900-plus OPS, and it's hard to understand why anyone would pass on Schmidt. 

With 80-plus runs, 30 home runs and 80-plus RBI, Schmidt could be the top third baseman in today's fantasy realm.

Outfield: Ted Williams

Career Line: .344/.482/.634
Average Per Season: 95 R, 27 HR, 97 RBI, 1 SB

Ted Williams might be the best hitter to ever play baseball, and that means he's got fantasy stud written all over him.

Williams knew how to hit and, looking at the numbers shows it. He could do everything, and despite a lack of steals, Williams would still be a 5x5 beast. In my book, he's the No. 1 pick on this list.

Outfield: Joe DiMaggio

Career Line: .325/.398/.579
Average Per Season: 107 R, 28 HR, 118 RBI, 2 SB

Joltin' Joe DiMaggio was one of the most consistent players in baseball history, and I love low risk in my fantasy picks.

His slash line is very good, and his average numbers per season look fantastic. How amazing would it have been to have DiMaggio in a weekly-league during the 1941 season?!

Outfield: Willie Mays

Career Line: .302/.384/.557
Average Per Season: 94 R, 30 HR, 87 RBI, 15 SB

Amongst all hitters on the list, Willie Mays shows the best 5x5 potential.

The stat line is good. Mays has amazing power and speed combination, and those are the kind of players that win fantasy leagues. Whether roto or points, you could do no wrong with Mays.

Starting Pitcher: Sandy Koufax

Career Line: 2.76 ERA, 1.106 WHIP
Average Per Season: 14-7, 200 SO, 194 IP

If not for an unfortunately short career, Sandy Koufax might have been one of the best pitchers of all time.

Once you look at the numbers, it's not hard to see why Koufax is one of the greatest. Boy, do I love my 200 strikeout, 200 inning guys. Koufax would be a great fantasy ace, even by today's standards.

Starting Pitcher: Walter Johnson

Career Line: 2.17 ERA, 1.061 WHIP
Average Per Season: 20-13, 167 SO, 282 IP

Pitchers like Walter Johnson just don't exist anymore. A low 2.00 ERA with an average of 20 wins and 280-plus innings per season?! Absolutely ridiculous.

In a period where pitchers struggled to rack up strikeouts, Johnson averaged 167 per season. I'd be afraid to see what he could do to today's hitters.

Starting Pitcher: Lefty Grove

Career Line: 3.06 ERA, 1.278 WHIP
Average Per Season: 18-8, 133 SO, 232 IP

At first glance, Grove's numbers don't look too different then something you'd see from a pitcher today. High winning-percentage, 230 innings and a solid ERA all amount to a fantasy ace.

Starting Pitcher: Cy Young

Career Line: 2.63 ERA, 1.130 WHIP
Average Per Season: 23-14, 127 SO, 334 IP

How can we talk about baseball legends without mentioning this guy? I mean he has his own award!

Cy Young is one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. His average of 334 innings per season is absolutely unheard of by today's standards.

Lucky for Doc Halladay, because if Young were around today, the definition of "work horse" would be drastically different.

Starting Pitcher: Bob Gibson

Career Line: 2.91 ERA, 1.188 WHIP
Average Per Season: 15-10, 183 SO, 228 IP

Remember what I was saying about 200 inning, 200 strikeout guys? Well Bob Gibson is another one!

Gibson is another pitcher whose numbers look a lot like today's current fantasy starters. High 2.00 ERA, solid win-percentage, a lot of strikeouts and a good chunk of innings.

If you were looking for a fantasy ace, Gibson would be hard to pass up.

Relief Pitcher: Rollie Fingers

Career Line: 2.90 ERA, 1.156 WHIP
Average Per Season: 76 SO, 100 IP, 20 Saves

Okay, the 'stache is legendary enough that I'd take Rollie Fingers as my fantasy closer.

And, the numbers ain't too shabby either. Remember, the role of the closer has developed over time, and that's why Rollins' numbers seem sub-par. However, with secondary numbers like 70-plus strikeouts and 100 innings, I'd draft him any day.

Relief Pitcher: Bruce Sutter

Career Line: 2.83 ERA, 1.140 WHIP
Average Per Season: 72 SO, 87 IP, 25 Saves

Once again, you have to remember Bruce Sutter was closing at a time before the Trevor Hoffmans and Mariano Riveras of the world.

Sutter's peripherals are still great, and 70-plus strikeouts and 80-plus innings per season are solid for any reliever.

Honorable Mention: Babe Ruth

As a Pitcher
Career Line: 2.28 ERA, 1.159 WHIP
Average Per Season: 15-8, 90 SO, 198 IP

As a Hitter
Career Line: .342/.474/.690
Average Per Season: 99 R, 32 HR, 101 RBI, 6 SB

You didn't think I'd skip over Babe Ruth did you?

No matter which side of the ball Ruth is on, he'd be a fantasy beast. His offensive numbers are unheard of by today's standards, and as a full-time pitcher he was unstoppable.