Albert Pujols: Sorry ESPN, He's Not the Greatest Player in Major League History

Albert Pujols is the best player in the game today. After 10 seasons, his offensive production has been amazing.

H: 1,900; 2B: 426; 3B: 15; HR: 408; RBI: 1,230; BA:.331; OBA:.426; SA:.624

Pujols ranks among the greatest hitters of all time, is an excellent fielder, has average speed but has become a good base runner and has an outstanding work ethic.

Some in the media tend to exaggerate or get carried away. Recently, in a discussion of the greatest players of all time, some experts concluded that the greatest of the great was Albert.

Taking nothing away from Pujols, it is patently unfair to him to rank him ahead of some of the greats including, but not limited to, Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb and Lou Gehrig.

Ruth and Gehrig played in a live-ball era, as does Pujols. Cobb's played the latter part of his career in a live-ball era, but the major part of his career, when he was at his peak, occurred during the dead-ball era.

Ruth was an outstanding pitcher who probably would have been a Hall of Famer if he remained a pitcher.

When he switched to the outfield, he was a solid fielder during his first few seasons despite exhibiting prima donna characteristics by insisting that he play right field in Yankee Stadium and left field on the road in order to avoid the sun field.

Ruth had an outstanding arm and was pretty fast until he abused his body about mid-way through his career.

The following are Ruth's offensive statistics for his first 10 seasons in the outfield:

H: 1,701; 2B: 322; 3B: 88; HR: 450; RBI: 1,291; BA: .353; OBA: .491; SA:.737

Ruth tops Pujols in triples, home runs, batting average, on base average and slugging. His 88 triples illustrate that at one time, Ruth was very fast.

Cobb played his first 10 seasons during the dead-ball era, but when the live-ball was introduced, he still felt that a home run was a cheap hit because it takes the outfielders out of the game.

The following are Cobb's offensive statistics for his first 10 full seasons:

H: 1,987; 2B: 311; 3B: 154; HR: 55; RBI: 926   BA: .376; OBA: .442; SA; .524

Cobb's low home run total and high triple total are typical of great players of the dead-ball era, but Cobb was an excellent base runner whose 96 steals in single season stood until Maury Wills came along. Cobb was a fine center fielder who hit third most of his career.

Lou Gehrig was the greatest offensive first baseman to play the game.

H: 1,996; 2B: 400; 3B: 130; HR: 357; RBI: 1,487; BA:.346; OBA: .452; SA: .645

Pujols' numbers are fairly close to Gehrig's, but Gehrig has a tremendous edge in triples. Still, Pujols pretty much holds his own.

The difference in RBI is partially explained when one compares Pujols' St. Louis Cardinals from 2001-'10 to Gehrig's New York Yankees from 1926-'35.

There are many great players whom Pujols may surpass, but rating players from different eras is fraught with variables that cannot be controlled.

Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio are two excellent examples. Some may consider Pujols a better offensive player than Williams or DiMaggio, but Williams played in Fenway Park, which favored right-handed batters, and DiMaggio played in Yankee Stadium, which favored left-handed batters.

Both also missed seasons at the peak of their careers due to serving in WWII.

Albert Pujols deserves all the praise and honors heaped upon him, but considering him the greatest player of all time shows a lack of restraint.