ESPN's Top 100 MLB Players of All Time: A Flawed Ranking

📉ESPN's ranking of the top 100 MLB players of all time has been heavily criticized for its lack of accuracy and understanding of the game.

🏆The criteria used in the rankings include career WAR, Hall of Fame status, peak performance, and overall contributions to the game.

⚾️The difficulty of comparing players from different eras and positions makes objective rankings challenging.

🧐The inclusion of players from the Negro Leagues and the respect given to early era players have received mixed opinions.

🤔The placement of certain players, such as David Ortiz and Ozzie Smith, ahead of more deserving candidates has raised questions about the validity of the rankings.

What criteria did ESPN use for the rankings?

—ESPN used a combination of career WAR, Hall of Fame status, peak performance, and overall contributions to the game. However, these criteria are subjective and can vary based on personal opinions.

Why is ESPN's ranking facing criticism?

—ESPN's ranking is facing criticism due to its lack of accuracy and understanding of the game. Many feel that certain players were ranked too high or too low, and the inclusion of players from the Negro Leagues has been a point of contention.

How did ESPN determine the rankings?

—ESPN selected an initial pool of more than 200 players and asked its editors and writers to contribute to a voting system that ranked the players in a head-to-head format.

Why did ESPN include players from the Negro Leagues?

—ESPN included players from the Negro Leagues to recognize their contributions to the game and to showcase the talent that existed outside of Major League Baseball. However, opinions vary on whether these players should be included in overall rankings.

Who were some of the players ranked too high or too low?

—Some players that have been criticized for their rankings include David Ortiz, Ozzie Smith, and Dave Winfield, who some feel were placed ahead of more deserving candidates.

00:00ESPN's recently released top 100 MLB players of all time list has faced criticism for its flawed ranking and lack of understanding of the game.

10:23The difficulty of comparing players from different eras and positions makes objective rankings challenging.

15:47The inclusion of players from the Negro Leagues and the respect given to early era players have received mixed opinions.

21:12The placement of certain players, such as David Ortiz and Ozzie Smith, ahead of more deserving candidates has raised questions about the validity of the rankings.