Spieth ties Tiger's record for most wins at age 23. in FINE fashion. holes out from

[smootness]

I don't think I'm selling him short at all. Nobody in the history of baseball, not Ruth, Mantle, Mays, Williams, or Dimaggio, ever played baseball at an all-around higher level than Griffey in 1990-1999, and no one has done it since or even come close (just like with Woods from 1996-2004). In baseball the term 5-tool player gets thrown around quite a bit, but the truth is that outside of Griffey a true 5-tool player has arguably never existed. Hitting .275-.300 with 40-50 HR's, 30+ SB's, and a Gold Glove every year in CF for close to a decade is freakish. There have been stand-outs in individual statistical categories, but none that could do it all like that. And he's also pretty much the only high profile player of the 90's that was never busted for juicing in any capacity, so there's that.

I am a huge Griffey fan, but this is some serious hyperbole. Griffey's 96-97 is certainly up there, but Mike Trout is currently playing at a level Griffey never did. Bonds in the early 2000's was clearly better, Ruth was better, Ted Williams, Mays. Griffey was phenomenal, but that is just an insane statement.

[HSVDawg]

I am a huge Griffey fan, but this is some serious hyperbole. Griffey's 96-97 is certainly up there, but Mike Trout is currently playing at a level Griffey never did. Bonds in the early 2000's was clearly better, Ruth was better, Ted Williams, Mays. Griffey was phenomenal, but that is just an insane statement.

My point was that as an overall player he was probably the best ever when he was in his prime. All the players you mentioned may have been better offensively but are / were not as good defensively and on the basepaths.

I will say that upon further review Mays is probably above him due to longevity. He is the Nicklaus to Griffey's Woods as far as 5-tool players go.

[smootness]

My point was that as an overall player he was probably the best ever when he was in his prime. All the players you mentioned may have been better offensively but are / were not as good defensively and on the basepaths.

I will say that upon further review Mays is probably above him due to longevity. He is the Nicklaus to Griffey's Woods as far as 5-tool players go.

Mays had a higher peak, too. Griffey was amazing and one of my 3 or 4 favorites ever, but even his peak wasn't quite as good as some of the other all-time greats.

His defense until '97 was extremely good, but he still wasn't Andruw out there. Mays was as good defensively and better offensively.