One of the unique and intriguing aspects of baseball is the ability to compare players from different eras. The games massive use of statistics gives credibility to this activity. Fans have long debated baseball's greatest player ever, often mixing stats, anecdotes and a healthy dose of sentimentality. The love of the game drives our desire to become intimately involved with its inner workings.

Progressing away the single player debate, I set out to build the all-time greatest team drawing from baseball's rich 100-year old history. This was an exercise to get people thinking beyond the obvious and to start discussions around the complexities of the game.

How does one approach the task of playing the part of a general manager with thousands of former and current players to choose from? I believe you need a strategy and a vision of the type of team you would want to field. It's easy to simply select all power-hitters from top to bottom. But would that type of team really when the most games? You have to look no further than the United States team in the 2006 World Baseball Classic to see where that fails. No matter how much chicks dig it, more often than not its small ball not the long ball that wins games. Bunts, stretching a single into a double and stealing third are elements of a team that can put real pressure on the opposition.

My approach was to field a balanced team; one with a high on-base percentage, speed on the bases, and power to drive the runners in. Additionally, defensive prowess was important. Defense wins games though it is often overlooked in an exercise such as this. My pitching staff needed to be manned by flame throwers and intimidators. I want the batters quaking in their spikes as they approach the plate. They also had to have high win ratios and low ERA. To fill my roster, I selected one player for each position, five starting pitchers and one closer. Remember, these players come from different eras, so I was looking at total career. So, here is my all-time greatest baseball team.

C Ivan Rodriguez
1B Lou Gehrig
2B Robbie Alomar
3B Wade Boggs
SS Maury Wills
LF Ted Williams
CF Willie Mays
RF Tony Gwynn

SP Walter Johnson
SP Christy Mattewson
SP Roger Clemens
SP Bob Gibson
SP Gaylord Perry

Closer Goose Gossage

I know what you are thinking Maury Wills, Tony Gwynn? Where are Ozzy Smith, Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth? Though incredible players, they didn't fit my strategy. Here is the analysis of

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