Major League Baseball All-Century Team

In 1999, the Major League Baseball All-Century Team was chosen by popular vote of fans. To select the team, a panel of experts first compiled a list of the 100 greatest Major League Baseball (MLB) players from the 20th century. Over two million fans then voted on the players using paper and online ballots.[1]

The top two vote-getters from each position, except outfielders (nine), and the top six pitchers were placed on the team. A select panel then added five legends to create a thirty-man team:[1]—Warren Spahn (who finished #10 among pitchers), Christy Mathewson (#14 among pitchers), Lefty Grove (#18 among pitchers), Honus Wagner (#4 among shortstops), and Stan Musial (#11 among outfielders).[1]

The nominees for the All-Century team were presented at the 1999 MLB All-Star Game at Fenway Park.[2] Preceding Game 2 of the 1999 World Series, the members of the All-Century Team were revealed. Every living player named to the team attended.[3]

Selected players
Lou Gehrig received the most votes of any player.
Key
* 'Legends' chosen by select panel
** Player still active in 1999
ö Player is deceased
† Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame
PlayerPositionVotes
Nolan Ryan†Pitcher992,040
Sandy Koufax†Pitcher970,434
Cy Young†öPitcher867,523
Roger Clemens**Pitcher601,244
Bob Gibson†öPitcher582,031
Walter Johnson†öPitcher479,279
Warren Spahn†ö*Pitcher337,215
Christy Mathewson†ö*Pitcher249,747
Lefty Grove†ö*Pitcher142,169
Johnny Bench†Catcher1,010,403
Yogi Berra†öCatcher704,208
Lou Gehrig†öFirst baseman1,207,992
Mark McGwire**First baseman517,181
Jackie Robinson†öSecond baseman788,116
Rogers Hornsby†öSecond baseman630,761
Mike Schmidt†Third baseman855,654
Brooks Robinson†öThird baseman761,700
Cal Ripken Jr.†**Shortstop669,033
Ernie Banks†öShortstop598,168
Honus Wagner†ö*Shortstop526,740
Babe Ruth†öOutfielder1,158,044
Hank Aaron†öOutfielder1,156,782
Ted Williams†öOutfielder1,125,583
Willie Mays†Outfielder1,115,896
Joe DiMaggio†öOutfielder1,054,423
Mickey Mantle†öOutfielder988,168
Ty Cobb†öOutfielder777,056
Ken Griffey Jr.†**Outfielder645,389
Pete RoseOutfielder629,742
Stan Musial†ö*Outfielder571,279

Pete Rose controversy

There was controversy over the inclusion in the All-Century Team of Pete Rose, who had been banned from baseball for life 10 years earlier. Some questioned Rose's presence on a team officially endorsed by Major League Baseball, but fans at the stadium gave him a standing ovation. During the on-field ceremony, which was emceed by Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully, NBC Sports' Jim Gray questioned Rose about his refusal to admit to gambling on baseball.[4] Gray's interview became controversial, with some arguing that it was good journalism,[5] while others objected that the occasion was an inappropriate setting for Gray's persistence.[6] After initially refusing to do so, Gray apologized a few days later.[7] On January 8, 2004, more than four years later, Rose admitted publicly to betting on baseball games in his 2004 autobiography My Prison Without Bars.

See also

References
  1. "All Century Team". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved November 28, 2011.
  2. "The Tribune 14 Jul 1999, page 13". Newspapers.com. July 14, 1999. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  3. "Fort Worth Star-Telegram 24 Oct 1999, page 45". Newspapers.com. October 24, 1999. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  4. Schultz, Brad (2005). Pete Rose transcript with Jim Gray. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9780240807317. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  5. Top 10 Most Embarrassing TV/Radio Interview Moments
  6. Darren Everson (October 27, 1999). "Chad Shows No Curtis-y To Gray After Game-winner". New York Daily News.
  7. George Solomon; Dave Sheinin (October 27, 1999). "Gray's Apology Is Not Enough for Players". Washington Post. p. D1.
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