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. 1 2 3 "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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