1) Musial
2) Gibson
3) Pujols

Musial
Schoendienst
Gibson
Ken Boyer
Lou Brock
Rogers Hornsby

The list could go on and on but with “the Captain” at 3rd Base, Gibby on the mound and Lou on base there could be a definite tie for third place. With Hornsby the stories I have been told about his greatness we could have a forth member of the third place voting. I appreciate what Albert has been doing over his career but he just doesn’t hit the top three list just yet he is close. I think that this could lead to some interesting arguments, especially with the die-heart Cardinal fans in St. Louis. We forgot Enos with his mad dash. So let’s just say every one in Cardinal Nation will have their own top three.

Folks, Pujols doesn’t qualify yet. I’ve seen Pujols. I’ve met him before. I’ve talked to him before. He’s a good guy and a fantastic player but The Cardinals have a very long and storied history that has numerous legendary players through out that history. When and if Pujols reaches the status of a legend then I could see an arguement for including him but that hasn’t happened yet.

Admittedly being a baby boomer I have a tendancy to gravitate towards such players as Musial, Gibson and Brock. Stan the man was a fantastic player who was a huge contributer to too many world series wins to not be on the list. Gibson, besides from being on two world series winners, was a pitcher that was feared through out the league during his era. He dominated his position and was the best at it. Brock, same world series issues as well as being a fantastic outfielder and the quintisential stolen base king. He revolutionized stealing bases and was the picture of the 1960’s Cardinal teams that were built for speed. The Busch stadium of old was huge before they moved in the walls and the Cardinals dominated that stadium through their use of speed.

Pujols is a great player, a fantastic slugger, and a driving force with the team but do you think his defensive play at first base yet qualifies him as the best first baseman in the league? Each of the players I listed were often listed as the best at their position. Before I would consider Pujols, I’d place Ozzie in the top three. The 70’s were lost years for the cardinals. Ozzie was a huge part in reviving the team and giving us the exciting play of the 80’s Cardinals. Pujols is well on his way to getting there but he’s not there yet.

This is just an “if” and a “hopefully”. In this order.

1. Pujols
2. Musial
3. Gibson

“If” El Hombre makes it 20 healthy years in a Redbird uniform, imagine what his all time numbers will look like.

Average .330+
Homers 700-800
RBI’s 2000-2500
Runs 2000ish
Slugging % .600+
OPB .450+
Gold Gloves & MVP’s hopefully 5+ each
Worlds Series Hopefully over 1

As great a storied tradion as the Cardinals have had, these numbers would rank at the top, and near the top of the all time greats of the game. Let’s hope we see this happen and hope The Man also sees this happen. We really have something special in this guy. Albert and A-Rod are easily the top 2 in baseball right now.

BTW Who did ESPN pick as their top 3?

1. Musial
2. Brock
3. Gibson

Ozzie Smith (my idol)
Bob Gibson
Dizzy Dean

No man was prouder to be a Cardinal or a greater competitor than Enos “Country” Slaughter. I’d want him on my team and I’d bet that my boyhood idol Stan Musial would too!

Pujols over Hornsby assuming he remains a career Cardinal as were Musial and Gibson, but not Hornsby. Otherwise Brock I think. He and Gibson highlighted the Cards of the 60s. Hard to leave Ozzie out.

I concur, Hornsby, Musial and Gibby are impossible to argue with as the top three in Cards history. That only begs the question of batting order. I say, on basebal merits alone, Hornsby, Musial and then Gibby(though that’s a bit unfair comparing a pitcher to field players).

Stan Musial is in a stratosphere all by himself, simply because he may be one of the truly finest gentlemen that has ever graced the planet, much less a Cards uniform. He is the best case I can think of for cloning.

Pretty good chance Albert will nudge one of those three out as he reaches - and then shatters - various milestones and Cards records. Another World Series championship or two would cinch his place in the pantheon of Redbird gods.

I hate to mention the guys above without at least a tip-of-the-cap to Joe Medwick, Kenny Boyer, Dizzy Dean, Ozzie Smith and, particularly, Lou Brock. Not in the top three, or even top ten, is a sentimental favorite, Bob Forsch, who just flat made himself dependable starting pitcher and could swing the bat remarkably well.

Of course those names bring even more to mind. How about a nod to two other guys associated with the Cards. Harry Caray and Jack Buck could make even the dullest game sound like the 7th game of the World Series. Not many like those two come around, especially in these days of mochachino mass media sports extravaganzas and pretty boy talking heads who are not, at heart, artists who paint larger-than-life pictures one well-placed word at a time.

1. Gibson
2. Musial
3. Hornsby