According to Sean Smith’s WAR database, this is what each player has done:

Player——WAR—WAR/700PA
DiMaggio—-84—–7.6
Gehringer—81—–5.6
Mize———-70—–6.7
Jeter*———69—–4.9

*Jeter’s totals include Sean Smith’s numbers for 1995-2008 and FanGraphs’ numbers for 2009.

Not even remotely close. Imagine how good DiMaggio would look if we credit him for his three years in the war and last year or two in San Francisco.

Raf, Joe D. was voted “Greatest Living Ballplayer” in the century poll in ’69. Yes, he insisted he be called that, but it’s a title he was awarded by others, not a claim he made for himself.

Steve, sorry but I can’t see a leadoff batter or a #2 hitter being even considered for the title of “Greatest Living Ballplayer”—-no, Ty Cobb batted 3rd and 4th nearly all his career. Also if you transport Jeter back to 1936 you’d have to make for a few allownaces (not considering race among them). Namely:

***Derek Jeter stands 6′ 3″, weighs 195-ish lbs, is fleet of foot and has a rifle arm. In other words, he’s a natural born outfielder. Shortstop? Sorry, Jeter has played OF all through highschool and all through semi pro and the minors, just like Joe D.

***Jeter won’t be doing any real upper body conditioning, and not just because weight training is frowned upon (it supposedly makes you “muscle bound”). Most of the “technology” doesn’t exist—and besides Jeter wouldn’t have the disposble cash to invest in it. So deduct, say, 75% of Jeter’s opposite field HRs. If Jeter goes yard it’s going to be from pulling the ball. That being said, I believe it is still possible for Jeter to hit about 15 HRs a year if he makes the adjustments.

***Also, Derek Jeter is currently 35 and has 2,700+ career hits. Let’s change that to Derek Jeter is 35 and has 2,200 career hits. He lost 3 years due to WWII. Not that that matters. 3000 hits won’t be targeted milestone until Stan Musial reaches that plateau a few years hence.

So all told I envision a CF-RF that will finish his career with a .320ish BA, about 200-250 HRs and about 2,700 hits. Aw heck, let’s throw in about 45 career SBs, too. Let me even imagine him as a superlative fielder. But even at that I doubt he wins any vote for “Greatest Living Ballplayer.”

Tresh Fan wrote:

Interesting points. But somehow I don’t see Michael Kay standing at the mic at Old Timers’s Day circa 2029 and saying…
“Ladies and gentlemen, the Greatest Living Ballplayer, Derek Jeter.”

What if Jeter insists that he be called that, like DiMag did…

Tresh Fan wrote:

Interesting points. But somehow I don’t see Michael Kay standing at the mic at Old Timers’s Day circa 2029 and saying…
“Ladies and gentlemen, the Greatest Living Ballplayer, Derek Jeter.”

Know what? Start Jeter’s career in 1936 instead of 1996, let him do all the things that he’s done, starting in ’36 instead of ’96, allow the media, etc., to glorify him the way they did ball players – esp. in NY – during the ’40′s and ’50′s, and, THEN, allow sportswriters and fans to vote in 1969 on the “Greatest Living Player,” and, well, Jeter just might win the vote.

Man these Yankees blogs hero worship there players and prospects way too much.

Face it Joe D was better then Jeter will ever be.Mariano was better and more valueable then Jeter in the late 90′s dynasty and Mark Texeria is better then him this year.

Like Brady he is a Hall of famer but he’s a product of he’s great all-time teams.You put Brady and Jeter on crappy teams and there not as immortal as you guys paint them out to be.Jeter is barely on the top 10 Yankees Players of all time..

It’s DiMaggio. Not close, really. DiMaggio is still one of the 20 or 25 best players in history. Jeter isn’t.

Jeter’s still a first ballot Hall of Famer though.