Greatest All-Time Player-Manager?

Mind you, I don't really have a dog in this fight, but who would our members suggest is the greatest all-time player-manager in MLB history? Keeping in mind that this is a question of overall contribution; if he was a great player and a lousy manager (i.e., Cobb), that impairs his status, as does being a great manager but a lousy player (i.e., Weaver). But if he combined these attributes, by all means he's worthy of consideration. I'll throw out Anson, Boudreau, Cochrane, Durocher, McGraw, and Speaker as starters, but I asset no winner. I'm simply looking to spark debate.

Thoughts?

My first thought was Chance
4 NL Pennants, 2 World Championships
While batting .296 lifetime with over 400 stolen bases and a stellar Fielding PCt.
Questionable HOF stats as a player but combine the Playing stats with Managing accomplishments makes for a stellar combo.
And he gets a couple points for the poem

I don't know how much consideration Pete Rose gets in this discussion.  Three WS titles as a player...I think he had a winning record with the Reds, but no pennants.

I'll add, Lou Piniella. Though not the Greatest of All-Time, an underrated player, and manager: 1,700 hits in 15 seasons (.291 avg.) despite being a spot assignment player for half his career, and two World Series titles. As a manager, more than 1,800 wins, a World Series title, and anyone who can guide the Mariners to the playoffs gets my vote.

I thought Player manager meant exactually that.
He managed while playing regularly in the field.

TheBig6 wrote:My first thought was Chance
4 NL Pennants, 2 World Championships
While batting .296 lifetime with over 400 stolen bases and a stellar Fielding PCt.
Questionable HOF stats as a player but combine the Playing stats with Managing accomplishments makes for a stellar combo.
And he gets a couple points for the poem

My first thought too! The Peerless Leader!

But some consideration has to go to Bill Carrigan...couple World Series there too.

Joe Torre deserves some consideration too, IMO. Played three positions fairly well, had 2342 hits, .297 lifetime BA, 252 HRs, 1185 RBI, and an MVP. Also was an excellent zookeeper in New York--4 rings.

When I hear player/manager I also think someone that was playing in the field and managing the team at the same time.

I do too, except that the OP gave Earl Weaver as an example, who I doubt ever did both at once.

yeah, when he mentioned Weaver, that kind of threw me.

Yeah, I apologize. I should clarified between doing both at once, or just having done both whether separately or simultaneously. I was thinking of the latter; played in the Majors at some point, and managed in the Majors at some point. Weaver was a bad example, since he had no Major League playing career.

I would think John McGraw would be the best of what you are looking for. Top notch manager and one of the better players in his day.

I agree that a "player-manager" normally refers to an everyday player who also manages the team. One not yet mentioned was Stanley "Bucky" Harris, who led the Washington Senators to their only World Championship in 1924 in his first year as player-manager.
Val

i'll throw fred clarke in there. baseball is so unique, you can be a great player and manager simultaneously. hoping to see somebody progressive with bill james' mind and miggy cabrera's hitting prowess excel in both some day.