Researchers Rank Greatest Baseball Players Across Eras

A recent University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign study introduced a new statistical framework called Full House Models to evaluate baseball players across eras, which elevates modern players like Barry Bonds and Willie Mays above legends such as Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron due to a larger talent pool. The Chicago Cubs have been well represented in the 2025 MLB All-Star game, with Pete Crow-Armstrong, Kyle Tucker, and Matthew Boyd earning spots, although notable players like Seiya Suzuki, who led the league in RBIs, were controversially left out. Cubs manager Craig Counsell has cultivated a balanced team with strengths across each position, highlighted by catchers Carson Kelly, Reese McGuire, and Miguel Amaya, the latter showing significant improvement before an injury. Despite a recent injury to Kyle Tucker impacting lineup decisions, the Cubs have maintained strong performances, with players like Colin Rea and Seth Lugo contributing effectively on the mound. Historically, the Cubs overcame a long championship drought with their 2016 World Series win and have featured many notable players such as Mark Grace, a consistently reliable hitter and fan favorite during his tenure. These insights reflect both the evolving appreciation of player performance over time and the current competitive status of the Cubs franchise.