The 50 Greatest Players in New York Giants History [Paperback]

The New York Giants have a rich 89-year history in which they have appeared in 19 title games and won eight championships, including four Super Bowls; thus, they are ripe for a rendering of their 50 greatest players across all positions. The main problems with ranking football players are the lack of meaningful statistics and the indivisible interdependence of the 11 men on the field; unlike baseball, in football it is very hard to determine how much of a teams success is dependent on any one player. Sports historian Cohen bases his rankings on statistical leaders, honors awarded, and his judgment regarding how much the player contributed to the teams success. Each entry provides a biography of the player that highlights his best season and greatest performances. The book is excellent tinder for discussion as is intended. The author rounds out the book with an honorable mention section of the next best 25 Giants. VERDICT Of interest to Giants fans everywhere.Over their 89-year history, the New York Giants have appeared in 19 title games and won 8 championships--including 4 Super Bowl triumphs. With such a rich all-time roster, selecting the teams 50 greatest players is more a game of exclusion than inclusion and is bound to spark debate. Cohen bases his rankings on statistical leadership, honors awarded, and his judgment on how much the player contributed to the teams success. Of course, there is a great deal of subjectivity involved here. How do you compare a quarterback with an offensive guard or defensive tackle? Football players are indivisibly interdependent on their ten teammates on the field; unlike baseball, it is very hard to determine how much of a teams success is dependent on any one player on the gridiron. There is usually a dearth of meaningful statistics for most positions as well. And then there is the problem of comparing players across eras, when it is tough enough to compare them to their chronological peers. Justifying the choices is a challlóv