he had already passed. I was a Yankee/Mantle fan, but Willie was a great player. I saw him live at Ebbots Field when I was about 5 years old. RIP, Willie
he had already passed. I was a Yankee/Mantle fan, but Willie was a great player. I saw him live at Ebbots Field when I was about 5 years old. RIP, Willie
has any claim to being better than Mays. 2-time MVP but if you look at the numbers there's about 6-7 other years you could make a strong case that he should have gotten it. Dominant player.
RIP
Few can be described as best ever and it not be an exaggeration
With all due respect to the Babe, he played in a segregated era and though one of the best hitters of all-time, certainly not the all-around player Mays was.
As a hitter, he was probably top 5. As an outfielder, he was #1, or #2 at worst. His skill on the bases was underrated because his contributions to other aspects of the game were so important.
Of course, he was my favorite player. I knew this day would come and I knew how I would feel. Like a part of my life is gone.
I was a little too young to see him on the NY Giants (not by much) but I saw him with the Mets. And of course saw a lot of him in the 1962 WS with the Yanks, tho the Yanks held him somewhat in check in that series.
Hard to compare eras but he's up there with the very best. RIP.
With all due respect to the Babe, he played in a segregated era and though one of the best hitters of all-time, certainly not the all-around player Mays was.
Not disputing that Mays was the greatest of my lifetime but the superior "all-around player" is not so simple, as the Babe was 94-46 as a pitcher, with only five of those wins as a Yankee.
Joe DiMaggio had to be introduced as the “Greatest Living Ball Player” at public appearances when Mays was a better player. You could argue that Ted Williams was also better. It was disrespectful and arrogant if you ask me.
But keep this in mind as far as him being a great home run hitter:
"Ruth set the Major League Baseball single-season home run record four times, first at 29 (1919), then 54 (1920), 59 (1921), and finally 60 (1927).[12] Ruth's 1920 and 1921 seasons are tied for the widest margin of victory for a home run champion as he topped the next highest total by 35 home runs in each season."
In 2 seasons he hit more than twice the number of home runs as the 2nd place guy. That's pretty incredible.
My Dad was driving to work on rare Saturday morning for him. Stopped to get gas off the old West Side Highway. He noticed the car in front of him had “SAY HEY” license plate. Out pops Willie. My Dad got his autograph (very out of character for my Dad).
When he got home from work, he was grinning from ear to ear recounting his meeting Willie Mays.
Willie outlived my Dad by 30+ years even though my Dad was born less than a year before Willie.
He was my favorite sports figure growing up.
During the Mets first year at the Polo grounds the Giants came to town.
My neighbor was a sports photographer for an old paper the Daily Mirror.
At the gane wee met him at the fence on the third base line, while we were talking Willie came over.
I have a picture of me, my cousin and a Little League teammate.
Holding baseballs and staring up at Willie. (don't know what happened to the ball)
Many years later a colleague of mine had the picture signed and it was hung on our bedroom wall.
When we were moving to Portugal I searched out my old teammate and sent him the picture.
I did not realize how much I would miss it.
I was telling this to my wife and she commented we have have a copy of that picture by her parents.
Next time I am in the states I am bringing it back and hanging it up.
With all due respect to the Babe, he played in a segregated era and though one of the best hitters of all-time, certainly not the all-around player Mays was.
Not to diminish Mays in any way, since he was the best of his era, but Babe was near the top as one of the best pitchers of his era. THAT is all-around, in my book.
He hit 660 and missed two years in his prime to the military. He would’ve broken Babe’s record before Aaron. RIP
Ted Williams missed 3 full years due to military service.
It is often speculated by baseball historians, that if THE TRADE ever happened early in his career, Williams for DiMaggio, and he played during those 3 years, Williams would be the only 800 home run man. The house that Ruth built had a very short porch, compared to Fenway's right field.
like Bill, I saw him play at Ebbets and Polo Grounds—thanks Jim for the iconic still of the greatest catch ever off the bat of 1B Vic Wertz, caught it, whirled and got off a throw toward the infield in one, continuous motion. CF at Polo Grounds to the clubhouses’ steps 480’ lol.
Say Hey Kid’s passing is sad not only for one of the greatest players ever but for the era in which a lot of us grew up, when baseball was transcendent and filled our lives every day of spring, summer, and fall until the Hot Stove League, when I listened to Vince doing spring training games from Vero Beach—Dem Bums’ fan here and a big tip of the cap to the immortal #24. My heart is heavy for him and us because the times during which he made his mark are now even more distant with him gone, they were never recoverable, but it feels like a door closing. RIP
and more vivid with the Mets in 72-73 but by the Mets he was a shell of himself. I remember my Dad saying how I missed seeing him in his prime and he was amazing.
and more vivid with the Mets in 72-73 but by the Mets he was a shell of himself. I remember my Dad saying how I missed seeing him in his prime and he was amazing.
Same here, only remember seeing him in the early 70s when I was a kid, but the film doesn't lie. Easily one of the best ever. RIP.
when he first broke in, before Jackie broke the color line
we all wanted to play CF so we could make the basket catch.
He had that kind of impact on so many of us.
We would get yelled at by our LL coaches all the time.
Our response was always the same: "Willie does it!"
Willie was my father's favorite when he was a kid.
From 1951 to 1972 he was basically awesome, eclipsing 800 OPS every year save for 1967 and 1969 where he got to 787 and 798, respectively. 1952 and 53 were interrupted due to military service.
Generally, the 4 Baseball position player GOATs are Cobb/Ruth/Mays/Bonds. Cobb in the pre-HR era, Ruth in the "HR are a thing now" era, Mays in the post-integration modern game era, Bonds in the last 50 years era if you ignore the roids.
He was probably the most complete player ever. Although other players like Ruth/Bonds and even his contemporary in Mantle likely peaked higher, Mays' consistently awesome play was amazing.
He won an MVP in '54 as a 23 year old, and an MVP in '65 as 34 year old (finished 3rd as a 35 year old the next year). He was just so good for so long and did it all over the field. The best 5 tool player ever.
Keith and Gary just said the same.
Very sad
Vic Wertz. Thats all I’ll say
His catch vs. Indians is all time great catch.
Willie was 93
RIP
Of course, he was my favorite player. I knew this day would come and I knew how I would feel. Like a part of my life is gone.
I was a little too young to see him on the NY Giants (not by much) but I saw him with the Mets. And of course saw a lot of him in the 1962 WS with the Yanks, tho the Yanks held him somewhat in check in that series.
Hard to compare eras but he's up there with the very best. RIP.
RIP one of the greats.
Not disputing that Mays was the greatest of my lifetime but the superior "all-around player" is not so simple, as the Babe was 94-46 as a pitcher, with only five of those wins as a Yankee.
Keith and Gary just said the same.
Very sad
Same here...and my Dad was a huge Yankees fan.
New York owned Center Field in the 1950s
RIP
RIP.
"Ruth set the Major League Baseball single-season home run record four times, first at 29 (1919), then 54 (1920), 59 (1921), and finally 60 (1927).[12] Ruth's 1920 and 1921 seasons are tied for the widest margin of victory for a home run champion as he topped the next highest total by 35 home runs in each season."
In 2 seasons he hit more than twice the number of home runs as the 2nd place guy. That's pretty incredible.
My Dad was driving to work on rare Saturday morning for him. Stopped to get gas off the old West Side Highway. He noticed the car in front of him had “SAY HEY” license plate. Out pops Willie. My Dad got his autograph (very out of character for my Dad).
When he got home from work, he was grinning from ear to ear recounting his meeting Willie Mays.
Willie outlived my Dad by 30+ years even though my Dad was born less than a year before Willie.
That’s roughly 450 feet from home plate boys and girls.
During the Mets first year at the Polo grounds the Giants came to town.
My neighbor was a sports photographer for an old paper the Daily Mirror.
At the gane wee met him at the fence on the third base line, while we were talking Willie came over.
I have a picture of me, my cousin and a Little League teammate.
Holding baseballs and staring up at Willie. (don't know what happened to the ball)
Many years later a colleague of mine had the picture signed and it was hung on our bedroom wall.
When we were moving to Portugal I searched out my old teammate and sent him the picture.
I did not realize how much I would miss it.
I was telling this to my wife and she commented we have have a copy of that picture by her parents.
Next time I am in the states I am bringing it back and hanging it up.
Not to diminish Mays in any way, since he was the best of his era, but Babe was near the top as one of the best pitchers of his era. THAT is all-around, in my book.
It is often speculated by baseball historians, that if THE TRADE ever happened early in his career, Williams for DiMaggio, and he played during those 3 years, Williams would be the only 800 home run man. The house that Ruth built had a very short porch, compared to Fenway's right field.
Say Hey Kid’s passing is sad not only for one of the greatest players ever but for the era in which a lot of us grew up, when baseball was transcendent and filled our lives every day of spring, summer, and fall until the Hot Stove League, when I listened to Vince doing spring training games from Vero Beach—Dem Bums’ fan here and a big tip of the cap to the immortal #24. My heart is heavy for him and us because the times during which he made his mark are now even more distant with him gone, they were never recoverable, but it feels like a door closing. RIP
Mays is the GOAT.
Same here, only remember seeing him in the early 70s when I was a kid, but the film doesn't lie. Easily one of the best ever. RIP.
He was my second favorite player growing up behind Mickey Mantle.
He had that kind of impact on so many of us.
We would get yelled at by our LL coaches all the time.
Our response was always the same: "Willie does it!"
He used to say what you don't often see and what was more impressive than "The Catch" was the throw immediately after.
That was actually after Jackie had broken the color line.
lifetime avg - 301
Lifetime RBIs - 1909
lifetime OBP - 384
lifetime OPS - 940 ---stupid stat!
Lifetime HRs - 660
--11 gold gloves
From 1951 to 1972 he was basically awesome, eclipsing 800 OPS every year save for 1967 and 1969 where he got to 787 and 798, respectively. 1952 and 53 were interrupted due to military service.
1 Babe Ruth* 1.1636
2 Ted Williams* 1.1155
3 Lou Gehrig* 1.0798
4 Oscar Charleston* 1.0632
5 Barry Bonds 1.0512
6 Jimmie Foxx* 1.0376
7 Turkey Stearnes* 1.0340
8 Mule Suttles* 1.0276
9 Hank Greenberg* 1.0169
10 Rogers Hornsby* 1.0103
11 Manny Ramírez .9960
12 Aaron Judge .9925
13 Mike Trout .9913
Judge is the active leader....
OPS all time leaders - ( New Window )
Quote:
That was actually after Jackie had broken the color line.
That was actually after Jackie had broken the color line.
That picture was, but Mays played for Birmingham as a teen, while still in HS.
Yes: In 1948, a year after Robinson debuted in Brooklyn.
1 Babe Ruth* 1.1636
2 Ted Williams* 1.1155
3 Lou Gehrig* 1.0798
4 Oscar Charleston* 1.0632
5 Barry Bonds 1.0512
6 Jimmie Foxx* 1.0376
7 Turkey Stearnes* 1.0340
8 Mule Suttles* 1.0276
9 Hank Greenberg* 1.0169
10 Rogers Hornsby* 1.0103
11 Manny Ramírez .9960
12 Aaron Judge .9925
13 Mike Trout .9913
Judge is the active leader.... OPS all time leaders - ( New Window )
One last thing about Ruth- he did all that shit drunk. Imagine if he'd played sober
Quote:
I wonder who gets that title now?
Not many will use it, but Willie's G-d-son, Barry Bonds.
Yep, I was thinking Bonds or Griffey. I might lean Griffey. Koufax is probably the most revered, if you want to include pitchers.
Aaron died in 2021.
Quote:
Hank Aaron, IMHO
Aaron died in 2021.
He's dead? Well cross him off the list, then! :-)
Quote:
940 OPS (Willie) is 33rd all time
1 Babe Ruth* 1.1636
2 Ted Williams* 1.1155
3 Lou Gehrig* 1.0798
4 Oscar Charleston* 1.0632
5 Barry Bonds 1.0512
6 Jimmie Foxx* 1.0376
7 Turkey Stearnes* 1.0340
8 Mule Suttles* 1.0276
9 Hank Greenberg* 1.0169
10 Rogers Hornsby* 1.0103
11 Manny Ramírez .9960
12 Aaron Judge .9925
13 Mike Trout .9913
Judge is the active leader.... OPS all time leaders - ( New Window )
One last thing about Ruth- he did all that shit drunk. Imagine if he'd played sober
I think there was a game where he ate 12 hot dogs throughout the affair. Honestly that might be even more of an achievment than playing drunk lol.
Generally, the 4 Baseball position player GOATs are Cobb/Ruth/Mays/Bonds. Cobb in the pre-HR era, Ruth in the "HR are a thing now" era, Mays in the post-integration modern game era, Bonds in the last 50 years era if you ignore the roids.
He was probably the most complete player ever. Although other players like Ruth/Bonds and even his contemporary in Mantle likely peaked higher, Mays' consistently awesome play was amazing.
He won an MVP in '54 as a 23 year old, and an MVP in '65 as 34 year old (finished 3rd as a 35 year old the next year). He was just so good for so long and did it all over the field. The best 5 tool player ever.