RIP Willie Mays

[calsnowskier]

I was going to stump for Frank Robinson. Not that he deserved the title, but he belonged in the convo and I was surprised no one brought him up yet.

Then…

Doh…

 

[calsnowskier]

Hard to put a definitive GOAT list, but…

Mays
Bonds
Ruth
Williams

Not sure there is much argument on those 4 being at the top. There really starts to be some competition for that 5 spot, though.

 

[TheGoodMan19]

Hard to put a definitive GOAT list, but…

Mays
Bonds
Ruth
Williams

Not sure there is much argument on those 4 being at the top. There really starts to be some competition for that 5 spot, though.

Cobb, DiMaggio, Mantle, Aaron, Musial

Williams was the greatest hitter but his defense ranged from "indifferent" to "liability".

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Ken Griffey Jr.


That is all.

 

[navamind]

Ken Griffey Jr.


That is all.

amazing peak, but didn't really do anything after the Mariners. Couldn't stay healthy

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Mays mural in Alabama among nationwide tributes

A grand mural display of Willie Mays, who died Tuesday at 93, was unveiled at a ceremony in downtown Birmingham as tributes poured in all over the country Wednesday.

www.espn.com

https://www.mlb.com/news/willie-mays-mural-unveiled-in-birmingham

https://www.mlb.com/news/willie-mays-tributes-continue-in-birmingham

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

amazing peak, but didn't really do anything after the Mariners. Couldn't stay healthy

He had very good numbers with both, Seattle and with Cincy....but not so much during the last 3 years of his career with the Chisox or his last go round with the Mariners.

 

[broncosmitty]

Had to be earlier than '48 because Satchel Paige was on the Indians that year becoming one of the first 2 black players to win a World Series (with Larry Doby his teammate)

Willie Mays signed his first contract on the 4th of July, 1948. (Paige signed with the Indians three days later. He played for a different Kansas City team until that. Not the Monarchs in 48)) At 16, following his sophomore year of HS. (He’d already played for the team he signed with though.)

It’s a good story all the same.

Like Cool Papa Bell flipping the switch and being under the covers before the lights went out. Babe Ruth calling his shot. Abner Doubleday inventing the game….

Stories of Willie playing semi pro long before he ever signed with Birmingham. Under an assumed name, so he could still play HS basketball. His dad was a semi pro player. Makes sense to me.

So I could see the three pitch strikeout happening at some point. Maybe even the double before it. But I imagine it was in a barnstorming game. And Willie was prolly like 12.

One of the last men to actually be a legend.

 

[broncosmitty]

Major League ballplayer.

Not allowed to play road games, while school was in session. lol

No joke.

Don’t know if that was a League rule. Or his mom’s rule. But it’s hard to really wrap your head around. Takes a talent I’ve never really seen to recreate that scenario.

 

[redskinsfan1963]

Ken Griffey Jr.


That is all.

he ran down flies uncatchable to many like Mays.

 

[wood20ks]

So who is the new greatest living ballplayer? It's gotta be Barry Bonds, right?

Rickey Henderson, who didn't live by the motto "Better living through Chemistry"

If it was not for the roids controversy,I could see Bonds,but until the Hall léts him in,he shouldnt be in for greatest living......Róse maybe a cónsideration,but not sủre ìf he bet on hís ơn teams......

My actual vote would probably be Nolan Ryan.........

 

[navamind]

He had very good numbers with both, Seattle and with Cincy....but not so much during the last 3 years of his career with the Chisox or his last go round with the Mariners.

he was still a good hitter in Cincy (122 OPS+), but nowhere near what he was in Seattle (149 OPS+ in 1989-99). he couldn't stay healthy (averaged only 103 games and 420 PA per season) and his defense/baserunning also cratered. He had 83.8 career WAR, but only 13.1 of that came from 2000-10

 

[redskinsfan1963]

If it was not for the roids controversy,I could see Bonds,but until the Hall léts him in,he shouldnt be in for greatest living......Róse maybe a cónsideration,but not sủre ìf he bet on hís ơn teams......

My actual vote would probably be Nolan Ryan.........

I don,t see rose or bonds ever getting in.they breed controversy too much.if shoeless Joe has,nt made it yet,neither will they.

 

[navamind]

1954-66:
.315/.390/.601, 166 OPS+, 380 doubles, 113 triples, 518 homers, 270 stolen bases (caught 82 times), 1520 runs, 1414 RBI, 124.1 WAR (7+ WAR every year and led the NL ten times)

just an incredible run, and he was no slouch outside of that. he got fucked in the MVP voting a lot though

 

[redskinsfan1963]

1954-66:
.315/.390/.601, 166 OPS+, 380 doubles, 113 triples, 518 homers, 270 stolen bases (caught 82 times), 1520 runs, 1414 RBI, 124.1 WAR (7+ WAR every year and led the NL ten times)

just an incredible run, and he was no slouch outside of that. he got fucked in the MVP voting a lot though

willie was a 24 time all star. has any player come close to that?

 

[navamind]

willie was a 24 time all star. has any player come close to that?

Aaron has 25, Mays is tied with Musial

 

[redskinsfan1963]

Aaron has 25, Mays is tied with Musial

thanks.willie said he had made better catches 54 w/s one,just not on camera.