On his 90th birthday. You can't because there is no way to explain how one man could possibly so good at every aspect of baseball. I was lucky to see him in his prime and he was so much better than all of his peers. The only comparisons I can make are Bobby Orr in hockey, Oscar Robinson in hoops and our own Ted Hendricks. Today's top players in every league are exceptionally athletic and talented but these guys are icons of their sports.
How do you explain Willie Mays to today's generation? ESPN
- Thread starter lyndiola
- Start date
I as well saw the amazing Willie Mays play in his prime. You make a great argument in saying he was greatest player during a great generation of players. Just for discussion, some might say Mickey Mantle pre knee injury may have been the most complete player. He is still considered the greatest switch hitter of all time and holds some World Series records to this day. Whose to argue that Ted Williams wasn't the greatest hitter of all time. His records include several years of not playing due to WWII. I'm with you however that Willie Mays was the most complete player of his time.
Ted Williams was the greatest hitter ever. Unfortunately, he played for NYY and The Kid played for the woeful Red Sox hence the great disparity in notoriety between him, DiMaggio and Mantle. Mays was excellent in every phase and if he was in his prime today he would be the best defensive player.
Every player I coached in travel baseball, I made them read Ted Williams' "The Science of Hitting." When a hitter like Williams says he could see the laces, it is like The Matrix scenes with bullets. One has to wonder what he would have done with statistics if not serving in WWII.
What sort of stats Mantle would have retired with if he didn't badly injure his leg in a Center field drain? Again, the OP is discussing the the most complete player injuries or not. The way things evolved it would be hard to say that Willie Mays wasn't the most complete player. The " say hey" kid was amazing.
First, let me say great post by the OP.
Looking at pitchers...comparing today's pitchers with the likes of Bob Gibson, Tom Seaver, Juan Marichal, Whitey Ford etc..you can't compare the quality today versus then. I get the game has changed with middle and short reliever's getting much more playing time and the DH taking the stress away from a pitcher needing to get hits but back in the day, those fellas would pitch complete games and still win 20 games in a season. I think it goes back to toughness and attitude they way players approached the game back then.
Looking at pitchers...comparing today's pitchers with the likes of Bob Gibson, Tom Seaver, Juan Marichal, Whitey Ford etc..you can't compare the quality today versus then. I get the game has changed with middle and short reliever's getting much more playing time and the DH taking the stress away from a pitcher needing to get hits but back in the day, those fellas would pitch complete games and still win 20 games in a season. I think it goes back to toughness and attitude they way players approached the game back then.
Talking about how the game has changed - in 1971 the Baltimore Orioles had 4 starters win 20 games each - Palmer, McNally , Cuellar and Dobson . In today’s games as someone has said now middle relievers and closers get a lot more work .
