Willy Mays-winner

[gasman]

Won the Inaugural Lifetime Achievement award from baseball digest .
I know he doesn’t ride but he’s still alive and kicking at 90. I’m glad to see that.
He was always my favorite player growing up .
I’m glad I got to see him play in Candlestick Park even if it was the worst venue ever.

[jlwdm]

Willie

Jeff

[OtayBW]

My favorite guy growing up! Glad he's still around and kicking.

[wc1934]

Originally Posted by jlwdm

Willie

Jeff

Hahah - Yup - Say Hey was my fav - But you couldn't go wrong rooting for Mantle or Aaron either.
The catch off of Vic Wertz should be played before the start of every WS.

[pdmtong]

He lives nearby. Same house he bought decades ago. Used to greet kids on Halloween and hand out baseballs.

He’s got a set of cars for the folks who help him. Saw this one last week.

[572cv]

Very nice indeed, great comportment, for life, in that guy.

He also got cited in an early Bob Dylan song:
" What I want to know, Mr. Football Man, is
What do you do about Willie Mays
Martin Luther King, Olatunji? "

And this from Robin Roberts, no slouch of a pitcher in that era:

But on April 30, 1961, in game No. 16, Mays topped both those totals in an afternoon for the ages at Milwaukee’s County Stadium.

Mays became the ninth player in big league history to hit four home runs in one game, driving in eight runs in the process as Mays’ Giants defeated the Braves 14-4.

“I went out early to see him in batting practice,” said Hall of Famer Robin Roberts of Mays during outfielder’s rookie season. “And he hit about five balls in the upper deck. Then he went out in the outfield and he could just run like the wind. And I remember thinking his has got to be as good looking a baseball player as I ever saw.

"And it turned out he was the best player I ever saw.”

Nice to see him still around.

[wc1934]

Originally Posted by pdmtong

He lives nearby. Same house he bought decades ago. Used to greet kids on Halloween and hand out baseballs.

He’s got a set of cars for the folks who help him. Saw this one last week.

His is Say Hey 24 no doubt

[pdmtong]

Originally Posted by wc1934

His is Say Hey 24 no doubt

Custom plates are limited to 7 letters/numbers so idk what his is.

I've seen say hey 2 and say hey 3. they are not ostentatious vehicles. I have to admit I look mostly hoping to see 24 out and about.

[Hindmost]

Seals Stadium:

[Steve in SLO]

Originally Posted by pdmtong

Custom plates are limited to 7 letters/numbers so idk what his is.

Seven characters plus half a space is actually available, or at least it was last year when I got mine.

[cgolvin]

It's worth pondering what his HR numbers would have been had he played his home games in a more hitter-friendly environment; Candlestick undoubtedly diminished that number significantly.

It still bothers me that at least one dipsh*t HoF voter failed to make his first ballot nomination unanimous. Indefensible. This lifetime Dodger fan will go even further than Vin -- the best to ever play the game.

[FlashUNC]

He was really hurt by most of that career in Candlestick.

The offensive gap with Ruth is too wide, and if he'd played in Oracle/Pac Bell/AT&T like his godson, his stats might mirror his godson's a little closer, but Bonds is the better post-war hitter. Though that might change if Trout keeps going at the rate he's going.

Easily top 5 and one of the three best position players, but best ever? Bit shy of that.

[cgolvin]

Originally Posted by FlashUNC

He was really hurt by most of that career in Candlestick.

The offensive gap with Ruth is too wide, and if he'd played in Oracle/Pac Bell/AT&T like his godson, his stats might mirror his godson's a little closer, but Bonds is the better post-war hitter. Though that might change if Trout keeps going at the rate he's going.

Easily top 5 and one of the three best position players, but best ever? Bit shy of that.

I could see making the case for Bonds as the better pure hitter (possible for Ted Williams too) but not the better complete player. And, while comparisons across long time periods are difficult, simply the fact that Ruth did not compete against half of the best ballplayers of his age nullifies the disparity IMO. And, again, as a complete player, no comparison even with Ruth's pitching achievements.

I'm curious who you have ahead of him. Griffey?

[wc1934]

Originally Posted by cgolvin

I could see making the case for Bonds as the better pure hitter (possible for Ted Williams too) but not the better complete player. And, while comparisons across long time periods are difficult, simply the fact that Ruth did not compete against half of the best ballplayers of his age nullifies the disparity IMO. And, again, as a complete player, no comparison even with Ruth's pitching achievements.

I'm curious who you have ahead of him. Griffey?

How does that big headed juicer even get into this conversation?

[cgolvin]

Originally Posted by wc1934

How does that big headed juicer even get into this conversation?

As much as I dislike the guy, when you ignore the power numbers and just look at his ability to strike the ball, it's hard to argue against him being one of the best pure hitters.