I had an uncle that played outfield in the Giants system. He was stuck behind Mays, Monte Irvin, and Dusty Rhodes. Not a lot of playing time to be had there.Say Hey, Willie...
There was no draft. The Giants had all the players.I had an uncle that played outfield in the Giants system. He was stuck behind Mays, Monte Irvin, and Dusty Rhodes. Not a lot of playing time to be had there.
My Dad made it to SF and hit cleanup behind him a few times, but Cepeda, McCovey and more were right behind him. Not a time to not be exceptional I guess. You got traded for arms.I had an uncle that played outfield in the Giants system. He was stuck behind Mays, Monte Irvin, and Dusty Rhodes. Not a lot of playing time to be had there.
Not maybeSay Hey, Willie...
Your opinionYes maybe. Not as great as Aaron.
I'll take the other's word for it (including my Dad). Aaron had 1,500 more at bats than Mays (that's 3 seasons).Yes maybe. Not as great as Aaron.
Agreed. Considering Aaron over Mays is puzzling in nearly every aspect.Aaron was not the fielder or base runner that Mays was. Willie is the greatest ever position player
For Pirate fans:
My uncle actually played some time with the Giants and later, the Cubs. Different era where there was no ability get out and there were not many teams to play for. My father also played in the Giants system for a couple years. Took a fastball to his giant (but unhelmeted) head and couldn’t step into a pitch well after that. Damn shame.There was no draft. The Giants had all the players.
Per chance, did you father play in Muskogee? My father hit #3 in the lineup with Cepeda hitting cleanup in Muskogee in what would now be considered rookie ball.My Dad made it to SF and hit cleanup behind him a few times, but Cepeda, McCovey and more were right behind him. Not a time to not be exceptional I guess. You got traded for arms.
No to Muskogee. 3 different Rookie/A Ball teams, then skipped to Tacoma AAA, then the show.Per chance, did you father play in Muskogee? My father hit #3 in the lineup with Cepeda hitting cleanup in Muskogee in what would now be considered rookie ball.
Tommy Hutton isn't little known in SoFla. He was the voice of the Marlins on tv and radio through both WS wins. Very cool guy. Did some turf work for his baseball schools over the years.I saw Willie's number 648 at Veterans Stadium when he was with the Mets. Tom Seaver vs Steve Carlton. The Mets won 4-3 and little known Phillie first baseman, Tommy Hutton hit a home run off Seaver. Carlton gave up two 2-run homers that day while going the full 9 innings. Willie hit his homer in the 8th, which were the winning runs. The Vet had about 57K that day. It was "Bat Day", which can be found in my garage still today.
EDIT: I just checked and the attendance was a little over 57K that day in 1972.
My dad and I saw Willie hit a home run…and Juan Marichal pitch…for the Giants against the Phillies back at old Connie Mack Stadium!I saw Willie's number 648 at Veterans Stadium when he was with the Mets. Tom Seaver vs Steve Carlton. The Mets won 4-3 and little known Phillie first baseman, Tommy Hutton hit a home run off Seaver. Carlton gave up two 2-run homers that day while going the full 9 innings. Willie hit his homer in the 8th, which were the winning runs. The Vet had about 57K that day. It was "Bat Day", which can be found in my garage still today.
EDIT: I just checked and the attendance was a little over 57K that day in 1972.
I might have been at that game. I was enthralled by Marichal, a beautiful pitcher.My dad and I saw Willie hit a home run…and Juan Marichal pitch…for the Giants against the Phillies back at old Connie Mack Stadium!
And speaking of Marichal, and Mays, who else remembers this....My dad and I saw Willie hit a home run…and Juan Marichal pitch…for the Giants against the Phillies back at old Connie Mack Stadium!
During his Phillies career Hutton against Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver of the New York Mets; in 62 plate appearances against Seaver, Hutton batted . 320, with 11 walks, three homers and 15 RBI.I saw Willie's number 648 at Veterans Stadium when he was with the Mets. Tom Seaver vs Steve Carlton. The Mets won 4-3 and little known Phillie first baseman, Tommy Hutton hit a home run off Seaver. Carlton gave up two 2-run homers that day while going the full 9 innings. Willie hit his homer in the 8th, which were the winning runs. The Vet had about 57K that day. It was "Bat Day", which can be found in my garage still today.
EDIT: I just checked and the attendance was a little over 57K that day in 1972.
LOL.Aaron was not the fielder or base runner that Mays was. Willie is the greatest ever position player
So that would explain why Aaron had a higher lifetime batting average right? Aaron was exceptional in every facet of the game. He just didn’t play in a media market and wasn’t a show boat like Mays. Saw Aaron catch a fly ball in the “cut out” in right center field at Connie Mack and turn and throw a runner tagging up at third out at the plate. But hey everyone’s entitled to their opinion and I’m entitled to mine which is based on seeing them both play.I'll take the other's word for it (including my Dad). Aaron had 1,500 more at bats than Mays (that's 3 seasons).
They both played 23 seasons. You can look it up.I'll take the other's word for it (including my Dad). Aaron had 1,500 more at bats than Mays (that's 3 seasons).
Don't get me wrong, Aaron is an all time great, but Mays was better. Deciding factor is Mays was a 12 time Gold Glove Centerfielder. Willie was an all time great fielder as well as hitter.Yes maybe. Not as great as Aaron.
Mays, Mantle, Aaron, Yaz, Rose, Brock, Oliva, Williams, Robinson. Quite a group of outfielders to watch back in the sixties.Say Hey, Willie...
If I were picking a baseball team, my first three picks would be Wagner, Frank Robinson, and Gibson. Why Robinson and Gibson, you may ask, seeing that I could name three or four players better than either? Mental toughness and great teammates.Mays, Mantle, Aaron, Yaz, Rose, Brock, Oliva, Williams, Robinson. Quite a group of outfielders to watch back in the sixties.
Then there were the pitchers. Gibson, Drysdale, Koufax, Seaver, Bunning, Marichal, McLain, Niekro, Palmer, McNally, Jenkins, Tiant, Perry.
Great time to grow up and collect baseball cards.
I can't argue with your picks. (I hated/loved Gibson and his attitude)If I were picking a baseball team, my first three picks would be Wagner, Frank Robinson, and Gibson. Why Robinson and Gibson, you may ask, seeing that I could name three or four players better than either? Mental toughness and great teammates.
Your list of outfielders in the 60's is a good one, but I would add Roberto Clemente who is, by nearly all accounts, the best defensive right fielder ever to play the game. He won 12 gold gloves (in a row), tying Mays for the most by an outfielder, and the last of those was in 1972, the year he died.Mays, Mantle, Aaron, Yaz, Rose, Brock, Oliva, Williams, Robinson. Quite a group of outfielders to watch back in the sixties.
Then there were the pitchers. Gibson, Drysdale, Koufax, Seaver, Bunning, Marichal, McLain, Niekro, Palmer, McNally, Jenkins, Tiant, Perry.
Great time to grow up and collect baseball cards.
Those outfield throws in the World Series simply stopped his opponent from seeking an extra base. How he got so much power out of that body I will never understand?Your list of outfielders in the 60's is a good one, but I would add Roberto Clemente who is, by nearly all accounts, the best defensive right fielder ever to play the game. He won 12 gold gloves (in a row), tying Mays for the most by an outfielder, and the last of those was in 1972, the year he died.
Close, but he was better because he was a better outfielder and a better base runner.Yes maybe. Not as great as Aaron.
Went to a twilight doubleheader in 1954 (I’m 81). Willie back from the Army. If I recall correctly he had 5 HRs,8 RBIs. He was a man among boys.Say Hey, Willie...
Mays lifetime fielding percentage was .981 and Aaron’s was .980. Aaron had a few more assists and a few less errors during his career than Mays. So what lots of players win/won Gold Gloves based on reputation every year.Don't get me wrong, Aaron is an all time great, but Mays was better. Deciding factor is Mays was a 12 time Gold Glove Centerfielder. Willie was an all time great fielder as well as hitter.
More fiction. Mays stole more bases than Aaron but he was not a better base runner. Their stolen base success percentage was the same.Close, but he was better because he was a better outfielder and a better base runner.