I have to go with Rickey Henderson. . . just fearsome at leadoff and on the basepads.
What I liked the most about him was how he'd totally rattle the opposing pitcher just by being there at 1st base.
Who is your favorite baseball player of all time?
Started by
Julius
, Oct 26 2012 02:41 AM
58 replies to this topic
#5
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Posted 26 October 2012 - 03:55 AM
I was a big fan of the Blue Jays growing up. I still am now but it's hard when they're not on tv very much.
My best baseball moments came during the Blue Jays's championship drives in 1992 and 1993
My favorite player was Joe Carter. Every time he came up to bat it looked like he was going to hit a home. He had many years with 100+ RBIs and this was pre-steroid era.
Roberto Alomar and Devon White were my favorite for defense. White ran the outfield like a gazzelle and got so many great catches. My mom and pop were Orioles fans and Brooks's fans. They always see a play a third and say, "Brooks would have had it" I see plays at second base now and say "Alomar would have had it". There's a famous picture of Dennis Rodman midair stretched head to toe face the ground. That's how Alomar was.
Being in New York and watching lots of Yankees games Bernie WIlliams was a favorite of mine. Total class player, quiet but productive.
I've got a hell of a story to tell as well... to be continued/
My best baseball moments came during the Blue Jays's championship drives in 1992 and 1993
My favorite player was Joe Carter. Every time he came up to bat it looked like he was going to hit a home. He had many years with 100+ RBIs and this was pre-steroid era.
Roberto Alomar and Devon White were my favorite for defense. White ran the outfield like a gazzelle and got so many great catches. My mom and pop were Orioles fans and Brooks's fans. They always see a play a third and say, "Brooks would have had it" I see plays at second base now and say "Alomar would have had it". There's a famous picture of Dennis Rodman midair stretched head to toe face the ground. That's how Alomar was.
Being in New York and watching lots of Yankees games Bernie WIlliams was a favorite of mine. Total class player, quiet but productive.
I've got a hell of a story to tell as well... to be continued/
#7
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Posted 26 October 2012 - 04:13 AM
In 1981 I was probably at the peak of my lifetime baseball excitement. I watched the game of the week every Saturday with VIn Scully and Joe Gariagiola. When I am in heaven they will call every game. Just master wordsmiths, poets at the baseball diamond on the micophone. Vin Scully was a gradfatherly figure and this was 30 years ago. Believe or not he still broadcasts Dodgers home cames and all the game west of Colorado.
I also liked This Week In Baseball. It was like Sportscenter or Baseball Tonight but for the whole weak. Great highlights and commentary and they had stuff the kid in you, or for me the kid I was. For those the would show The San Diego Chicken. This si not what this story is about though.
Despite Fernandomania and the emmergence of Dave Rhighetti the season came to a crashing halt. The players went on strike, I'll look it up sometime, but I know that each team lost about 52 games. My brother was a Yankees fan, I was a Blue Jays fan.I became a Blue Jays fan as a 4 year old. My brother and his friends were trading baseball cards. I wanted in but I was too young to read. I recognized the Blue Jays from the birds in our backyard. So I became a Blue Jays fan. The talk around the pool was always Yankees fans including my brother talking about how good their recent Free-Agent signing was who was Dave Winfield.
Winfield didnt have to play games, my brother talked him up. My brother moved on from baseball and became a good rower and
mountain biker. We lots our closeness. He went to boardie school, I went to boarding school, He moved to Colorado.
In my freshman year of college my family visited me on Parents Weekend which was taking place during the Blue Jays first trip to the World Series. They were up 3 games 2. The big reason Blue Jays were more comeptive this year was the addition of an aging but still productive Dave Winfield. Winfield got some RBIs in exta innings and the Blue Jays won the World Series. My brother called me the next day and left an answering machine message for me: "The game was on the bus i was riding on in Boulder, I got to my stop and it was in extra innings, I paused thought Should I stay and listen? Then I heard that Dave Winfield was up for the Blue Jays and I knew everything would be alright, Congratulations Ryan"
I also liked This Week In Baseball. It was like Sportscenter or Baseball Tonight but for the whole weak. Great highlights and commentary and they had stuff the kid in you, or for me the kid I was. For those the would show The San Diego Chicken. This si not what this story is about though.
Despite Fernandomania and the emmergence of Dave Rhighetti the season came to a crashing halt. The players went on strike, I'll look it up sometime, but I know that each team lost about 52 games. My brother was a Yankees fan, I was a Blue Jays fan.I became a Blue Jays fan as a 4 year old. My brother and his friends were trading baseball cards. I wanted in but I was too young to read. I recognized the Blue Jays from the birds in our backyard. So I became a Blue Jays fan. The talk around the pool was always Yankees fans including my brother talking about how good their recent Free-Agent signing was who was Dave Winfield.
Winfield didnt have to play games, my brother talked him up. My brother moved on from baseball and became a good rower and
mountain biker. We lots our closeness. He went to boardie school, I went to boarding school, He moved to Colorado.
In my freshman year of college my family visited me on Parents Weekend which was taking place during the Blue Jays first trip to the World Series. They were up 3 games 2. The big reason Blue Jays were more comeptive this year was the addition of an aging but still productive Dave Winfield. Winfield got some RBIs in exta innings and the Blue Jays won the World Series. My brother called me the next day and left an answering machine message for me: "The game was on the bus i was riding on in Boulder, I got to my stop and it was in extra innings, I paused thought Should I stay and listen? Then I heard that Dave Winfield was up for the Blue Jays and I knew everything would be alright, Congratulations Ryan"
#22
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Posted 26 October 2012 - 01:22 PM
I used to idolize Clemens, unitl he got fat and lazy, then juiced up and cheating to play for rivals.
I used to love Johhny Damon, for his hustle, attitude and flare. Then he became a traitor for a couple million more.
So in hindsight my other favorite players included:
Yaz, Fred Lynn, Jim Ed, Dewey Evans, Remdawg, the Rooster, Butcher Hobson ....
I used to love Johhny Damon, for his hustle, attitude and flare. Then he became a traitor for a couple million more.
So in hindsight my other favorite players included:
Yaz, Fred Lynn, Jim Ed, Dewey Evans, Remdawg, the Rooster, Butcher Hobson ....
#27
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Posted 26 October 2012 - 03:42 PM
What I liked the most about him was how he'd totally rattle the opposing pitcher just by being there at 1st base.
What? No mention of the way he speaks of himself in the 3rd Person?
"Rickey Henderson is the Greatest of All Time" Rickey Henderson
#30
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Posted 26 October 2012 - 04:18 PM
I just looked at Yaz's lifetime numbers for the first time ever. A couple of shocking things.
He was not a lifetime .300 hitter, assumed he was with the legendary status.
He did not hit .300 the last nine years of his career 75-83 (.296 was best, .277 was his best after this).
Besides hitting 40 HR's 3 of 4 seasons 67-70, he hit more than 20 HR's 5 other times. (total of 8 of more than 20 HR's, in a 23 year career).
Only drove in 100 runs 5 times in his career.
Never had more than 200 hits in any season.
If you take out 67-70, is he still a hall of famer?
Sorry to poop on your favorite player, but this is shocking to me.
He was not a lifetime .300 hitter, assumed he was with the legendary status.
He did not hit .300 the last nine years of his career 75-83 (.296 was best, .277 was his best after this).
Besides hitting 40 HR's 3 of 4 seasons 67-70, he hit more than 20 HR's 5 other times. (total of 8 of more than 20 HR's, in a 23 year career).
Only drove in 100 runs 5 times in his career.
Never had more than 200 hits in any season.
If you take out 67-70, is he still a hall of famer?
Sorry to poop on your favorite player, but this is shocking to me.
#31
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Posted 26 October 2012 - 04:20 PM
I got two balls autographed in my life. One when I was a kid of like 5, when I met Thurman Munson. later in the game sent up an autographed ball, my dad has it. And my mom got a Joe Pepitone autograph for me, but I think it was really for her. I remember her being a little smitten with him. It would come out when she would tel the story of how she got his autograph.
#33
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Posted 26 October 2012 - 04:28 PM
I just looked at Yaz's lifetime numbers for the first time ever. A couple of shocking things.
He was not a lifetime .300 hitter, assumed he was with the legendary status.
He did not hit .300 the last nine years of his career 75-83 (.296 was best, .277 was his best after this).
Besides hitting 40 HR's 3 of 4 seasons 67-70, he hit more than 20 HR's 5 other times. (total of 8 of more than 20 HR's, in a 23 year career).
Only drove in 100 runs 5 times in his career.
Never had more than 200 hits in any season.
If you take out 67-70, is he still a hall of famer?
Sorry to poop on your favorite player, but this is shocking to me.
It's not about the stats....
#36
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Posted 26 October 2012 - 05:04 PM
I got two balls autographed in my life. One when I was a kid of like 5, when I met Thurman Munson. later in the game sent up an autographed ball, my dad has it. And my mom got a Joe Pepitone autograph for me, but I think it was really for her. I remember her being a little smitten with him. It would come out when she would tel the story of how she got his autograph.
I worked for the Village of Cooperstown Streets department over summers while in college. We prepared the field and helped during the Hall of Fame Game each year so I would go out on the field during the home run contest and collect balls. During the game, I would walk down in the dugouts and ask for autographs from certain players. A lot of the hall of famers and inductees would hang in the dugouts or on the field during the game. We were told we could get fired for doing it but I was summer help. I didn't care, I'd find another job the same day.
#41
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Posted 26 October 2012 - 05:13 PM
MIckey, or Willie Mays
My fave quote from a baseball player?
“That’s what they get for building a park on the ocean.” – Oil Can Boyd, after a 1986 Red Sox-Indians game at Cleveland Municipal Stadium (on the shore of Lake Erie) was postponed due to fog.
My fave quote from a baseball player?
“That’s what they get for building a park on the ocean.” – Oil Can Boyd, after a 1986 Red Sox-Indians game at Cleveland Municipal Stadium (on the shore of Lake Erie) was postponed due to fog.
#45
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Posted 26 October 2012 - 06:48 PM
I just looked at Yaz's lifetime numbers for the first time ever. A couple of shocking things.
He was not a lifetime .300 hitter, assumed he was with the legendary status.
Keep in mind he also led the AL with a .321, .326, and shockingly a .301 average in three of his seasons.. His .301 in 1968 the was the lowest in MLB history and the 2nd best hitter that year only batted .290. he also finishes 2nd in batting twice with a a .312 and a .329 average. Truly a dead ball period
#46
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Posted 26 October 2012 - 07:03 PM
Keep in mind he also led the AL with a .321, .326, and shockingly a .301 average in three of his seasons.. His .301 in 1968 the was the lowest in MLB history and the 2nd best hitter that year only batted .290. Truly a dead ball period
I did consider this after posting this, and think he was one of the best players in Baseball from 1962 through 1970, numbers say he was a very good player from 1970-1975.
Later in his career is what surprised me. The 75-83 years, the living on his reputation years. That were not dead ball era.
The AL batting title leader 75-83:
1975 Rod Carew 0.359
1976 George Brett 0.333
1977 Rod Carew 0.388
1978 Rod Carew 0.333
1979 Fred Lynn 0.333
1980 George Brett 0.390
1981 Carney Lansford 0.336
1982 Willie Wilson 0.332 (lowest)
1983 Wade Boggs 0.361
#47
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Posted 26 October 2012 - 07:22 PM
I did consider this after posting this, and think he was one of the best players in Baseball from 1962 through 1970, numbers say he was a very good player from 1970-1975.
Later in his career is what surprised me. The 75-83 years, the living on his reputation years. That were not dead ball era.
The AL batting title leader 75-83:
1975 Rod Carew 0.359
1976 George Brett 0.333
1977 Rod Carew 0.388
1978 Rod Carew 0.333
1979 Fred Lynn 0.333
1980 George Brett 0.390
1981 Carney Lansford 0.336
1982 Willie Wilson 0.332 (lowest)
1983 Wade Boggs 0.361
Well for one thing, by 1975 he was already 35 years old and 14 years into his career. By 1983 he was 43 years old. So he was already out of his "prime" in 1975. Not quite equal comps.
He also has more career hits and home runs then all of those players mentioned.
Baseball Reference compares his career to that of Eddie Murray and Dave Winfield. Players with extremely long and good careers. That seems about right.
#48
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Posted 26 October 2012 - 07:39 PM
Well for one thing, by 1975 he was already 35 years old and 14 years into his career. By 1983 he was 43 years old. So he was already out of his "prime" in 1975. Not quite equal comps.
He also has more career hits and home runs then all of those players mentioned.
Baseball Reference compares his career to that of Eddie Murray and Dave Winfield. Players with extremely long and good careers. That seems about right.
That makes sense, since I dislike players over 34 for their declining game.
I did mentioned earlier that he seemed to be more of a compiler.
Two guys I listed (Brett and Carew) were close in hits (250 less), but played 2 or more years less than Yaz.
I was just surprised to see his numbers. They do not jump out at me as "best player in the game", and I commented on it.
My question though is, had he retired say after the 78 season (was that the Bucky dent year), is he a hall of famer? He would have less than 3000 hits (2970).
I say probably, but not a 94.63% 1st ballot HOFer.
