Live* IT UP SPORTS* said 11/12, 05:59 PM
The way I see it, there are 3 candidates for the title of the best CF ever: Willie Mays, Ty Cobb, and Mickey Mantle. So it's between Mays, Mantle, and Cobb. First, a look at Willie Mays, perhaps the premier defensive player ever. The "Say Hey Kid" was also very consistent at the plate, and stayed consistent for a long time, which is how he wound up with 660 HR. His OPS+ is 156, though that was hampered a bit by the last couple of seasons in his career, when he was over 40 and not quite the player he once was. But he did lead the NL in OPS 5 times during his career, during which he won 12 straight gold gloves. So it's safe to say that he was a premier defensive player while being one of the biggest offensive threats of his generation.
Next is Mickey Mantle, who played around the same era as Willie Mays. His career counting numbers don't look as good, but that's mostly because he did not play as long as Mays. In his prime, he might have been the best hitter of his generation not named Ted Williams. He had great patience at the plate (career .421 OBP) while hitting for a lot of power (he was in the top 3 in the AL in SLG for 11 of 13 straight years).
yankeefan21142 said 11/12, 06:03 PM
ty cobb. look at his lifetime average. that says it all. he was way better than anyone else. plus his hustle and love for the game have never been matched. his fielding was very good and he wasnt afraid to give up his body. he was a BEAST!!!!!
Live* IT UP SPORTS* said 11/12, 06:07 PM
ya,Ty Cobb, who is a bit harder to compare because he played a good portion of his career in the Deadball Era. But he was an incredible pure hitter with lots of speed. While he didn't hit a lot of HR, nobody did, and he still lead the AL in SLG for 6 straight years (and 8 times overall in his career). His .366 career AVG is best ever, and his .433 OBP is 9th all-time. He also stole almost 900 bases in his career. The Georgia Peach's OPS+ of 167 is 10th all-time.
I will say this, I think Mantle had the best peak of any of them, but he just didn't have the longevity that Cobb or Mays did. So I would probably put him 3rd there. After that, it's almost a pick'em. You could probably make convincing arguments in favor of Willie Mays or Ty Cobb being the best player ever, let alone best CF ever.
But come Mickey Mantle not only great CF great Yankee, the #7 he was great on defence and at hitting.
yankeefan21142 said 11/12, 06:10 PM
so are you saying mantle is the best? cobb played the game right, and even though the mick did too, cobb did it when it was 10000000x harder to hit.
Live* IT UP SPORTS* said 11/12, 06:18 PM
What do you mean By 10000000x harder to hit?
yankeefan21142 said 11/12, 06:47 PM
the ball was basically a rock. plus all the good pitchers were back then. him hitting like he did is more impressive than if someone did it today
Comments (5)
I did not have room but About Ty cobb and my vote went to Mickey Mantle.
Live* IT UP SPORTS* | 11/12/07, 06:02 PM
Report Offensive CommentWillie Mays.
Esco | 11/12/07, 06:08 PM
Report Offensive CommentTy Cobb is the second greatest baseball player of all-time by a comfortable margin.
TradeAngelos | 11/12/07, 06:18 PM
Report Offensive CommentChris Duffy
Coletrain | 11/12/07, 06:30 PM
Report Offensive CommentSay Hey!
Sport Princess | 11/13/07, 12:40 AM
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