Willie Mays' famous catch: Overrated?

Question

I've seen Jim Edmonds make the same play look faily routine.

Answer 1

Center field in Yankee Stadium, the Polo Grounds, Forbes Field and the old stadium in Philadelphia was a place where fly balls went to die because of the enormous distances and fleet-footed center fielders like Willie Mays. Yankee Stadium has been rebuilt, and the others are gone now. Jim Edmonds never had to run that far, and as another answerer pointed out, thanks to Willie Mays he and generations of kids have probably been imitating the original catch ever since. And then Edmonds also has to match the throw Mays made afterwards (remember, Mays started with his back to the infield). So no, Edmonds couldn't have made the same play look fairly routine because he has never made that play.

Mays earned his rating.

The catches by Tommie Agee and Ron Swoboda in 1969 (I saw them) were indeed great, and sportswriters at the time were even arguing which of them was the greatest World Series catch of all time, but I still go with Mays in 1954.

Answer 2

No way. You have to figure the circumstances. It was in the World Series..the pressure is on and also the Polo Grounds center was hella deep. Willie Mays had to run like heck. Here take a look at the comparison.

Busch stadium dimensions:
Dimensions: Left field: 336 feet; left-center: 385 feet; center field: 400 feet; right-center: 385 feet; right field: 335 feet

Source:
http://www.ballparks.com/baseball/national/stlbpk.htm

Polo Grounds dimensions:
Dimensions: 277-Left, 455-Center, 258-Right (original), 279-Left, 475-Center, 257-Right (final)

Source:
http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/past/PoloGrounds.htm

Angels Stadium:
Dimensions: Foul lines: 333 (1966), 330 (1997); bullpens: 362 (1966-1997); power alleys: 375 (1966), 369 (1973), 374 (1974), 370 (1989), 365 (1998); deep alleys: 386 (1966), 395 (1998); center field: 406 (1966), 402 (1973), 404 (1974), 406 (1998); backstop: 55 (1966), 60.5 (1973).

Source:
http://www.ballparks.com/baseball/american/anahei.htm

So you see...Willie Mays had a 475 foot Center field to run to catch that ball and he had a great arm. Edmonds would not have to run as far...as Busch or Angels stadium pales in comparison for center at 400-405 feet.

Answer 3

Willie Mays catch was in the 54 series on a dead run about 460 ft from home plate. What was amazing was how he turned around and got rid of the ball after making the catch and prevented Clevelands baserunners from advancing! Willie Mays always said that he made better catches than that one in the series but it was magnified because it was in the World Series! Edmonds is a truly great outfielder and I know the catches you are referring to.

Answer 4

Because it was on the World Series stage, the sheer amount of ground that was covered, the fact that it was one of the first catches of its kind, and in a key situation, Mays' catch will always be remembered for one of the finest defensive plays of all time.

Here's the thing with Edmonds' catch. First of all, it was when he was with the Angels. I can't find the dimensions to Angel Stadium, but it is certainly not as deep as the Polo Grounds. Secondly, Edmonds made that catch as he was diving towards the wall. That's what separates his from Mays'. Edmonds caught it as he was diving.

He does tend to make that kind of catch a lot (not of the diving variety), but he probably practiced it as a kid because of Willie Mays, and he has a tendency to showboat from time to time.

Answer 5

I don't think it is overrated, it was a huge play for that period in time. He was just an overall great ball player. But you are right, Jim Edmonds has made similar plays many times.

Answer 6

NO WAY!!! Here's what people don't realize about that catch: Mays played a shallow CF and the Polo Grounds was 480 to center. The actual motion of that catch has been duplicated, but the amount of ground that Mays covered to get there was unprecedented, and will never be duplicated (no ball parks are that big anymore.)

Answer 7

oh hell yes i always thought that .. sure its a good catch .. but deserving for sportcenter best catch ever .. uhh .. dont think so .. very true Edmonds along with other great definsive players make that play look easy

Answer 8

OMG!How can you say that?
Its like you think that The Say Hay kid isnt good.No that catch is one of the best all time.(Should be the best but i give jeter a few props for jumping into the stands a couple of times)

Answer 9

ron swoboda of the mets made 1 of the best catches of all
time in the 69 world series. look it up. and tom agee made
a couple too.

Answer 10

it was one of the greatest catches ever, and it was in hte world series. put 2 and 2 together and u come up big.