2007-01-21 10:19:20 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Baseball
Absolutely. Even conservatively low projections from the time he missed, he'd have at least 660 HRs by now, probably would be closer to 700. He was a complete player offensively and probably the top 5 defensive force CFs of all time.
It's a shame, too because he'd have been able to surpass whatever Bonds total would be, and there would be no doubt as to who the HR king is, rather than have Bonds with the highest total, but an asterisk would be next to it in most people's minds.
2007-01-21 10:39:12 · answer #1 · answered by nymetsking 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Part of being a great player is having good durability. Cal Ripken is a great example; he was a very solid player for an extended period of time, and it earned him a spot in the hall of fame.
No doubt Ken Griffey Jr. was a great player, but it was for a very short period of time. You can easily make the argument that poor durability is the result of insufficient conditioning. No doubt, Griffey has been unlucky during his career, but I'm not prepared to explore that hypothetical situation.
2007-01-21 19:45:36 · answer #2 · answered by Kwoker 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He easily could have put up the numbers to CHALLENGE Willie Mays' greatness. Griffey was a great fielder, he's got ten Gold Gloves in his trophy cabinet, he could crush the ball, and he had decent speed. Had he played more cautiously he may have better offensive numbers, but his all out style and drive to win was what made him him.
2007-01-22 09:56:13 · answer #3 · answered by kblavie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He with out question be known as one of the best ever. He is missing at least 100 HRs from all the games he missed and there is no doubt that he would break Hanks record. I read in the St.Louis post last year that he would likely have near 800 hrs.
2007-01-21 19:09:50 · answer #4 · answered by O G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think so had he stayed in Seattle and not been traded or hurt. Some of the teams that the Mariners have had since he left were very good. He could have had some really nice numbers there.
2007-01-21 23:08:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
He's certainly a hall of famer already but I don't know if he would be the best ever. Injuries are part of the game.
2007-01-22 06:19:40 · answer #6 · answered by mannishboy24 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No doubt about it. Atleast we all know he's clean of roids since he never needed them to heal himself faster. I wish we would have been able to see Junior play a career with no major injuries, we all would have experienced something special.
2007-01-21 18:25:45 · answer #7 · answered by Andrew B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Best Ever?I highly doubt it but very close.He'd be much better then Mark Mcgwire and Reggie Jackson for sure.
2007-01-21 23:00:54 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would have been great to have him a the potential home run king. He would have been highly ranked but not the best ever.
2007-01-22 00:30:04 · answer #9 · answered by Stealing Home 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hard to say. I think it would have been between him and Mays. But it also depends on who he had batting around him the rest of his career. I you don't have good players around you things are a lot tougher.
2007-01-21 19:21:18 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋