If Willie was the same age as A-Rod, who would be better?
2007-06-07 03:53:57 · 16 answers · asked by Menehune 7 in Sports ➔ Baseball
Hitting-wise, A-Rod is better, though it should be noted that both had unfriendly ballparks to hit in: Candlestick with its wind and Yankee Stadium with its Death Valley, great for lefty hitters but terrible for righthanders. It should be noted that both were very good at hitting to the opposite field, thus turning their disadvantageous ballparks into advantageous ones.
Fielding, it's hard to compare an infielder to an outfielder. You never hear about Willie's mistakes, but the reason for that is obvious: The press loved him, the way they only SAY they love A-Rod.
Willie played on four Pennant winners (though he was just along for the ride with the '73 Mets) and his catch pretty much decided the '54 Series in the Giants' favor. A-Rod has never won a Pennant.
For the moment, I'd have to say Mays was the better all-around player. One ring for A-Rod would change my mind. But I'm not holding my breath.
For the record, Hank Aaron has a ring, with the '57 Braves, and Barry Bonds does not.
2007-06-07 03:59:53 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A-Rod's a helluva ballplayer, no two ways about it, but IMHO Willie Mays is the best ballplayer to ever swing a bat. I once heard it said that Willie would catch anything that stayed in the park and Willie hit balls that Willie couldn't catch. I one time saw him go OVER Bobby Bonds to steal (at least) a double in right center, bounce off the fence, and come up throwing. Without a doubt the most amazing catch I've ever seen. The best player of all time--Willie Mays.
2007-06-07 12:09:37 · answer #2 · answered by bobdanailer69 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Willie Mays
2007-06-07 11:04:51 · answer #3 · answered by Yahoo Man 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Mays. And to people posting things about personality, Mays was no angel. He would tell his manager to not interfere with what was going on on the field. He would tell the manager, "your the manager in the dugout, but I'm the manager on the field." He was on Costas Now last year telling that story. The guy is Bonds godfather, think about it. But I could careless about personality and who has class and crap like that. Mays was great, but A-Rod is great, too. If Mays was playing today, he would have been even better. A lowered pitching mound, pitchers that aren't as good, just to name a couple things that are different today.
2007-06-07 13:11:42 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Willie Mays, no question. One of the greatest to ever take the field.
2007-06-07 10:57:46 · answer #5 · answered by Nate d o double g 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In this lively ball era, without a doubt Willie Mays! Can you imagine what his home run total would be with this lively ball, homer ball parks and watered down pitching?
A-Rod isnt even in the same ball park with 'Say Hey" on defense.
2007-06-07 11:43:03 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
To even hear A-Rod's name in the same sentence as Willie Mays makes me sick to my stomach.
2007-06-07 11:48:17 · answer #7 · answered by Double L Loser 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No contest. Willie Mays both as a player and as a person.
Chow!!
2007-06-07 12:16:32 · answer #8 · answered by No one 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Wilie mays is the greatest player ever... A-Rod has the best chance of surpassing.
2007-06-07 13:37:51 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
IF Willie was the same age, Willie would be better.
IF the Queen had balls, she'd be King.
IF I was 6'10" with a jumpshot, I'd be in the NBA.
2007-06-07 11:17:28 · answer #10 · answered by J-Far 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋