2007-07-20 20:07:37 · 22 answers · asked by b h 2 in Sports ➔ Baseball
Willie Mays is the best that has ever played the game. He was feared as much for his defense in center as he was for smashing home runs.
2007-07-20 20:15:45 · answer #1 · answered by ajn4664_ksu 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The best player in baseball ever? I would have to go with Babe Ruth. Not only did he hit all those home runs, but people also forget that his first 5 years he was a starting pitcher and did not swing the bat that much. you could easyly throw in another 75 homeruns in those 5 years. And dont forget in his hey day he was hitting more home runs than some teams entire roster combined, that will never be done again!!!!!!!! IN 1916 HE HAD 23 WINS AND A 1.73 ERA WITH170 STRIKEOUTS not that many pitchers ever can say that and oh yeah throw in all the homers.
2007-07-21 08:34:41 · answer #2 · answered by eric w 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are a number of choices. When you ask about the best "player", you have to exclude pitchers because they only "play" every 5 days. Consequently, you now have to consider every day players who are good both offensively and defensively. Mantle was good but towards the end of his career, he was average due to injuries and physical neglect on his part. Mays? Maybe, but he hung on too long and had an inglorious last season with the Mets. Aaron? Maybe, but he was not the greatest fielder and his arm didn't scare anyone from taking the extra base.
For my money, the very best was Roberto Clemente. He hit for average, hit for power, had good speed, and defensively, he was the best right fielder ever to play the game. He threw out ten (10) runners who took a too wide turn at first base after a single---remarkable. He saved his team countless runs by making baserunners only advance one base on a base hit--- now that's fear!! He was known in Pittsburgh as "The Great One" during his career and will always be referred to as that by anyone who ever played against him. He was the best!
2007-07-21 13:11:27 · answer #3 · answered by Greg McD 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Best Hitter- Willie Mays/Babe Ruth
They both were amazing but Babe Ruth had more power and Mays was a better fielder by far
Best Pitcher- Cy Young
This guy has every right to be called the best pitcher ever. He has 511 wins which is most in MLB history. Why do you think the best pitcher in both leagues, each year get the Cy Young Award.
2007-07-21 11:34:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm from Atlanta and looove Hank Aaron. However, I've always felt that the best all around player ever is Willie Mays. He was like the original five tool player. He could beat a team in several different ways. If he pitched he could have been a whole team by himself. I'm not dissing all the other greats I promise. The Say-Hey Kid was it, though!
2007-07-21 03:53:44 · answer #5 · answered by Rosie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Babe Ruth. Not just because of his home run feats, but because of his adjusted OPS+, one of the better measures of a player's overall hitting ability (It's on base pct. plus slugging pct. adjusted for era and ballpark). His is an eye-popping 207. In comparison, Hank Aaron's is 155, Willie Mays's is 156, and Mickey Mantle's is 172.
Ruth had a .690 slugging pct. for his career. Pujols and A-Rod, as great as they've been, have never topped a .667 SLG in a single season.
2007-07-21 11:04:27 · answer #6 · answered by koreaguy12 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Holy Hank Aaron. Obviously, he holds the all-time home run record (REAL home runs, not roid-induced *cough*Bonds) . He was a consistent, lasting threat in baseball, playing 23 seasons and making the all-star team in 20 of those seasons. You can argue, but you will never win trying to name anyone other than Aaron as baseball's best.
2007-07-21 03:49:31 · answer #7 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends if you mean the best career or the best at his peak. Classic example is the Mantle - Mays argument. If you go by career Mays was better but if you go by who was better at the peak of their abilities it would be Mantle. I don't think anyone ever hit a ball farther than Mantle could when he was young even with the advances in weight lifting that started coming along after his career and of course in the last decade or two steroids and HGH.
2007-07-21 09:51:08 · answer #8 · answered by ligoneskiing 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Best Hitter -- Ted Williams.
Best Pitcher -- Sandy Koufax
Sandy's career only lasted 12 years. It took him quite a while to master his delivery. But Oh those last six years were magnificent. Most dominant pitcher I've ever seen.
He's probably the guy that made be a baseball fan.
2007-07-21 05:11:10 · answer #9 · answered by harmonv 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Im going with babe ruth, he not only hit more home runs a year than whole teams, but he was also an awesome pitcher. To be able to do what ruth did with the equipment available back then hands down ruth in my book.
2007-07-21 04:45:57 · answer #10 · answered by steve s 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋