THE GREATEST PLAYERS OF ALL-TIME TEAM - by position - Centerfield

[elmalo]

Mantle with more votes than Ty Cobb, Ken Griffey, Jr. and Joe DiMaggio? Is that a computer glitch or something?

Why is that so shocking? It is arguable that Mantle in his prime was better than all of them.

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

Is (Mantle minus hangovers) > Mays?

 

[nborton]

This is one of my favorite Cobb stories.

After enduring several years of seeing his fame and notoriety usurped by Ruth, Cobb decided that he was going to show that anybody could hit home runs if he chose to. On 5 May 1925, Cobb began a two-game hitting spree better than any even Ruth had unleashed. He was sitting in the dugout talking to a reporter and told him that, for the first time in his career, he was going to swing for the fences. That day, Cobb went 6 for 6, with two singles, a double, and three home runs. His 16 total bases set a new AL record. The next day he had three more hits, two of which were home runs. His single his first time up gave him 9 consecutive hits over three games. His five homers in two games tied the record set by Cap Anson of the old Chicago NL team in 1884. Cobb wanted to show that he could hit home runs when he wanted, but simply chose not to do so. At the end of the series, 38-year-old Cobb had simply gone 12 for 19 with 29 total bases, and then went happily back to bunting and hitting-and-running.

Kinda reminds me of Ichiro's mentality. I think he said something similar once.

 

[flagshipchromecollector]

This is one of my favorite Cobb stories.

After enduring several years of seeing his fame and notoriety usurped by Ruth, Cobb decided that he was going to show that anybody could hit home runs if he chose to. On 5 May 1925, Cobb began a two-game hitting spree better than any even Ruth had unleashed. He was sitting in the dugout talking to a reporter and told him that, for the first time in his career, he was going to swing for the fences. That day, Cobb went 6 for 6, with two singles, a double, and three home runs. His 16 total bases set a new AL record. The next day he had three more hits, two of which were home runs. His single his first time up gave him 9 consecutive hits over three games. His five homers in two games tied the record set by Cap Anson of the old Chicago NL team in 1884. Cobb wanted to show that he could hit home runs when he wanted, but simply chose not to do so. At the end of the series, 38-year-old Cobb had simply gone 12 for 19 with 29 total bases, and then went happily back to bunting and hitting-and-running.

Kinda reminds me of Ichiro's mentality. I think he said something similar once.

I believe the sportswriters voted Cobb the player of the half century in 1950 over Ruth. Ruth's legend and Cobb's notoriety have greatly affected the popular perceptions of them over the last half century.

 

[nborton]

I believe the sportswriters voted Cobb the player of the half century in 1950 over Ruth. Ruth's legend and Cobb's notoriety have greatly affected the popular perceptions of them over the last half century.

Yep, when he died in the 60's all the major papers headlined their articles with the greatest player ever died. It's seems weird for today's times, but HR power hitters weren't popular until later. That, and the negative personal aspects of Cobb have made his legacy fade over time.

 

[Austin]

To put Kenny Lofton on your list and not Duke Snider is ridiculous. Snider led the 1950s in home runs, over Mantle and Mays.
Other Hall of Fame centerfielders include Cool Papa Bell, Larry Doby, Richie Ashburn, Oscar Charleston, Earl Averill and Billy Hamilton.
Lofton was excellent, but to choose him as one of the top 9 centerfielders ever, over several Hall of Famers, is silly.
(And yes, I know there's a write-in choice, but still. Lofton over Snider?)

 

[sportscardtheory]

To put Kenny Lofton on your list and not Duke Snider is ridiculous. Snider led the 1950s in home runs, over Mantle and Mays.
Other Hall of Fame centerfielders include Cool Papa Bell, Larry Doby, Richie Ashburn, Oscar Charleston, Earl Averill and Billy Hamilton.
Lofton was excellent, but to choose him as one of the top 9 centerfielders ever, over several Hall of Famers, is silly.
(And yes, I know there's a write-in choice, but still. Lofton over Snider?)

You can't please everyone with these polls. There are only 9 available spots. Write him in.

 

[matfanofold]

just curious, but are others taking defence and era in to consideration when voting?

 

[matfanofold]

You can't please everyone with these polls. There are only 9 available spots. Write him in.

You may not be able to please everyone but the addition of Lofton was simply an error. As pointed out, there are many quality HOF CF'ers that were MUCH more desserving of something better than a 'write in' while Lofton took the spot. Not a big deal really, but the single biggest blunder you have made yet in otherwise thouroughly thought out top list(s).

 

[scotty216brs]

ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? How the hell did Cobb NOT win this poll? Better yet, how does MANTLE have more votes than Cobb? Ugh, facepalms all around.


If I was making an all time team, it would be CENTERED around Tyrus Raymond Cobb. Hands down.

 

[scotty216brs]

These guys, thumbs up:

• Austin,
• A_Pharis,
• Ct Sox Fan,
• Erich,
• gracecollector,
• highphat,
• homerun28aa,
• jlyles,
• jumbojohnny,
• JzWand,
• MaineMule,
• mlbsalltimegreats,
• MojoDan,
• Mozzie22,
• nborton,
• PadresFan86,
• ronfromfresno,
• smapdi,
• sportscardtheory,
• That's Crucial

 

[sportscardtheory]

You may not be able to please everyone but the addition of Lofton was simply an error. As pointed out, there are many quality HOF CF'ers that were MUCH more desserving of something better than a 'write in' while Lofton took the spot. Not a big deal really, but the single biggest blunder you have made yet in otherwise thouroughly thought out top list(s).

I don't see it as a "blunder" at ALL. You are undervaluing Lofton as a CFer and overvaluing Snider. The only thing Snider was better at was hitting HRs, driving in runs and OPS. In more career plate appearances (in less games played), Lofton has a higher batting average, more hits, more runs, more doubles, more triples, 523 more stolen bases, a better walk to strikeout ratio, higher batting average of balls in play, was a MUCH better fielder, and only has 5.4 less career WAR. All while NOT playing on a juggernaut Dodgers team that went to 7 World Series' while Snider played for them. Of course you can say that Snider was a better hitter, but this is about the specific position of centerfield, and I don't think it's a "blunder" if someone wants to rank Lofton a better CFer. Was Snider a more popular HOF player while playing for a more popular team, yes. Does that mean that we must discount what Lofton accomplished, no.

 

[MansGame]

I don't see it as a "blunder" at ALL. You are undervaluing Lofton as a CFer and overvaluing Snider. The only thing Snider was better at was hitting HRs, driving in runs and OPS. In more career plate appearances (in less games played), Lofton has a higher batting average, more hits, more runs, more doubles, more triples, 523 more stolen bases, a better walk to strikeout ratio, higher batting average of balls in play, was a MUCH better fielder, and only has 5.4 less career WAR. All while NOT playing on a juggernaut Dodgers team that went to 7 World Series' while Snider played for them. Of course you can say that Snider was a better hitter, but this is about the specific position of centerfield, and I don't think it's a "blunder" if someone wants to rank Lofton a better CFer. Was Snider a more popular HOF player while playing for a more popular team, yes. Does that mean that we must discount what Lofton accomplished, no.

Zing...

 

[IndyManning18]

Kenny Lofton has 3 votes? Hahahaha I'd vote for other, no name, just other over Kenny Lofton.

My two votes went to Mays and Cobb, by the way. I'd be happy with either in my lineup.

 

[sportscardtheory]

Kenny Lofton has 3 votes? Hahahaha I'd vote for other, no name, just other over Kenny Lofton.

He's certainly NOT the best overall centerfielder of all-time. Not even close. Definitely underrated though, IMO.

 

[noaskiecards]

Lofton has 3 times more votes than Tris Speaker and half the votes of Joe Dimaggio...

 

[miguelcabrera]

why all the hate on lofton? dont people remember he played on those great indian teams with manram and thome

 

[scotty216brs]

Lofton has 3 times more votes than Tris Speaker

That's just stupid.

People don't know how good Speaker was....I wouldn't pick him over Cobb [obv] but I would definitely take him over half the players on that list.

 

[noaskiecards]

why all the hate on lofton? dont people remember he played on those great indian teams with manram and thome

juicers

 

[scotty216brs]

why all the hate on lofton? dont people remember he played on those great indian teams with manram and thome

If I am building a team of all time greats, I wouldn't even ask Lofton to be the team's bat boy.