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[shayscards79]

Griffey jr and barry bonds are the best two I've ever seen.

This...

Giving pitchers a category of their own... I'd say Greg Maddux or Randy Johnson.

 

[osappy1]

Mays or Kaline

 

[homerun28aa]

When Dimaggio was considered to have the title his treatment of others, his respect for the game, the way he conducted himself, and the universal regard that other ballplayers held for him-- Hall of Famers included--- signified his "title",,,, sportswriters as well considered him to have all the qualities an "ambassador" of teh game of baseball should have,,,,

So-- out the guys you just named-- which would you think would carry themselves appropriately -- bring fans closer to the game while serving as a historical record of greatness??

Sorry to make you think about it :lol:

I'm not disagreeing with you, in fact I think you're right I just kind of misunderstood the question a little.

To be honest, if we look back on it 15 years after Mays dies I think based on pure MLB statistics and credentials accolades etc, Mays will purely be better than DiMaggio in terms of numbers, certainly not popularity though.

So then if you're looking for someone whose a true great and a truly great ambassador for the game, DiMaggio and Stan certainly both fit that bill well.

I'd say Aaron is a better ambassador than Mays, but truly the best living player I can't say really it's way too close. Probably Aaron. Comparing his HR total when considering those in the steroid era is really something even though Mays was 3rd all-time prior to the steroid era.

I think that years and years down the line we'll be talking about Griffey Jr as that ambassador. He was on hell of a pure hitter. However, I still think he could get caught up in the steroid thing. I mean many people are ruling him clean but who knows at this point. He hasn't had any legitimate allegations and to me he had an incredible pure swing personally I don't think there's much of a chance he used but who knows. In my opinion based off very limited knowledge I thought Griffey Jr. and A-Rod had the two nicest swings of the modern game but A-Rod got caught with the juice, even though he isn't a particularly big guy at all. So it's definitely hard for me to name someone who hit a ton of HRs during the steroid era as an ambassador to the game

 

[homerun28aa]

No... you really dont.

Agreed, I don't think longevity is the biggest contributor

 

[shayscards79]

As much as I hate to admit it, Pujols will probably finish with better career numbers than most of the guys mentioned in this thread.

 

[pootshwan]

Mike Trout.


On a more serious note... Willie Mays and it's a shame that's this is even a debate. It's Willie Mays and it's not even a discussion IMO.

 

[cgilmo]

Re: GREATEST LIVING BALLPLAYER ??

Imo it was willie before tonight. No disrespect to The Man.

 

[dano7]

Mays and then Aaron.
Ambassador of baseball - Banks
DANNY

 

[MansGame]

Albert Belle... Hands down

Just kidding haha... Man I didn't think Yogi had 10 WS rings! Wow...

I would say Mays or Aaron in a tight race

 

[Benedetti787]

GREATEST LIVING BALLPLAYER ??

Griffey jr. Some of the most memorable catches made in the position. Even Mays' "miracle catch" wasn't his best. Not to mention Griffey's bat. If he doesn't get injured, he hits well over 700 hrs.

 

[sawmillthug]

GREATEST LIVING BALLPLAYER ??

Griffey JR would be my pick but I'm biased as hell. Some might say cal Ripken jr. I'm torn between Willie mays and hank aaron. If for no other reason just to give respect for being in the game for so long and playing at a high level for as long as he did I am going with Aaron.

 

[sawmillthug]

GREATEST LIVING BALLPLAYER ??

Did I just pick 2 guys there? I need coffee

 

[wolfmanalfredo]

Re: GREATEST LIVING BALLPLAYER ??

All great players, and no doubt hofers. I'm not old enough to have seen aaron and mays play, but I'm in agreement with Gilmore. Griffey and Bonds were the best I ever saw. I'd throw maddux and johnson in as the best pitchers I ever saw. I don't like to admit it, but clemens also has to be in there for pitchers too

Sent from my SCH-M828C using Sports Cards by Freedom Card Board.com

 

[TwinsWin]

GREATEST LIVING BALLPLAYER ??

Nolan Ryan or Koufax are the best living pitchers. Position players I'd throw Pete Rose out there too along with Mays, Aaron, Robinson


Sent from my iPhone using Freedom Card Board App

 

[CatdaddysCards]

Re: GREATEST LIVING BALLPLAYER ??

We all know It's Bryce Harper. Haven't you guys been reading SU for the last 4 years?

I kid I kid. It was inevitable that it'd be posted at some point.

I'm going with Mays, Jr, Aaron.

 

[Sly]

If we're talking ballplayer ... "Ballplayer" being the key term, not taking into account their off-field antics/attitudes ... it's gotta be Mays and then Aaron, but probably a pretty close 1-2. And I think a legitimate argument could be made either way. Bonds is probably #3 (again, taking into account "ballplayer"), followed by Griffey. And no, Ripken's nowhere close to the Top 10.

As for pitchers ... Maddux, Gibson, Johnson/Clemens, Ryan, Koufax (sorry, but the short career and only five great seasons makes it very difficult to rank Koufax above the others).

 

[elmontny]

Mays And Bonds

 

[chromerookies]

Mays

This and Aaron is 2nd

 

[schmidtfan20]

Bring on the Griffey homers! He would of had blah blah blah if he stayed healthy......and Williams would of had 1000 HR's if he didn't fight in a few wars!

Griffey basically was an average ball player after the 2000 season. He only batted .300 once in that span and averaged around .260 batting average in that same span. His
lifetime average isn't even close to .300 He was clearly on pace to become the greatest ever after the 99 season, but was not "greatest ever, or even great, after those
great seasons. He played a long time which helps. He only hit 30 homers three times when he went to Cincy. They paid him all that money and the only thing he did was decline.

Junior is wildly popular with collectors, he should be, he was a model ball player, but he is not the greatest alive, not even close.

Kevin

 

[cgilmo]

Griffey defined a generation of baseball.


Those years where he was the best are simply, "The Griffey Years"

It wasn't MLB... it was MLG