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[rum151man]

the man needs no introduction

 

[bongo870]

Ken Griffey jr. Hands down!
Oh and Steve Calrton as one of the best Left handers to ever hit the mound!

 

[schmidtfan20]

I always laugh when people mention defense and outfielders. When I think of defense I think of Ozzie or Brooks. OF'ers catch pop flies and there is a reason why they are in the outfield. Sure they make some sliding catches, but infielders handle the defense.

Griffey was in his prime in 1999, but only declined. Guys like Mays and Aaron were still producing at that point in their careers. Are there any true baseball fans that weren't disappointed by how Griffey's career ended?

 

[Benedetti787]

GREATEST LIVING BALLPLAYER ??

Of course you would laugh....shows your knowledge for the game...probably just a JV guy that never made the lineup. Sad really.

 

[bongo870]

yea these guys had no defence:

Greatest Baseball Catches Ever (Pictures Only) - YouTube

 

[rickeyfanatic]

Rickey Henderson

 

[allstars]

Willie MAYS IS the greatest all-around ballplayer of all time.

 

[George_Calfas]

yea these guys had no defence:

Greatest Baseball Catches Ever (Pictures Only) - YouTube

Kid's play

-Signed, Jim Edmonds

 

[bongo870]

Kid's play

-Signed, Jim Edmonds

Edmods was great on the field too! But some people feel outfield has nothing to do with defence. lol
Jim Edmonds Career Highlights - YouTube

 

[U L Washington Rookie]

Kid's play

-Signed, Jim Edmonds

Jim Edmonds coulda played more games/seasons [leading to a better career] had he not under-played balls so that he could hot-dog it for the highlight reel.

- Signed Willie Mays Hayes

 

[U L Washington Rookie]

Tons of ballplayers being tossed around,,, but very few guys seem to be able to define WHY they think their guy is the greatest living ballplayer,,,,,,

Is it because a player compiled stats? Stats should play just a small part in the discussion,,,,,, a better way to think about the question of "greatest ballplayer" is who do you think of immediately? Most people tend to think of less than 10 names,,,, so anyone else thought of after the fact is someone you shouldn't consider,,,,

Whenever I get together with guys my age ( 50-70 yrs old) while Mantle is brought up Yogi doesn't enter the discussion,,, 3 MVP & 10 rings aside guys like Bench & Fisk get mentioned BEFORE Yogi does in the discussion of greatest catchers,,,, so if a guy can't even break thru as the first guy being thought of at his own position how's he supposed to be considered "the greatest living ballplayer"???

Mays is a guy who most people seem to believe should hold the title,,,, but WHY do you believe it ?? Can you define what about Mays would make the average person even think about him ??

Whomever you name needs to be recognizable OUTSIDE the cloistered world of baseball fans,,, would the person have name recognition immediately at another sporting event -- for example when Michael Jordan shows up anywhere at a baseball, hockey, or even golf tournament people KNOW who he is,,,, know he represents just about the finest basketball player ever ,,,,,, in the same way Richard Petty is to racing,,, Pele is to soccer, Tiger Woods is to golf,,,,,, that person needs to be known even to a casual fan,,,,,

Sorry = but the name Al Kaline wont be recognized at a golf or tennis tournament by a casual fan,,,,,, but guys like Mays & Aaron would be,,,,,

So again-- DEFINE why you personally believe your guy deserves the title,,,, WHY is it that person commands your attention,,, why they would be recognizable outside their own sport,,,,, why is it that their personality, or their charisma, or how they played the game so meaningful to you the fan,,,,

Sorry to make some of you THINK about why a guy commands your own vote for "greatest living ballplayer",,,,,

jeff

Instead of apologizing for that, you should apolgize for not being clear as to what your question is.

You have an odd definition of 'greatest ballplayer.' What do fame and off-field stuff have to do with playing baseball? Nothing. One doesn't need to be recognized by non-baseball fans to have been a great baseball player. Neither does one need to be a good person to be a great baseball player.

 

[nosterbor]

 

[U L Washington Rookie]

I'm not telling people the criteria they should be using

Whomever you name needs to be recognizable OUTSIDE the cloistered world of baseball fans,,, would the person have name recognition immediately at another sporting event -- for example when Michael Jordan shows up anywhere at a baseball, hockey, or even golf tournament people KNOW who he is,,,, know he represents just about the finest basketball player ever ,,,,,, in the same way Richard Petty is to racing,,, Pele is to soccer, Tiger Woods is to golf,,,,,, that person needs to be known even to a casual fan,,,,,

Sorry = but the name Al Kaline wont be recognized at a golf or tennis tournament by a casual fan,,,,,, but guys like Mays & Aaron would be,,,,,

Would be easy to dismiss Mays on his treatment of others, his nasty disposition towards fellow ballplayers, and many other negatives that surround him

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??

The first quote after my expressed confusion is the most confusing if you're not the one defining the criteria. The last one also seems to impose a criteria.

For me, Mays and Aaron are the top 2 and too close to choose from. Both were 5-tool players with long careers, their stats show that they were the best in their era and only one guy to follow so far, Barry Bonds, is in their company statistically speaking. My reasons: stats, stats, stats. I don't define ballplaying greatness by off-field accomplishments.

 

[hive17]

I'd like proof that Ted Williams is actually dead before it's not him anymore.

 

[Wes]

As would I ,,,, Barry's attitude towards people in general DQ him in my mind,,,,

So your guided by at least some modicum of respect for opponents, the press, the fans, etc -- am I reading too much into that ??

Its why i wanted to hear WHY people thought how they do

If the question is best ballplayer, it's Bonds. If it's nicest well...

 

[RITM]

GREATEST LIVING BALLPLAYER ??

Catch the ball, step.....step........step.......fall down.......highlight reel.

-Jimmy Edmonds

 

[bongo870]

I feel ken Griffey Jr. beacuse he put fun back into the game. In the early 90's "the Kid" was alot of fun to watch play ball. Always smileing and just haveing a blast playing baseball. How many people can say they hit a home run right after there dad did in MLB? On and off the field ken was a blast and great support to basbeall to keeping the fans there.

 

[Tpm2780]

I feel ken Griffey Jr. beacuse he put fun back into the game. In the early 90's "the Kid" was alot of fun to watch play ball. Always smileing and just haveing a blast playing baseball. How many people can say they hit a home run right after there dad did in MLB? On and off the field ken was a blast and great support to basbeall to keeping the fans there.

I couldn't agree with you more on this! Nicely put! I think Griffey is the best living player of our generation. However, I think the best living player ever is Willie Mays even though I never was able to watch him play. I think because of his stats and his demeanor on an off the field make him the best. I think Griffey is definitely the best of our generation because of his stats and playing the game the way it was supposed to be played by having fun and not doing the steroids like others have!

 

[bongo870]

I couldn't agree with you more on this! Nicely put! I think Griffey is the best living player of our generation. However, I think the best living player ever is Willie Mays even though I never was able to watch him play. I think because of his stats and his demeanor on an off the field make him the best. I think Griffey is definitely the best of our generation because of his stats and playing the game the way it was supposed to be played by having fun and not doing the steroids like others have!

See thats why it is hard to say one person is the best player. I always put it "one" of the best players. Griffey was one of the best players as was Mays and many others.

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

Just as observation: Griffey wasn't really that great after 30. Had a couple really good seasons and some above-average seasons, but there weren't any HOF-type seasons.