Willie Mays

[Del.]

Passed away at 93. Definitely a top 10 player of all time.

[Jeff]

Damn, I didn't know he was still alive.

[ghuns]

Passed away at 93. Definitely a top 10 player of all time.

Top 5 easy.

Probably nobody better when considering both offensive production and defense.

He made his pro debut before my dad was born and played his last game when I was 9 months old.

One of the GOATs. RIP, Willie

[Jim at Gentex]

Definitely my favorite player when I was a kid, hands down. 

When he got traded to the Mets back in '72 I was the happiest kid on Earth!
Even though he only played a season and a half with the Mets before he retired, we enjoyed every minute of it. 

Great player, and a great person...the guy was always smiling! 

RIP Willie.
You will be missed.   

[Del.]

Cardinals and Giants play tomorrow in Birmingham in what was supposed to be in honor of Mays and others who played on this field in the Negro league. 

[Jeff]

Probably nobody better when considering both offensive production and defense.

That's probably true.

Compared to Tony Gywnn, Pete rose and Ty Cobb he had the most gold gloves and all-star appearances.
Was the gold glove and all-star even a thing when Ty Cobb was playing?
EDIT: all star was 2 years after Cobb, and the gold glove was in 1957.

https://stathead.com/baseball/versus-finder.cgi?request=1&player_id1=mays--002wil&player_id2=gwynn-001ant&player_id3=rose--003pet&player_id4=cobb--001tyr

That's a fantastic site for comparing players.

[Jim at Gentex]

Was the gold glove and all-star even a thing when Ty Cobb was playing?

Gold Glove awards started in 1957, and the MLB All-Star games started in 1933.
Ty Cobb's last year playing was 1928, so no, he wouldn't have had the opportunity for either.

With his skill as a player he may very well have been recognized for both, but we'll never know.
Also, Ty Cob had a reputation for being a dirty player, and quite frankly was considered somewhat of a prick off the field too.

We can somewhat compare guys from back in the day as players, but personality-wise I don't know if you would ever find a nicer guy than Willie Mays. 

edit:
Also, Willie was a star player in both basketball and football when he was younger, so we are fortunate he chose baseball as his career!

[Jeff]

Also, Ty Cob had a reputation for being a dirty player, and quite frankly was considered somewhat of a prick off the field too.

I've heard that a few times. But it was 120 years ago, I'm sure a lot of players were pricks.

The Tigers wanted my Grandpa to play for them right around the 1930's, but he took a job as a lineman with Detroit Edison instead because it paid more. He passed in '77 and I wish I could pick his brain today about that era of baseball.

[Jim at Gentex]

I've heard that a few times. But it was 120 years ago, I'm sure a lot of players were pricks.

The Tigers wanted my Grandpa to play for them right around the 1930's, but he took a job as a lineman with Detroit Edison instead because it paid more. He passed in '77 and I wish I could pick his brain today about that era of baseball.

Wow...that's awesome.
Yeah, the game was definitely different back in the day, and certainly quite a bit rougher.

[Del.]

Players like Mays never got paid enough back in their careers. I doubt he could even stay at the hotels and restaurants for years.

[Del.]

Wow...that's awesome.
Yeah, the game was definitely different back in the day, and certainly quite a bit rougher.

Never even wore helmets.

[Jim at Gentex]

Never even wore helmets.

And when a pitcher decided to bean a guy, he was trying to knock his teeth out.   

They also wore steel cleats, so if you went to tag a guy out sliding into a base you might get one of those steel cleats in your face. (I remember reading Ty Cobb was known for that particular tactic...)

Waaaaay different game than what they play today.

[Del.]

And when a pitcher decided to bean a guy, he was trying to knock his teeth out.   

They also wore steel cleats, so if you went to tag a guy out sliding into a base you might get one of those steel cleats in your face. (I remember reading Ty Cobb was known for that particular tactic...)

Waaaaay different game than what they play today.

I always heard Cobb sharpened his cleats.

[Del.]

Great ceremony and game last night honoring Mays and Negro League in Birmingham. I think everyone there understood the significance of that game. Well done by MLB.

[Del.]

https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb-at-rickwood-field-reggie-jackson-recalls-racist-treatment-in-alabama-in-stunning-interview-024319611.html

Great history lesson from Reggie Jackson.