[jchcollins]

A lot of the discussion here reminds me of why I’ve always been careful not to get too close personally to my ballplayer heroes as people. Because invariably, you are going to be let down. If you’ve seen Ken Burns’ Baseball, the segment “Good at Life” talking about Pete Rose is what I’m talking about here. Yes, Mays is well known for his bad behavior with fans, but Mantle, Ted Williams, Frank Robinson, and countless others were no angels either. Why is their behavior overlooked / forgiven, while Willie’s is not?

It may not be “right”, but I have to draw a line with respect to my personal motivations for collecting with this kind of stuff. For me, that generally includes nostalgia, history, and grasping for the fleeting feeling of youth gone by above everything else. Few would disagree that as a player on the field, Willie Mays was easily one of the top 3-5 non-pitchers who ever lived. Along with Mantle and Aaron, he was one of the top figures in baseball that played into the nostalgia we associate with the sport today from the 1950’s and 60’s. I guess it becomes a question for some on where to draw the line. Do people think differently of Duke Snider or Willie McCovey now in the 21st century because of their tax problems that have come to light? Doubtful. So we should shun Mays because of his boorish behavior? I get it if that is your conclusion. It’s just not mine yet.