OT: Greatest Living Four

[Cmount76]

How do you leave Seaver out of the mix? I know his career was substantially longer, but he had nearly 150 more wins , 1,200 more K's, and a career ERA that was basically the same.

Sandy had an amazing 4 year run, something that will probably never be seen again with the way pitchers are currently dealt with, but let's not negate "Tom Terrific"

[bbsports]

Aaron, Mays, Berra, & Ford

[talkinbaseball]

Yogi

[oldjudge]

Aaron, Mays, Koufax, Rickey Henderson

[vintagehofrookies]

the 1st 2 are no-brainers
Mays
Aaron
Rose
Yogi

[bbcard1]

I am fine the selections. I could have seen Yogi over Bench...they are two of the all-time greats but were different sorts of players. Can't go wrong with either and it was great for Bench to go out there in front of the hometown crowd. Jeter wouldn't make my top 10, but that's why baseball is the best sport to argue. I concur Schmidt and Ryan are worthy of consideration and will one day be representing the greatest living players..and deservedly so.

[IMAXMAX]

Yogi B.
P. Rose
B. Robinson
N. Ryan

I.M.H.O.

[Cubswin82]

3 of the 4 were spot on...but Bench? No way...he's not even the greatest living catcher. Yogi should have been there...that 4 I could have 100% agreed on!

[bcbgcbrcb]

Offensively, I would go with:

Aaron
Mays
F Robby
Bonds

Pitching-wise, I would say:

Big Unit
Seaver
Maddux
Pedro

[tedzan]

YOGI BERRA

WHITEY FORD

SANDY KOUFAX

WILLIE MAYS



TED Z
__________________________________________________ _____________________________________
Still searching for these 4 cards to complete my AMERICAN BEAUTY 460 sub-set (74 subjects)

CAMNITZ (hands over head)....DOYLE (portrait)....McGRAW (portrait-cap)....TINKER (bat off shoulder)
.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by tedzan

YOGI BERRA

WHITEY FORD

SANDY KOUFAX

WILLIE MAYS



TED Z
__________________________________________________ _____________________________________
Still searching for these 4 cards to complete my AMERICAN BEAUTY 460 sub-set (74 subjects)

CAMNITZ (hands over head)....DOYLE (portrait)....McGRAW (portrait-cap)....TINKER (bat off shoulder)
.

Yogi over Aaron???

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Yogi over Aaron???

Peter

I can never tell when you're serious, or just jiving ?


Anyhow, Yogi is first in my book.

Tell me....what other living BB player has contributed more to the success of his team than Yogi ?

Yeh....go ahead and check-out the stats of other players currently living....then compare.

I don't have to waste my time searching thru numbers....for I'm fortunate to be old enough to have seen Yogi play from 1947 to 1963.
And, trust me I saw many, many Yankees games over those 17 years.

Furthermore, I followed the Milwaukee Braves from 1954 thru 1964. They were my favorite NL team when I was young.

From a young kid, I have always contended, that for the most part, the key to a Championship team is a "super-star" catcher.
And, Yogi's all-around performance exemplifies this.



TED Z
.

[Jdoggs]

Mays, bonds, Clemens, Miguel Cabrera.

[glchen]

Mays, Aaron, Rose, Berra

[bmattioli]

Aaron, Mays, Rose, Koufax (he looked good)..

[Al C.risafulli]

1. Mays
2. Bonds
3. Aaron
4. Clemens

-Al

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Al C.risafulli

1. Mays
2. Bonds
3. Aaron
4. Clemens

-Al

This is my 4 also.

[MacDice]

I would go Seaver over Koufax

What about Sadaharu Oh?

Assuming we aren't counting frozen Ted Williams on the list.

[Golfcollector]

Mays
Aaron
Yasrzemski
Ryan

[Joshwesley]

I think they got it right....

Wouldn't have hurt my feelings to see them extend it to a few more players and add:

Nolan Ryan

[Bigdaddy]

Mays, Aaron, Ryan and Rose Bonds Clemens Cal

[sago]

Originally Posted by Cmount76

How do you leave Seaver out of the mix? I know his career was substantially longer, but he had nearly 150 more wins , 1,200 more K's, and a career ERA that was basically the same.

Sandy had an amazing 4 year run, something that will probably never be seen again with the way pitchers are currently dealt with, but let's not negate "Tom Terrific"

+ many

[rats60]

Koufax
Mays
Aaron
Seaver

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by rats60

Koufax
Mays
Aaron
Seaver

Agreed

[chris6net]

Originally Posted by rats60

Koufax
Mays
Aaron
Seaver

This is my four!

[GregMitch34]

You want to leave Sandy off? He tossed a strike without even looking tonight in throwing out first pitch. He could probably sign as situational lefty today and have 1.20 era...

[Kenny Cole]

Koufax pitched the very first game I ever saw at Dodger Stadium. I was five and it was his last year. I have been a huge fan of his ever since.

[mark evans]

After Mays, lots of good answers for the other three.

[Mike (18colt)]

Aaron
Mays
Griffey, Jr.
Rose

I'd pick a pitcher, but couldn't decide between Maddux, Clemens, Seaver, Ryan, Koufax, Carlton, Gibson, Martinez, etc. Bonds also is problematic. I like Frank Robinson, but he may be the overrated underrated guy.

[toledo_mudhen]

I was pretty happy with the 4 that were chosen - Stirred lots of memories for me all in the matter of just a few minutes.....Awesome

[Kenny Cole]

Originally Posted by rats60

Koufax
Mays
Aaron
Seaver

Agreed as well

[kgibson]

Aaron, Mays, Gibson, Ryan

[Edwolf1963]

Mike Blowers, Andy Stankewicz, Kiko Garcia, Mickey Klutz

Wait, sorry - wrong list ...

Mays
Aaron
Koufax
Nolan Ryan

[Beatles Guy]

Seventh game of the World Series, who do you pitch - Seaver, Ryan, Koufax or Gibson? I have to go Gibson.

[Jlighter]

Bench is not top 4 living, they had him there for the Reds fans, but I don't know why they didn't choose Frank Robinson.

Mays, Aaron, Koufax(I'm biased), Pedro

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Beatles Guy

Seventh game of the World Series, who do you pitch - Seaver, Ryan, Koufax or Gibson? I have to go Gibson.

Definitely not Ryan. Tossup as to the others.

[ValKehl]

After Aaron, Koufax, and Mays, you could throw a dart at all the other players named in this thread and have the best living 4. Another possibility for the 4th player, whom I don't believe has yet been mentioned, is Mariano Rivera.
Val

[rats60]

Originally Posted by Beatles Guy

Seventh game of the World Series, who do you pitch - Seaver, Ryan, Koufax or Gibson? I have to go Gibson.

In 1965, Walter Alston had the choice to pitch a Hofer on full rest or pitch Koufax on 2 days rest in game 7. He chose Koufax and Koufax pitched his 2nd shutout in 3 games. I'd pitch Koufax over Gibson, but I wouldn't argue with anyone picking Gibby. The only 2 players with multiple World Series MVPS and the 2 best big game pitchers of the modern era, but Koufax's better post season era 0.95 to 1.89 makes the difference to me.

[tbob]

With the game on the line and a win is crucial, how can you go with anyone other than Bob Gibson? Too many collectors here never had a chance to see him pitch. Koufax was great, but in the BIG game, Gibson was the man.

My other 3: Mays, Aaron and Yogi. Berra was CLUTCH. Bench was great, Berra was better.

[tbob]

Originally Posted by Beatles Guy

Seventh game of the World Series, who do you pitch - Seaver, Ryan, Koufax or Gibson? I have to go Gibson.

+1. Absolutely.

[Vintageclout]

Originally Posted by Cmount76

How do you leave Seaver out of the mix? I know his career was substantially longer, but he had nearly 150 more wins , 1,200 more K's, and a career ERA that was basically the same.

Sandy had an amazing 4 year run, something that will probably never be seen again with the way pitchers are currently dealt with, but let's not negate "Tom Terrific"

+1 - George Thomas Seaver is baseball's greatest living pitcher. His WAR & JAWS stats are the final nail in the coffin to justify that stance. Only Clemens has better WAR stats among living pitchers and we all know jolly Roger's use of steroids after he left Boston bump him from any top 10 list discussion.....he was a blatant cheater!

[7nohitter]

I have primarily collected Nolan Ryan since 1988, when I was 13. However, I would not put him on the 'Four Greatest Living Players' list. His accomplishments will never be duplicated, BUT his ERA was higher (though many teams would love to have him today) and look at the number of walks he issued in his career!

Great guy, yes. Hall of Famer, yes. One of the top 50 greatest living players, yes.

[BengoughingForAwhile]

Aaron, Mays, Rose, Seaver.

[OldEnglishD]

Originally Posted by BengoughingForAwhile

Aaron, Mays, Rose, Seaver.

+1

[darwinbulldog]

Just looking at the stats on the field I'd go with Bonds, Clemens, Mays, and Aaron.

But if you want to disqualify any or all of those four guys for PEDs, here are the next four: Seaver, A-Rod, Randy Johnson, Schmidt.

[brewing]

Originally Posted by Cmount76

Sandy had an amazing 4 year run, something that will probably never be seen again with the way pitchers are currently dealt with, "

I believe we already saw it at the turn of the century, with 2 different pitchers.

[Touch'EmAll]

Vintageclout remarks on the height of the pitching mound - and how it helped Koufax. I have even heard stories of the Dodgers fooling with the mound even more for additional help for Koufax (only rumor to my knowledge, but?) Ryan started to throw his insane stuff after mound was dropped. Can you imagine how many no-hitters he would have had if he played a decade earlier? Oh, My! Ryan is a very unique pitcher that you have to analyze "outside the box" for full appreciation - not so cut and dry by just looking at a few mathematical numbers. And the poor team he played for, come on, sure didn't help. I saw him live many times at Anaheim Stadium, The Big A. The crowd was on a special heightened awareness of anticipation each time he pitched. Many times (not always) pure awesomeness! Like M.C. Hammer said, "Can't touch this".

Back to 4, how about 5: Berra, Ryan, Mays, Aaron & Koufax.