OT: Greatest Living Four

[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

[celoknob]

Koufax had one of the best five year runs ever but if I was picking one pitcher I would definitely choose Randy Johnson, Maddux or Seaver as having greater careers.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by 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

Bench revolutionized the catcher's roll and made it an art form.

Aaron, Bench, Koufax, Mays - and Schmidt would have been my fifth.
.
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[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

[Peter_Spaeth]

There was nobody better for a 4 or maybe 5 year stretch, but Koufax's career doesn't touch Seaver, or Gibson, or Carlton, or Clemens, or Maddux.

[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.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by 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.

Koufax WS ERA 0.95. Gibson 1.89. Gibson had a better WL. I would call it even at best.

[kgibson]

Originally Posted by 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.

Here's some Gibby World Series info. In his 9 games he was 7-2 with 5 consecutive victories. In those 9 games he started he pitched 8 complete games. The other game he pitched 8 innings then he was lifted for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the 8th. And speaking of his hitting, in his 9 World Series games he hit 2 home runs. Tim McCarver said "Bob Gibson is the luckiest pitcher I ever saw. He always pitches when the other team doesn't score any runs."

[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.