OT: Greatest Living Four

[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
.

[earlywynnfan]

Only slightly off-topic:

Had sports talk radio on the other night, which I almost never listen to because, well, the callers are all idiots who clearly don't know as much as me!

So they were choosing the Top 4 from each team's history. Finally, an interesting topic. The broadcaster throws out 8 names, you have to pick 4. When I turned it on someone was putting out a case for Jack Morris, which was fun.

Then a caller wants to talk Twins/Senators: "Bert Blyleven." Announcer agrees. "Rod Carew" duh, check. "Harmon Killebrew." Check. Now, I'm not expecting this guy to know about Goose Goslin or Sam Rice, but he next says "Joe Mauer." The broadcaster says "Hold it right there, aren't you forgetting Walter Johnson?" "Yeah, I know about him, I just love Mauer." THIS IS WHEN I PUNCH MY DASHBOARD!!!


Sorry, just had to share that.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by tedzan

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
.

Ted -- as to who contributed more to success -- Mantle on the same team, no? I know he is dead but my point is Yogi was not even the best player on his own team?

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Ted -- as to who contributed more to success -- Mantle on the same team, no? I know he is dead but my point is Yogi was not even the best player on his own team?

Peter

Why are you changing the subject matter ?

Aren't we discussing living BB players ? ?

If you want a conversation regarding Mickey, I welcome it. Let's include other teammates of Yogi's that were with him for a total of 14 - World Series............
DiMag, Maris, Rizzuto, Ford, Lopat, Don Larsen, Billy Martin and Johnny Mize. I've met all these guys....and, I've enjoyed some nice conversations with them.

So, bring it on, guy.

Incidentally, does any BB player besides Yogi have 10 - World Championship rings ?


TED Z
.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Ted, my point was that it's hard (for me anyhow) to consider Yogi the greatest living baseball player of them all when, for most of his career, he was not even the best player on his team. Yogi was a .280 hitter with pretty good power and, in fairness, a great catcher. According to the era-adjusted stats on Baseball Reference, he ranks 6th among catchers. Let's just say for argument's sake his intangibles move him higher. I still don't see how you can say, objectively and not influenced by your personal feelings for him, that he was better than Mays, Aaron, or a host of others. They just aren't comparable in baseball terms.

[aro13]

I could see putting Berra in the top 4. He is either the best or second best catcher ever depending on your opinion of Johnny Bench. If you think catcher is the most important position on the diamond then Berra is not a reach.

It took him (Koufax) until his 7th year to find his control, reportedly because someone -- one of the catchers -- finally figured out he was overthrowing.

Or maybe it was because the Dodgers moved to Dodger Stadium. If Koufax had pitched his entire career in Dodger Stadium his numbers would be even more mind boggling.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by aro13

I could see putting Berra in the top 4. He is either the best or second best catcher ever depending on your opinion of Johnny Bench. If you think catcher is the most important position on the diamond then Berra is not a reach.



Or maybe it was because the Dodgers moved to Dodger Stadium. If Koufax had pitched his entire career in Dodger Stadium his numbers would be even more mind boggling.

They moved there in 1958. He only pitched 2 full seasons in Brooklyn. Anyhow, hard to believe that was the difference, as he was dominant on the road once he achieved his stride.

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

They moved there in 1958. He only pitched 2 full seasons in Brooklyn. Anyhow, hard to believe that was the difference, as he was dominant on the road once he achieved his stride.

The Dodgers moved into Dodgers Stadium in 1962.