OT: Tony Gwynn

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

I get into this argument a lot.

Gwynn was far from an empty .300 hitter. He hit a very good amount of doubles and could take a walk. For a guy without HR's his OPS is very respectable.

Unlike Ichiro who hits about the emptiest .300 ever. I get that he lost several prime years before making it to America, but dude hits almost entirely singles and can't take a walk, which with his speed is a crime. Couple that with the fact that he drove in almost no runs with all those hits because the vast majortiy of his hits land in front of the outfielders precluding baserunners from taking any extra bases. Nobody was scoring from first and few were scoring from second on Ichiro's little slap singles.

Of course if you like Tony's numbers then how do you feel about Wade Boggs' numbers? He never got the love that Gwynn got, maybe because he didn't play his whole career with one team, but offensively he is by FAR the best of the three mentioned players.

[bravos4evr]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

I get into this argument a lot.

Gwynn was far from an empty .300 hitter. He hit a very good amount of doubles and could take a walk. For a guy without HR's his OPS is very respectable.

Unlike Ichiro who hits about the emptiest .300 ever. I get that he lost several prime years before making it to America, but dude hits almost entirely singles and can't take a walk, which with his speed is a crime. Couple that with the fact that he drove in almost no runs with all those hits because the vast majortiy of his hits land in front of the outfielders precluding baserunners from taking any extra bases. Nobody was scoring from first and few were scoring from second on Ichiro's little slap singles.

Of course if you like Tony's numbers then how do you feel about Wade Boggs' numbers? He never got the love that Gwynn got, maybe because he didn't play his whole career with one team, but offensively he is by FAR the best of the three mentioned players.

good point on Boggs, he doesn't get nearly the love he should. I think maybe it's because of his moving around... But it could be that Gwynn was the more press friendly of the two as well. IDK

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

Of course if you like Tony's numbers then how do you feel about Wade Boggs' numbers? He never got the love that Gwynn got, maybe because he didn't play his whole career with one team, but offensively he is by FAR the best of the three mentioned players.

For me Wade Boggs was the best player of his generation. I am very biased though because he my all-time favorite player.

Ichiro would be a very far third when comparing him to Wade or Tony.

[bravos4evr]

Originally Posted by bnorth

For me Wade Boggs was the best player of his generation. I am very biased though because he my all-time favorite player.

Ichiro would be a very far third when comparing him to Wade or Tony.

ha! Yeah, I feel that way about Dale Murphy even tho I know it isn't true. But dammit, he was!!!


btw, I think Gwynn's rookie card is an underpriced gem right now as there are tons of high quality raw cards floating out there for a few bucks.

[packs]

People forget Gwynn was a speedster too since he got, well, rotund later in life. Guy stole 56 bases in in 1987 while hitting 370.

[bravos4evr]

Originally Posted by packs

People forget Gwynn was a speedster too since he got, well, rotund later in life. Guy stole 56 bases in in 1987 while hitting 370.

+1000 for use of "rotund" :-)

[pclpads]

Was an even better basketball player at SDSU than he was as a ballplayer there. Pretty sure he was drafted by an NBA team around '80 out of State, but chose baseball instead.

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by pclpads

Was an even better basketball player at SDSU than he was as a ballplayer there. Pretty sure he was drafted by an NBA team around '80 out of State, but chose baseball instead.

10th round pick of the Clippers in '81.

[RTK]

He was so methodical in his approach at the plate. I saw him hit numerous times when he came to Wrigley. I loved watching him bat. He'd take the first pitch, foul off what he didn't like and then double up the middle. Or, he'd take a walk if it was given. I'd like to see what his BA was in the first seven innings before fresher arms from the bullpen came in and compare his stats to Ted Williams BA in the first seven innings, considering starters went longer back in Ted's day and may have lost something and allowing Williams the benefit of more "look's" at a particular pitcher.

[packs]

Even in his final season he still hit 324 in a part-time role. Just an incredible player and very sad that we lost him so early.

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by bnorth

For me Wade Boggs was the best player of his generation. I am very biased though because he my all-time favorite player.

Ichiro would be a very far third when comparing him to Wade or Tony.

Boggs did have 24 homers or so in 87 i think.... there is a baseball card of boggs which showing him popping up to the infield...its in like 1988, i remember reading in Beckett back than because it rarely occurred.

As to Gwynn people also forget he is also a record holder at san diego state in many major basketball categories.. such as scoring and assists (but not sure if its those exact ones)

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by 1952boyntoncollector

Boggs did have 24 homers or so in 87 i think.... there is a baseball card of boggs which showing him popping up to the infield...its in like 1988, i remember reading in Beckett back than because it rarely occurred.

As to Gwynn people also forget he is also a record holder at san diego state in many major basketball categories.. such as scoring and assists (but not sure if its those exact ones)

If you ever seen Boggs take batting practice you would wonder why 24 homers was not his lowest season total.