Warren Spahn Bowman 1948

[Jason19th]

I think that there are s number of factors that work against Spann

1. He was amazingly consistent - look as his numbers he went 21 and 10 ever year with a 3.00 era. While I am exaggerating a bit his numbers are very similar ever year. This means that while he didn’t have any bad years he also didn’t have any crazy good years where he went 27-5 with a 1.98 era

2. The braves should have been a dynasty and they were not. If the braves win one more game in 1956 and if Red Schoendient doesn’t get tuberculosis in the winter of 1958 there is a very good chance that the braves win the national league every year from 1956-1960. Instead that only win two years and one series

3. Milwaukee was not a small market in the 1950’s- it was a minor league market. Before I get angry responses - I am born and raised and still work in Milwaukee and we are a great baseball town. But until 1953 we where a aaa town for 50 years. When the Braves won the title in 1957 the team chose for its championship program a cover image where there was a sign saying “bushville wins”

4. Though few seem to think about it now - Spahn was a funny looking guy and he was a jokester - a bit like Yogi but without all of the malapropisms. Guy like this never get the credit as superstars- even with yogi we think more often of the clown and forget that he may have been the best offensive catcher ever


All of these factors cloud and image of what should really be considered the best lefty ever

[drcy]

I think one is comparing Spahn to an exception. Some people are, for whatever reason, unusually popular for their accomplishments-- Elvis, Mickey Mantle, James Dean, Joe Namath, etc. So you're comparing 'regular' to an exception. As with rock n roll and movies, sports is entertainment so there's always an entertainment/movie star quality involved with our heroes. A better comparison would be with, say, Steve Carleton or Greg Maddux.

Though i do think Spahn trends to the underestimated, while, for various factors including good looks and bias towards peaks, Koufax is overestimated.

[frankbmd]

I sat in front of Spahn at County Stadium in the 70s while attending a Brewers game.

His hobby value was subsequently tarnished.

[Leon]

As would be anyone's

Originally Posted by frankbmd

I sat in front of Spahn at County Stadium in the 70s while attending a Brewers game.

His hobby value was subsequently tarnished.