Willie Mays

[Jcosta19]

A little off topic compared to the price talk but I am a lifelong Yankees fan and my father grew up right outside NYC in the Mantle days.

I always considered Mays top 4 all time but
It is only very recently I've come to appreciate what an amazing player he really was.

It was this past year that I realized he actually missed all but 20ish games in his 2nd and what would have been 3rd years in the Majors due to the Korean War. He hit 41 home runs his 1st season back.
With that missing time he very easily could have eclipsed 714.
How did I not know that and how is it not talked about more?

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[BobC]

Originally Posted by Jcosta19

A little off topic compared to the price talk but I am a lifelong Yankees fan and my father grew up right outside NYC in the Mantle days.

I always considered Mays top 4 all time but
It is only very recently I've come to appreciate what an amazing player he really was.

It was this past year that I realized he actually missed all but 20ish games in his 2nd and what would have been 3rd years in the Majors due to the Korean War. He hit 41 home runs his 1st season back.
With that missing time he very easily could have eclipsed 714.
How did I not know that and how is it not talked about more?

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You should go back and see what other players missed out on due to WWII. Names like Feller and Spahn, and even Ted Williams. In fact, Williams was one of the few people to actively serve in both WWII and the Korean War. He effectively missed about 4 years of his career serving in the military.

[Jcosta19]

Originally Posted by BobC

You should go back and see what other players missed out on due to WWII. Names like Feller and Spahn, and even Ted Williams. In fact, Williams was one of the few people to actively serve in both WWII and the Korean War. He effectively missed about 4 years of his career serving in the military.

I'm well aware of the WWII guys, Feller, Dimaggio, and especially Williams double service.

Williams in particular is mentioned often as having lost time to the wars often in boards, mainstream media etc. I personally just don't recall hearing Mays mentioned in the same way (not in my era anyway).

Was just surprised about that considering he was in striking distance of the all time HR record.

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[Casey2296]

One of my favorite cards, the image is art.
_

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Casey2296

One of my favorite cards, the image is art.
_

It is a beautiful card. I am having a piece of artwork of that card being made now.

[doug.goodman]

A couple signed TTM cards, an m114 and a scored program for career HR #1

[GasHouseGang]

No one has posted this one yet.

[MattyC]

Originally Posted by Casey2296

One of my favorite cards, the image is art.
_

Wow that is one outstanding example. So hard to find centered that well.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Wow that is one outstanding example. So hard to find centered that well.

That ones been around a long time, the only card my dad and I ever bought together when I was a kid.

[icollectDCsports]

Originally Posted by Jcosta19

I'm well aware of the WWII guys, Feller, Dimaggio, and especially Williams double service.

Williams in particular is mentioned often as having lost time to the wars often in boards, mainstream media etc. I personally just don't recall hearing Mays mentioned in the same way (not in my era anyway).

Was just surprised about that considering he was in striking distance of the all time HR record.

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I think folks are aware of it but you're right, from what I remember, that it's not mentioned as often as the Williams time lost due to service. And I always thought the almost universal conventional wisdom was that Mays was the all-time #2 greatest, just behind Ruth. Surprised to see that some folks didn't necessarily think that.

[GasHouseGang]

It just occurred to me that Willie Mays isn't in the 1953 Bowman set. Does anyone know why he wasn't included? He is in the 1952 Bowman and the 1954 Bowman. What happened in 1953?

[Jcosta19]

Originally Posted by GasHouseGang

It just occurred to me that Willie Mays isn't in the 1953 Bowman set. Does anyone know why he wasn't included? He is in the 1952 Bowman and the 1954 Bowman. What happened in 1953?

He didn't play in 53 because of Korean War. Probably that's why. Only played 22 games in 52 also.

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[GasHouseGang]

Originally Posted by Jcosta19

He didn't play in 53 because of Korean War. Probably that's why. Only played 22 games in 52 also.

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Okay, that makes sense.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Jcosta19

He didn't play in 53 because of Korean War. Probably that's why. Only played 22 games in 52 also.

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But he is in 1953 Topps so that doesn't explain it to me. Jackie isn't in 53 Bowman either.

[Jcosta19]

Originally Posted by icollectDCsports

I think folks are aware of it but you're right, from what I remember, that it's not mentioned as often as the Williams time lost due to service. And I always thought the almost universal conventional wisdom was that Mays was the all-time #2 greatest, just behind Ruth. Surprised to see that some folks didn't necessarily think that.

I think 2 is probably right because of his defense. But lots of prewar collectors like Cobb and put him higher.

And boy are Hank Aaron's offensive numbers hard to argue with.

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[BobC]

Originally Posted by Jcosta19

I'm well aware of the WWII guys, Feller, Dimaggio, and especially Williams double service.

Williams in particular is mentioned often as having lost time to the wars often in boards, mainstream media etc. I personally just don't recall hearing Mays mentioned in the same way (not in my era anyway).

Was just surprised about that considering he was in striking distance of the all time HR record.

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My bad then, wasn't sure you were aware of how many players had missed time for military service.