Poll - Greatest Living Player

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by packs

Sincere question for people who pick Bonds; do you think Bonds was better than Willie Mays too? If the answer is yes, then wouldn't he have been the greatest living player this whole time?

My point is that stats are stats and you can use stats to discuss Bonds, but if you do, then how do you factor Mays ahead of him at all?

Mays was not really the best when he passed. Barry was better but it looks better to have an old guy have the spot than someone many hate. I would have also had Hank Aaron ahead of Willie while he was alive. I do not think Willie was ever the best living player.

[Hankphenom]

I know this doesn't make a lot of sense, but while you still can I think you have to give an edge to "The Greatest of the Oldest Surviving Generation" or some such, and to me, with Willie gone, that would be Koufax. As an aside, Koufax is the last surviving player talked about on Larry Ritter's "Glory of Their Times" tapes recorded in the early 1960s, with several of the old-timers being interviewed opining that he would have been great in their time, too.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

I know this doesn't make a lot of sense, but while you still can I think you have to give an edge to "The Greatest of the Oldest Surviving Generation" or some such, and to me, with Willie gone, that would be Koufax. As an aside, Koufax is the last surviving player talked about on Larry Ritter's "Glory of Their Times" tapes recorded in the early 1960s, with several of the old-timers being interviewed opining that he would have been great in their time, too.

I get that point. It does have an elder statesman feel to it.