OT: First Jerry West, now Willie Mays

[Duncan Idaho]

5' 10". 170lbs. Wow.

Almost Rudy dimensions.

That's what made MLB so appealing, them looking normal (albeit with amazing skills) and thinking you can grow up to be like a Mays. Clemente. Aaron.... Mays and Drysdale seemed to be on a number of B&W TV shows produced out in Cali during the 60s.
Always think of the times playing Strat-A-Matic Baseball when we lose a notable player from this era. Great. great player. RIP.

 

[dennismenace]

Golden era in baseball. Mays bigger than life. Yanks had the best teams but the NL overall had more great players. We'd see that every summer when the all star game(s) came around. Mays, Aaron, Banks, Matthews, Pinson, Frank Robinson, Clemente, Cepeda, Koufax, Drysdale Marichal . Had to admit they could put on a show! A lot of sandlot games were played with them in mind. "The Boys of Summer." Summer nights. Good times!

 

[HCCForever]

Golden era in baseball. Mays bigger than life. Yanks had the best teams but the NL overall had more great players. We'd see that every summer when the all star game(s) came around. Mays, Aaron, Banks, Matthews, Pinson, Frank Robinson, Clemente, Cepeda, Koufax, Drysdale Marichal . Had to admit they could put on a show! A lot of sandlot games were played with them in mind. "The Boys of Summer." Summer nights. Good times!

“The Boys of Summer” is a great read, I haven’t read it in a while but time to reread,

The All Star games were different back then since we didn’t see the other league very much due to limited telecasts and well before inter league games. As a kid, I enjoyed seeing all the players in their team colors.

 

[Improviser]

The catch itself. Sorry if it was already posted and I missed it.

Willie Mays’ greatness lives on forever through ‘The Catch’

Everyone else called it “The Catch,” because nobody could believe anyone could’ve tracked that ball down. Willie Mays knew different.

nypost.com

 

[ucp990411]

LF - Williams
CF- Mays
RF- Ruth

Nice outfield.

Except Willie would have to play all 3 positions

 

[ucp990411]

That's what made MLB so appealing, them looking normal (albeit with amazing skills) and thinking you can grow up to be like a Mays. Clemente. Aaron.... Mays and Drysdale seemed to be on a number of B&W TV shows produced out in Cali during the 60s.
Always think of the times playing Strat-A-Matic Baseball when we lose a notable player from this era. Great. great player. RIP.

I was addicted to Strat O Matic in the mid 60’s thru early 70’s. Once tried to play the entire 162 game schedule. Can still name so many team rosters as a result. Loved the Orioles. Still hate the Mets.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

I was addicted to Strat O Matic in the mid 60’s thru early 70’s. Once tried to play the entire 162 game schedule. Can still name so many team rosters as a result. Loved the Orioles. Still hate the Mets.

I had the set from the 1966 season. Braves fan here.

 

[JohnFSilver]

Cousy can rest easy --

Walton, West, Mays is the bad things happen in 3s.

 

[JohnFSilver]

Mays is still the greatest all around player in the history of the game! Man played with joy and a smile every day, closest comp is a young Ken Griffey Jr who played the same.

I hate to say this, but to me, it goes Barry Bonds all timer followed by Mike Trout.

LOL. Let flame war being! Micky Mantle No. 7 forever!

 

[1999GoodSon]

24 time all star and missed two seasons while serving his country

I read of his 24 All-star appearances. Willie always batted first. Why? Because he was Willie Mays.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

My favorite Mays quote
“ Baseball is a simple game , they throw I hit , they hit it I catch it “

 

[AZHuskiePop]

I wasn’t a Giant Fan
But I did see them play against the Phillies in the 1950’s
I had college friends who were still Giant fan.
The First year Mets had a Willie Mays noght and I attended
it was SRO. Plus I got to witness the worse team in baseball history
what a night

 

[controlfade]

I hate to say this, but to me, it goes Barry Bonds all timer followed by Mike Trout.

LOL. Let flame war being! Micky Mantle No. 7 forever!

Bonds pre steroids was close but not even close to Mays defensively and Bonds played a much easier position than center field.