RIP Maury Wills...

[JavaMan]

Maury Wills, base-stealing shortstop dies at 89​

Maury Wills, who helped the Los Angeles Dodgers win three World Series titles with his base-stealing prowess, has died.

Maury Wills, base-stealing shortstop for Dodgers, dies at 89

Maury Wills, who helped the Los Angeles Dodgers win three World Series titles with his base-stealing prowess, has died

abcnews.go.com

 

[ochoopsfan]

One of the mysteries of baseball. Maury Wills is not in the Baseball HOF

 

[TerpWomenFan]

I went to middle school with his niece Robin.

 

[tkaes]

One of the mysteries of baseball. Maury Wills is not in the Baseball HOF

Not sure why. He's 15th in single season steals and 20th in career. Perhaps if Rickey hadn't surpassed his single season total. But then a number of players have passed him on each list. Wills was a nice player but he didn't put up HOF numbers in the big production categories. Not a HOFer in my eyes.

 

[willtalk]

I understand they were not going to let him into heaven, so he stole his way past the gate.

 

[dbmill]

One of the mysteries of baseball. Maury Wills is not in the Baseball HOF

Not sure why. He's 15th in single season steals and 20th in career. Perhaps if Rickey hadn't surpassed his single season total. But then a number of players have passed him on each list. Wills was a nice player but he didn't put up HOF numbers in the big production categories. Not a HOFer in my eyes.

To me, Maury Wills has always been a border line Hall of Fame candidate. It wouldn't bother me either way if he gets in or does not. The argument for him would be stronger if he had a better on base percentage which would have made him a more effective lead off hitter, which of course would also have led to even more stolen bases.

 

[Carnac]

I’m heart broken. One of my childhood sports heros is gone. Wills was a main stay at shortstop for years. I still rember the Dodger lineup from 1964. Walter Alston (manager) seldom changed his lineup that year. Wiils, Jim Gilliam, Willie Davis (Vin Scully nicked named him the “3 dog” in referrence to his speed and uniform number), Tommy Davis, Ron Fairley, Frank Howard, Johnny Roseboro and John Werhas. That was a great time to be a baseball/Dodger fan. Dodger Stadium (opened in 1962) was only 2 years old. Now it’s the 3rd oldest in MLB behind Fenway Park and Wrigley Field.

 

[storrsroars]

Wills didn't have the benefit of specially designed sliding pants or padding. Thus by August, his legs were just one giant bruise. It's said he'd have stole more than 104 in 1962 if not for taking days off due to bruising. He missed a large chunk of 1963 due to leg injuries. And again in 1964, he probably would've broken 100 again if he'd had today's equipment and training facilities.

But not a HoFer.

 

[tkaes]

Wills didn't have the benefit of specially designed sliding pants or padding. Thus by August, his legs were just one giant bruise. It's said he'd have stole more than 104 in 1962 if not for taking days off due to bruising. He missed a large chunk of 1963 due to leg injuries. And again in 1964, he probably would've broken 100 again if he'd had today's equipment and training facilities.

But not a HoFer.

Sliding pads have been around at least since I was playing Little League baseball in 57-59. I don't how much earlier they existed. Of course I'm sure they were nowhere near what is available today. They were mostly designed to prevent strawberries on the hip.

 

[Carnac]

Sliding pads have been around at least since I was playing Little League baseball in 57-59. I don't how much earlier they existed. Of course I'm sure they were nowhere near what is available today. They were mostly designed to prevent strawberries on the hip.

That's when I got my first strawberry playing little league......1958. After that, Mom took the pads out of an old pair of my brother's football pants and custom made a pair of padded shorts for me that I wore under my uniform.
No more strawberries. Thanks mom.