Comments for Baseball: Past and Present

Comment on Willie Mays turns 81 by Alvy

Alvy — Sat, 12 May 2012 20:33:27 +0000

The Duke of Flatbush was a fantastic all-round player. A great fielder and hitter. IMHO though, if Mickey or Willie spent the bulk of their careers playing in home games in Ebbets field I think the both would have had some even more amazing offensive seasons. Both the latter two played in tough home-run ballparks for most of their playing days. Even when Willie was in NYC and had those very short porches along both left and right field, the rest of the park was a canyon. This isn’t taking anything away from the Duke. It’s like comparing the great to greatest.

Comment on Babe Ruth Was A Better Pitcher Than Walter Johnson– For Two Years, At Least by Joe Guzzardi

Joe Guzzardi — Sat, 12 May 2012 09:41:52 +0000

I share John’s opinion that Ruth is the game’s greatest player. And from a baseball historian/journalists perspective, what better figure to write about.

Comment on Babe Ruth Was A Better Pitcher Than Walter Johnson– For Two Years, At Least by John Kinsey

John Kinsey — Sat, 12 May 2012 05:30:22 +0000

Babe had the greatest swing I have ever seen on film. To think that he was
a masterful pitcher as well, is mind-boggling. In addition, he even stole home
nine times. Every old-timer I have ever met, has told me the same thing:
Babe Ruth was the most dominant player the game has ever known. In
addition, he genuinely cared about the fans. All of this, without steroids,
cocaine, etc. For a kid who was truly “dumped,” by his parents and reared
in an orphanage, what he achieved in baseball is truly unparalleled. I wish,
somehow, in the world of fantasy, that Babe and Yogi Berra could have played together. The two most lovable Yankees that ever played.

Comment on Willie Mays turns 81 by Benjamin Raucher

Benjamin Raucher — Fri, 11 May 2012 23:09:30 +0000

Nobody will ever agree on who the best ball player of all time was. I believe it was Willie. Batting stats are easier to quantify then defensive fielding stats. How do you quantify those great catches that never should have been caught by mere mortals? Don’t they go unrecorded? Willie caught them!!!!!

BENJAMIN RAUCHER

Comment on Book Review: The 25 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time by Louvenia

Louvenia — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:30:52 +0000

I believe, if Babe Ruth had the opportunity to play with African Americans in his day, that he would still be in the Hall of Fame but he and Lou would’ve had more run for their money. Ah to dream…. Still, Babe is the best their ever was in my book! Regardless of class and race. I love that man!

Comment on Does he belong in the Hall of Fame? J.R. Richard by BENJAMIN RAUCHER

BENJAMIN RAUCHER — Wed, 09 May 2012 01:03:23 +0000

The anti-Hall OF Fame position is much more compelling

BENJAMIN RAUCHER

Comment on Any Player/Any Era: Larry Walker by BENJAMIN RAUCHER

BENJAMIN RAUCHER — Wed, 09 May 2012 00:57:34 +0000

This article arrests my intention. The thing about baseball stats is yeah go play at COORS where the physics carry the ball due to thin air. Play in Miami where the air is real heavy and the park is not a pro-hitter park and abracadabra stats change quick. I am not suggesting Walker is anything but great but the nature of baseball does not lend itself to easy comparison. Just my opinion

BENJAMIN RAUCHER

Comment on Book Review: The 25 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time by Jakob

Jakob — Tue, 08 May 2012 02:26:24 +0000

Rogers hornsby should be up higher because he had the best batting average out of all the righties but ty cobb got a higher average but he was a lefty.

Comment on Double the fun: Now pitching for the Yankees, Rocky Colavito by Paul

Paul — Mon, 07 May 2012 02:28:32 +0000

I recall Rocky coming in later on in the game with the Yankees behind by a run.
Seems they scored a couple in the bottom of the 7th or 8th and saved by McDaniel. Regardless I still see him jogging in from CF as I was there for the twinighter. Gosh those have been long gone and missed.

Comment on The worst winning pitching performances by Alvy

Alvy — Sat, 05 May 2012 06:08:16 +0000

@Chuck. I remember that weekend and was at the Monday night game when they brought Gene Michael in. Those were sad days for Yankee fans for sure. And getting to see a game that the Yanks would shine seemed so rare despite their improvement in ’68.
That reminds me of another game we went to that summer when Rocky shined. I think it might have been against the Athletics or Cleveland, not sure. My grandfather took me and my two older brothers to the game and I think by the 7th the Yanks were down 7-0. My older brother who was the real Yankee fan was so bummed out that he wanted to leave. My other brother and I kept quoting Yogi Berra, which did no good. We were past the turn-styles when we heard the crack of a bat and the crowd roaring and then another and another. By the time we got to the car and turned on the radio the Yanks had scored 5 runs! They ended up losing 7-6 with Rocky hitting a home run. It would have been the only rally we would have seen that whole season from the 4 games we had gone to.