Bob Costas

Members if you get the chance to see the new HBO special with Hank Aaron and Willie Mays please check it out. It is a continuation of a special they had on before but this time it only has those two.Those two are two of the greatest black ball players ever, no i correct myself, two of the greatest baseball players period. I have made my boys Alex and Mikal learn the history of black baseball players because it is so important for them to know what those guys went through and overcame so they can appreaciate and respect this great game every time they step on a baseball field. In my opinion Hank Aaron is the greatest and classiest ball player ever. I would love to be able to be in the room when those two are speaking and to hear the stories they have to tell. That would be what i would consider BASEBALL HEAVEN.

 

On the Short List

You are right on the money. And it would be a pretty short list too!

Ruth, Gehrig, Cobb and a few more maybe?

 

Not to argue but Willie Mays is the greatest baseball player ever. Hank was outstanding, but even he would say the same thing...and has....many times.

 

Braves, Willie Mays might have been flashier or more exciting but when it came to playing the game Hank was head and shoulders better and arguably Hank played with inferior teams than Willie. Baseball is a stat laden game and Willie's were great but Mr.Aaron speaks for themselves. Of course i am bias because i love everything about Hank Aaron. HANK IS THE GREATEST

 

Not Having This Argument

I'm not having this argument. At times people try to get me to do it but I refuse to participate.

Babe Ruth hit more home runs in a season than any TEAM in the league did collectively. That was after he was won a World Series and was the best pitcher in his era.

Absolutely no comparisons can be made to Ruth. I don't remember Mays or Aaron or Cobb or anybody else dominating his era both at the plate AND on the mound like George Herman Ruth.

So................I'm not participating in this debate.

By the way, I'm a HUGE Aaron fan.

 

Unlike Dbacks, I never saw Ruth play. I agree that Ruth was bigger than the game and was the most dominating player ever. But so was Wilt Chamberlain of his era and many won't say he was the greatest to ever play.

I'll concede that Ruth was the most dominating player ever, but to me Willie Mays was the most outstanding player I have ever seen. I'm a big Hank Aaron fan. I've met Hank many times and have all the respect in the world for him and his accomplishments, but comparing Hank to Willie is like comparing Bird to Jordan. It would depend what flavor you like and when it comes to Willie Mays he played with flavor: The basket catch, the over the shoulder catches, the hat flying off going after a fly ball, stealing home or hitting clutch HR's. He was so charasmatic with his daring base running.

When Mays was in his prime, people always argued who was the best..Mantle or Mays. Hank's name never came up. Nothing against The Hammer: Just as people like vanilla ice cream...I like my ice cream with flavor.

 

aguyyouknow! I could not agree with you more. I have been a big Aaron fan since I was a little kid! But, I have read more books about Ruth than I can remember! The interview is terrific! A must see! As you stated earlier ........ I'm not participating in the debate! But, if you want to continue this discussion, change the format and make it the best players you have "SEEN" play! Mine would be Ted Williams! Yea, I'm that old!

 

Hahaha...you guys are killing me with "I'm not replying to this thread" and then you guys state your opinion....hahahaha.

Actually this thread can be fun. You will not go wrong in any of these selections. A case could be made that Ted Williams was the greatest ball player ever. Longevity is important to obtain records, but that is not the only statistic to use to describe the greatest ballplayer ever. It is really what each person's perspective is.

 

Hey, no fair. You went back an edited your comments while I posted about Ted Williams

 

Yea I know! Sorry about that, but when you are as old as me, you can get away with things like that! Sometimes! I really didn't want to participate in the who's the best discussion, but I like to talk and just can't keep my thoughts and opinions to myself!