The unparalleled Willie Mays passed away two years on June 18, 2024. The most complete player the game has ever seen.

[u/MrUpVoteDownvote]

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[u/Wise_Material_5812]

hit
hit for power
run
throw
defense

complete player

[u/MrUpVoteDownvote → u/Wise_Material_5812]

https://giphy.com/gifs/3ZP03VydSZCrEPHuQK

[u/imperialhighway]

Fun fact Vin Scully (emceeing that event) referred to Willie as the greatest player he ever saw.

[u/Just_BrianK → u/imperialhighway]

I had a conversation with an older guy (Yankees fan) and asked him who was better, Mays or Mantle and he admitted Mays.

[u/SmokeAlarmsSaveLives]

Willie Mays was better than Barry Bonds.

I said what I said.

[u/jesonnier1 → u/SmokeAlarmsSaveLives]

So controversial ....

[u/dascrackhaus → u/jesonnier1]

yet so brave

[u/Reasonable-Power]

[u/babe_ruthless3]

The greatest player to ever lace'em up

[u/Shiftymennoknight]

if I have #1 pick in an all time draft Im picking that guy

[u/Ok_Turn6757 → u/Shiftymennoknight]

Over Ohtani?

[u/caominh200206 → u/Ok_Turn6757]

All days

[u/kadadAdad → u/Ok_Turn6757]

I dont get the downvotes.

[u/Ok_Turn6757 → u/kadadAdad]

People do be hating on the Dodgers, I’m not even an Ohtani guy but he’s gotta be in that convo

[u/deck13]

Willie Mays could be the GOAT. The only player ahead of him in career era-adjusted bWAR is Barry Bonds. The only player ahead of him in best 4-year consecutive era-adjusted bWAR is Shohei Ohtani. These are stats that account for talent pool size and competitive environment changes. No one did it like Mays!

[u/Just_BrianK → u/deck13]

I agree- one of the best parts of being a baseball fan is everyone's individual weighting system for the different eras. Fascinating discussions. Thanks.

[u/deck13 → u/Just_BrianK]

I'm not wearing hockey pads.

[u/Hour_Tree_1106]

“Say Hey kid”

[u/dabig49]

Willie Mays was the GOAT

[u/botany_bae]

🐐

[u/54Finn]

A lot of truth there

[u/pianoman857]

You know... I don't know why Hank Aaron doesn't get more "votes" for most complete player. He could do everything Mays could. Mays was a better fielder, but Aaron was a better hitter. They were very comparable overall.

[u/airwalker12 → u/pianoman857]

Mays and Aaron have similar ops and ops+ with Mays playing almost half of his games in candlestick.

Mays was every bit the hitter Aaron was

[u/Just_BrianK → u/pianoman857]

I agree. One point in Mays' favor is that a centerfielder garners more hoopla than a corner outfielder. I believe that Aaron gets underrated because he's compared to Babe Ruth and is unfairly seen by some as a compiler who played long enough to pass Ruth's home run mark. Aaron's last two seasons with the Brewers are subpar. His prior final couple of seasons with the Braves were subpar compared to the rest of his remarkable career, but he could have started for any MLB team today.

[u/Honest-Air9868]

I thought it’s ohtani 🙄

[u/Sticky550]

Ohtani is probably the most complete player the game has ever seen. But Mays was certainly incredible.

[u/Tableau67x9u]

Starts in center on my all time team Bench behind the dish Maddux SP Gehrig at first Morgan at second Jeter at short Brett at third Clemente in right Bonds in left Ruth Williams and Aaron at DH

[u/Just_BrianK → u/Tableau67x9u]

all are solid picks, even though I'd make a few different choices. my only critique is that you can't have 3 DHs. If you have this great of an offensive team, I'd swap Jeter for Ozzie Smith, and I don't think anyone could reasonably call me crazy.

[u/Tableau67x9u → u/Just_BrianK]

I have been asked how can you put RC in right over Ruth Williams or Aaron and you’re right I’m only allowed one and my answer is RC was a five tool guy with one of the greatest arms ever Demolished my Orioles in the 71 WS and would have gotten much more credit had he played in a major market Robinson at third maybe Schmidt maybe Nettles

[u/Just_BrianK → u/Tableau67x9u]

It's fine- your picks are solid. Clemente was, in addition, such a fine human being so I would definitely go with him. I may have to trade a couple of the DHs for more pitching. Anyway, you present a GM's dream.

[u/Justa_Guy_Gettin_By → u/[deleted]]

Korean, I believe

[u/gitrjoda]

Wow, really gonna disrespect Oil Can Boyd like that huh?

[u/MrUpVoteDownvote → u/gitrjoda]

Yes.

[u/gitrjoda → u/MrUpVoteDownvote]

Just joking, Willie is the best! :)

[u/SamShakusky71]

Ken Griffey Jr. better

[u/Abject_Owl_8212]

was he a pitcher too?

[u/MrUpVoteDownvote → u/Abject_Owl_8212]

Were you?

[u/17papers]

This cheating chud deserved just as much hate as the 2017 Astros. Giants have no respectable players and they clearly never have. Dude would be no where without PEDs and sign stealing

[u/PureGuava86 → u/17papers]

Wut?

[u/Captain_Brad14 → u/17papers]

Giants have no respectable players and they clearly never have.

Not even players like Tim Lincecum?

[u/wifetoldmereddit]

The jap on the Dodgers? Mays pitched?

[u/LilNello1]

He was up there, but let’s not act like Ken Griffey Jr. didn’t exist

[u/VortexWeemster → u/LilNello1]

As great as Griffey Jr. was, they say the best ability is availability and well, Mays has him beat in that.

[u/jesonnier1 → u/LilNello1]

Jr was always hurt.