Nappy Roots said:
obviously the person that started this thread wasnt taking the greatest careers at each position or he would of said Junior.
IMO Junior belongs in center field. he hit 56 HRs in back to back seasons, drive in over 140 both years, score 100 runs, win the gold glove each of the seasons, and not to mention could steal some bases and was a damn good base runner, Junior was basically the perfect player, and possibly the greatest player ever in a span of something like 5 or 6 straight years.
The greatest center fielder in history is Willie Mays.
1954: .345, 41 HR, 110 RBI
1955: .319, 51 HR, 127 RBI
1956: .326, 36 HR, 84 RBI
1957: .333, 35 HR, 97 RBI
1958: .347, 29 HR, 96 RBI
1959: .313, 34 HR, 104 RBI
1960: .319, 29 HR, 103 RBI
1961: .308, 40 HR, 103 RBI
1962: .304, 49 HR, 141 RBI
1963: .314, 38 HR, 103 RBI
1964: .296, 47 HR, 111 RBI
1965: .317, 52 HR, 112 RBI
1966: .288, 37 HR, 103 RBI
He was an All Star 20 times, 660 career home runs, lifetime .302 Avg., 2 time MVP and a 12 time gold glover.
Something that has to be remembered. Mayes played the first 6 years of his career (1951-1957) at the Polo Grounds. It was 470 feet to the centerfield wall there. Left center (power alley) was 447 feet and right center (the other power alley) was 449 feet.
Not only did Mays hit for power in a ballpark so massive, he also won gold gloves patrolling the biggest center field in baseball.
People can talk about "what if's" with Griffey until they are blue in the face. It does'nt matter in my opinion. Griffey is'nt even in the same discussion with Mays, Mantle, DiMaggio or Cobb. Hell, I think Kirby Puckett was a better ball player then Griffey was.
