Aaron or Mays?

[Neal]

Originally Posted by BearBailey

Mays. Just think if mays played in the stadiums Aaron did, think how many more home runs he would have had. Regardless mays for me, by a landslide.

Like County Stadium throughout the prime of his career? Not to take anything away from Mays, but hitting in the Polo Grounds and Candlestick is much different than the park factors at County.

[Harliduck]

I think Mays was the better player, but I have always liked Aaron best. Growing up in the 70's Aaron was about as big as it got...

[spaidly]

Aaron, because I remember watching him play and breaking Ruth's record. I have no memories of Mays.

[pherbener]

I'll vote for Mays. I think he was a better overall player plus where would his numbers be if he hadn't missed some time during the war?
Mays and Aaron tied at 648 home runs before a game 6-2-1972 by Paul Herbener, on Flickr

[ValKehl]

Since the OP didn't ask who was the best player, I'm more of a fan of Aaron.

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by ValKehl

Since the OP didn't ask who was the best player, I'm more of a fan of Aaron.

Agreed. I think some people aren't answering the question as it was asked.

Better player? Mays.

More of a fan of? Aaron for me.

[tjenkins]

This is an interesting post and I thought that my answer to this question would have been out of the norm but like a lot here, would agree Mays might (and I emphasize might) be the better all around player (arguable??????) but I also... am a Hank Aaron fan. Something about him has always peaked my interest. I don't know exactly what it was but I suspect the way he quietly broke so many hitting records is part of it. Another would be his consistency, he was steady for so many years even towards the end of his career. He broke a record that most people thought would never be broke (non-steroid) nor didn't want to be broke when I was growing up as an impressionable teenager. Growing up, I read a lot of material on what he had to endure when breaking the Babe's record, and it certainly added to the intrigue. To me, he signifies what baseball is. Yes, I would have to say "Hammerin Hank" is who I am the better fan of but I suspect most of it has to do with his exposure when I was growing up, that and the fact his "1968 Topps Game Piece" card was one of the first cards I ever pulled from a pack. I personally think one could consider both Aaron and Mays as two of the top 3 best players to ever play but that is just my opinion and an argument that has been hashed over many times. Personally, I not only look at Hank Aaron with more respect as a fan but also as a player. His stats were phenomenal!

[rats60]

Originally Posted by Neal

Like County Stadium throughout the prime of his career? Not to take anything away from Mays, but hitting in the Polo Grounds and Candlestick is much different than the park factors at County.

This is not true. Aaron's rookie season County Stadium gave up 72 HR'S. The next 4 season it averaged 126. The last 7 seasons, it was one of the easiest parks averaging 158 HR'S per season. 3 of those 7 seasons it gave up the 2nd most HR'S in the NL and was never lower than 4th. Over those 12 seasons there were an average of 140 HR'S hit, a lot compared to the most difficult park to hit HRs, Forbes Field, which averaged 86 per season. Over that same period Mays home park averaged 164 per season with the difference being the years played in the Polo Grounds.

In 1966 Aaron moved from one of the easiest parks to the easiest. Mays last 7 years in SF, his home park averaged 138 HRS, where Aaron's averaged 169. So, over the years their careers overlapped 54-72, Aaron had the easier park to hit HRS in. That doesn't even factor the Braves moving the fences in in the power alleys where Aaron liked to hit balls.

[Neal]

Originally Posted by rats60

This is not true. Aaron's rookie season County Stadium gave up 72 HR'S. The next 4 season it averaged 126. The last 7 seasons, it was one of the easiest parks averaging 158 HR'S per season. 3 of those 7 seasons it gave up the 2nd most HR'S in the NL and was never lower than 4th. Over those 12 seasons there were an average of 140 HR'S hit, a lot compared to the most difficult park to hit HRs, Forbes Field, which averaged 86 per season. Over that same period Mays home park averaged 164 per season with the difference being the years played in the Polo Grounds.

In 1966 Aaron moved from one of the easiest parks to the easiest. Mays last 7 years in SF, his home park averaged 138 HRS, where Aaron's averaged 169. So, over the years their careers overlapped 54-72, Aaron had the easier park to hit HRS in. That doesn't even factor the Braves moving the fences in in the power alleys where Aaron liked to hit balls.

solid analysis!

Perhaps the reason the HR totals increased, was largely due to Aaron

and for the record, Mays was the better all-around player, imo, but as others have correctly pointed out, that was not the OP

[rats60]

Originally Posted by Neal

solid analysis!

Perhaps the reason the HR totals increased, was largely due to Aaron

and for the record, Mays was the better all-around player, imo, but as others have correctly pointed out, that was not the OP

I think it was the stadium. In 1953 before Aaron joined the Braves, the team hit 105 HRs on the road vs. 51 at home. With Aaron on the team only once did they hit more road HRS, their championship season of 1957. In 1954, it was 43 at home vs. 96 on the road. From 55 to 58, the Braves averaged 75 at home and 106 on the road. From 59 to 65, the Braves hit the same number of HR'S at home and road, averaging 86 per season.

I think there is a clear pattern that County Stadium became an easier park to hit in in 1955 and then a much easier stadium in 1959.

[DBesse27]

OP asked favorite, not best. Mays is a notorious asshole. So it's easily Aaron for me.

[JoeyFarino]

Originally Posted by DBesse27

OP asked favorite, not best. Mays is a notorious asshole. So it's easily Aaron for me.

Ive heard that too...is that true?

[rats60]

Originally Posted by DBesse27

OP asked favorite, not best. Mays is a notorious asshole. So it's easily Aaron for me.

My understanding is that neither is very friendly.

[aconte]

Originally Posted by rats60

My understanding is that neither is very friendly.

That is what I heard too.

[JoeyFarino]

Originally Posted by rats60

My understanding is that neither is very friendly.

Thats the first time ive heard that about Hank. Heard he's not as outgoing but very friendly. All the things ive read about Mays at signings has mostly been negative

[Stonepony]

Originally Posted by DBesse27

OP asked favorite, not best. Mays is a notorious asshole. So it's easily Aaron for me.

Met him once at a late 70s show as a teenager and watched him sign. Such a turd I've refused to own his cards except which are unfortunately in sets.

[JoeyFarino]

As great as a player as mays was ive never been a fan. Hank to me just outshines him

[ajquigs]

I saw the tail ends of both of their careers as a little kid and, in turn, I admire them both. Willie gets the edge for me because I'm a New Yorker and my mother adored him.

With Hank, I frequently think about the seven year contracts big free agents sign. His first free agent season would have been 1960, meaning he could have signed two successive seven year free agent contracts (ending after 1973) with approximately zero words ever being written by anybody about them being bad deals. To me, that's incredible.