Aaron or Mays?

[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!