Topic: Spirits who changed the soul of the game and their definitive cards

[ASF123]

I’ll just leave this here and duck the rotten fruit from the haters…

Edit: Ok, I guess “heroic” probably doesn’t apply.

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[robw1959]

I'll add another "sleeper," and it's Willie Mays! Those who know the history of baseball know that nobody, but nobody packed them in like Willie in park after park, day games and night games, home and away. His incredible fielding prowess combined with his hitting made him the ultimate 5-tool player, and brought record attendances everywhere he went. Baseball was already on the map, but Mays took the game to another level.

And I still think baseball is going to issue an annual award in his name some day.

[dbussell12]

Originally Posted by robw1959

I'll add another "sleeper," and it's Willie Mays! Those who know the history of baseball know that nobody, but nobody packed them in like Willie in park after park, day games and night games, home and away. His incredible fielding prowess combined with his hitting made him the ultimate 5-tool player, and brought record attendances everywhere he went. Baseball was already on the map, but Mays took the game to another level.

And I still think baseball is going to issue an annual award in his name some day.

absolutely!

[Zach Wheat]

Cobb. Either you loved him or loved to hate him. Still not sure of who the real Cobb was...

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by Zach Wheat

Cobb. Either you loved him or loved to hate him.

Love him! He played the game as it should be played a couple of generations prior to Pete Rose.

Moreover Cobb and Babe Ruth had an intense professional rivalry plus personal dislike. I'm firmly in the Ty Cobb camp.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by robw1959

I'll add another "sleeper," and it's Willie Mays! Those who know the history of baseball know that nobody, but nobody packed them in like Willie in park after park, day games and night games, home and away. His incredible fielding prowess combined with his hitting made him the ultimate 5-tool player, and brought record attendances everywhere he went. Baseball was already on the map, but Mays took the game to another level.

And I still think baseball is going to issue an annual award in his name some day.

Pretty sure we have the Willie Mays award issued every year.

It used to be called the World Series MVP.

Whether that's the right choice is a matter of debate. But that's why we have net54!

[dbussell12]

Originally Posted by ASF123

I’ll just leave this here and duck the rotten fruit from the haters…

Edit: Ok, I guess “heroic” probably doesn’t apply.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

wow this is a great pick and deeply true. maybe actually the originator of today's game as we know it.

[ASF123]

Originally Posted by dbussell12

wow this is a great pick and deeply true. maybe actually the originator of today's game as we know it.

He certainly played a huge role in bringing increased rationality to analysis and decision-making in baseball. But he was a part of a long history of (almost universally marginalized) efforts to do so. “The Numbers Game” by Alan Schwarz is a great chronicle of some of Beane’s (and Bill James’) intellectual predecessors. Highly recommended if you haven’t read it.

[dbussell12]

Originally Posted by ASF123

He certainly played a huge role in bringing increased rationality to analysis and decision-making in baseball. But he was a part of a long history of (almost universally marginalized) efforts to do so. “The Numbers Game” by Alan Schwarz is a great chronicle of some of Beane’s (and Bill James’) intellectual predecessors. Highly recommended if you haven’t read it.

will check it out! i enjoy the metric stuff quite a bit. its a great way to create context for what otherwise exists in large part by eye tests to understand the science behind the game. michael hoban's CAWS in relation to bill james' win share has been wonderful to explore lately. cheers!

[ASF123]

This thread would be blatantly incomplete without mentioning Clemente, for all the obvious reasons. Pick from any of dozens of options for his iconic card.

Also, hat tip to Luis Castro, Armando Marsans, Rafael Almeida, Adolfo Luque, Minnie Miñoso and many others.

Later, Hideo Nomo, Ichiro, etc.

[bk400]

Originally Posted by ASF123

This thread would be blatantly incomplete without mentioning Clemente, for all the obvious reasons. Pick from any of dozens of options for his iconic card.

Also, hat tip to Luis Castro, Armando Marsans, Rafael Almeida, Adolfo Luque, Minnie Miñoso and many others.

Later, Hideo Nomo, Ichiro, etc.

I think you'd have to include Hank Aaron.

Also, Shohei Ohtani's story isn't finished yet, but he's probably done more to popularize MLB in East Asia than anyone else.

[ASF123]

Originally Posted by bk400

I think you'd have to include Hank Aaron.

Also, Shohei Ohtani's story isn't finished yet, but he's probably done more to popularize MLB in East Asia than anyone else.

Totally agree with both. In fact, Ohtani is the only ultra-modern player whose rookie card I bought just for historical posterity.