Prime 9: Centerfielders (1 Viewer)

[oso diablo]

MLB Network has a series called Prime 9, with countdowns of the 9 best whatevers. The first episode i saw was the Top 9 Centerfielders of all-time.

1. Willie Mays

2. Ty Cobb

3. Mickey Mantle

4. Tris Speaker

5. Joe Dimaggio

6. Junior Griffey

7. Duke Snider

8. Jim Edmonds

9. Kirby Puckett

what do you think?

i think it's a pretty good list. Glad to see Speaker at #4 over Dimaggio. I'd put Griffey over Joltin' Joe, too. Also glad to see Edmonds up there, as he doesn't usually get his due. Not sure about Puckett at 9.

 

[shadyridr]

Jim Edmonds?

 

[MrPhoenix]

Jim Edmonds?

Edmonds and Snider were very similar offensively. Snider's numbers were better, but Edmonds was an extremely good defensive CF.A bit of a surprise, but I think Edmonds deserves to be at least in the Top 15.

 

[Oh Yes!]

6. Junior Griffey

this has GOT to stop.

 

[shadyridr]

Jim Edmonds?

Edmonds and Snider were very similar offensively. Snider's numbers were better, but Edmonds was an extremely good defensive CF.A bit of a surprise, but I think Edmonds deserves to be at least in the Top 15.

maybe but hes not the 8th best CF ever (unless theyre talking strictly fielding).

 

[MrPhoenix]

Jim Edmonds?

Edmonds and Snider were very similar offensively. Snider's numbers were better, but Edmonds was an extremely good defensive CF.A bit of a surprise, but I think Edmonds deserves to be at least in the Top 15.

maybe but hes not the 8th best CF ever (unless theyre talking strictly fielding).

Well, I do agree that they're not considering the eras here.I am having a hard time coming up with another center fielder.

 

[shadyridr]

From the baseballpage.com. I never heard of a lot of those guys so I cant really say.

1. Willie Mays

2. Ty Cobb

3. Ken Griffey Jr.

4. Joe DiMaggio

5. Mickey Mantle

6. Tris Speaker

7. Duke Snider

8. Oscar Charleston

9. Billy Hamilton

10. Larry Doby

11. Kirby Puckett

12. Jimmy Wynn

13. Dale Murphy

14. Earl Averill

15. Fred Lynn

16. Wally Berger

17. Vada Pinson

18. Amos Otis

19. Cesar Cedeno

20. Jim Edmonds

21. Cool Papa Bell

22. Andruw Jones

23. Richie Ashburn

24. Edd Roush

25. Willie Davis

26. Al Oliver

27. Jimmy Ryan

28. Hack Wilson

29. Hugh Duffy

30. Max Carey

31. Dom DiMaggio

32. Eric Davis

33. Willie McGee

34. George Van Haltren

35. Brett Butler

36. Bernie Williams

37. Kenny Lofton

38. Roy Thomas

39. Cy Seymour

40. Earle Combs

41. Andy Van Slyke

42. Ginger Beaumont

43. Chet Lemon

44. Curt Flood

45. Rick Monday

46. Baby Doll Jacobson

47. Doc Cramer

48. Johnny Damon

49. Willie Wilson

50. Garry Maddox

 

[MrPhoenix]

From the baseballpage.com. I never heard of a lot of those guys so I cant really say.

1. Willie Mays

2. Ty Cobb

3. Ken Griffey Jr.

4. Joe DiMaggio

5. Mickey Mantle

6. Tris Speaker

7. Duke Snider

8. Oscar Charleston Maybe

9. Billy Hamilton Waaay different game when he played

10. Larry Doby Very similar. Doby slightly better OBP, Edmonds better SLG. I can see an argument here, not sure on Doby's defense.

11. Kirby Puckett

12. Jimmy Wynn No

13. Dale Murphy No

14. Earl Averill I'd put him ahead of Edmonds. Better hitter overall.

15. Fred Lynn No, but in the ballpark

16. Wally Berger I'd rank them about the same

17. Vada Pinson One of my first thoughts, but no

18. Amos Otis No

19. Cesar Cedeno No

20. Jim Edmonds

I still say Edmonds is Top 15.

 

[Koya]

6. Junior Griffey

this has GOT to stop.

What? How this guy somehow ended up underated is beyond me. Best all around player in ball for a good 5 years, best center fielder for a decade... before he broke down, guy was simply ridiculous, offense and D.

 

[Magnetar Runner]

6. Junior Griffey

this has GOT to stop.

What? How this guy somehow ended up underated is beyond me. Best all around player in ball for a good 5 years, best center fielder for a decade... before he broke down, guy was simply ridiculous, offense and D.

From what I've read on sabermetric friendly Mariner blogs, Griffey's reputation as a great defender actually exceeded his abilities as the 90's wore on. Unfortunately Fangraphs' UZR only goes back to 2002, when he cost his team three plus runs as a fielder.

 

[[icon]]

Typical bias toward bygone era players... love the historical aspect of the game but older skillsets are drastically exaggerated by time and inferior competition.

 

[Oh Yes!]

6. Junior Griffey

this has GOT to stop.

What? How this guy somehow ended up underated is beyond me. Best all around player in ball for a good 5 years, best center fielder for a decade... before he broke down, guy was simply ridiculous, offense and D.

i meant calling him Junior Griffey. its so damn annoying. hes my favorite ball player of all-time btw.

 

[Tom Servo]

I like how they make the statement that, "It's not about settling arguments but starting them." Nice...

 

[Billy Bats]

Jim Edmonds?

I always thought he was making a diving catch because he was too slow.

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

Jimmy Piersall should be on that list.

He was an awesome defensive player.

 

[MrPhoenix]

Jimmy Piersall should be on that list.He was an awesome defensive player.

Too bad he wasn't a good hitter.The list factors both offense and defense.

 

[oso diablo]

6. Junior Griffey

this has GOT to stop.

What? How this guy somehow ended up underated is beyond me. Best all around player in ball for a good 5 years, best center fielder for a decade... before he broke down, guy was simply ridiculous, offense and D.

i meant calling him Junior Griffey. its so damn annoying. hes my favorite ball player of all-time btw.

sorry about that. i was just being lazy

 

[oso diablo]

From the baseballpage.com. I never heard of a lot of those guys so I cant really say....8. Oscar Charleston9. Billy Hamilton

the show doesn't include the Negro Leagues, only MLB. If we were including the Negro Leagues, you could make a good argument to have Charleston in the top 3.And they stipulate that they are only considering 1901 and forward. Hamilton was mostly 19th century.

 

[maxwelledison]

From the baseballpage.com. I never heard of a lot of those guys so I cant really say....8. Oscar Charleston9. Billy Hamilton

the show doesn't include the Negro Leagues, only MLB. If we were including the Negro Leagues, you could make a good argument to have Charleston in the top 3.And they stipulate that they are only considering 1901 and forward. Hamilton was mostly 19th century.

Good points, but the Negro Leaguers are always underrated/forgotten when these lists are compiled. It is one of the strongest arguments for comparing players with others only within their era, imo.

 

[oso diablo]

Good points, but the Negro Leaguers are always underrated/forgotten when these lists are compiled. It is one of the strongest arguments for comparing players with others only within their era, imo.

i'm not really following you here.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Typical bias toward bygone era players... love the historical aspect of the game but older skillsets are drastically exaggerated by time and inferior competition.

Once again you get it wrong LHUCKS Jr. Nice attempt though.

 

[Raider Nation]

I've loved almost every one of these presentations. The newest one on the "9 Greatest Good Luck Charms" was great.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

I've loved almost every one of these presentations. The newest one on the "9 Greatest Good Luck Charms" was great.

Rabbits foot is very overrated, how lucky was it for that rabbit?

 

[scrumptrulescent]

Typical bias toward bygone era players... love the historical aspect of the game but older skillsets are drastically exaggerated by time and inferior competition.

21. Cool Papa Bell

Is this a real person?

 

[Eephus]

Typical bias toward bygone era players... love the historical aspect of the game but older skillsets are drastically exaggerated by time and inferior competition.

21. Cool Papa Bell

Is this a real person?

Get off of my lawn

 

[Limp Ditka]

Typical bias toward bygone era players... love the historical aspect of the game but older skillsets are drastically exaggerated by time and inferior competition.

21. Cool Papa Bell

Is this a real person?

Get off of my lawn