@@UFOsAreRealArea51Dude, Clemente is 6th all time for Right Fielders in WAR behind Ruth, Aaron, and Musial while playing 4 seasons less than the others….
@@ron88303 no not at all ..I could have listed a million outfielders, Ralph Kiner, Ted Williams, Frank Robinson, Al Kaline, Stan Musial, The list would go on forever..I just named the first that came to the top of my head..have a great day buddy
@@gamernerd5x I sure hope not lol #dumpthedh and you all can pick any great outfielders you want ..wasn’t trying to disrespect any of the all time great players
Mays had charisma like no other player ever had. Willie had a flair for the game that was unmatched. When you bought a ticket to the game it wasn't because you cared about the teams playing. It was to catch a glimpse of the greatest ballplayer who ever lived.
Oh yes. Willie recognizes the unquestionable greatness of Roberto Clemente - the closest all-time, all-around complete player to Willie. Maybe very close in skill level. RIP Roberto. Вічна пам'ять. Слава Україні!
Willie and Roberto had a magic that no one else had. The way they ran, moved and did their business put them both in a class by themselves. And they were both clutch! . I got to see them both play--they were my two favorite of all time.
I had the honor of seeing Clemente when the Pirates played the Reds in Cincy, Ohio. The Reds tried to walk him, but he stepped out of the batters box and hit a double. Amazing !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm 75 years-old and Willie Mays is STILL the best all-round player I've ever seen. Even Mickey Mantle said so! Willie made the greatest catch in World Series history vs. the Indians in 1954. I remember when Willie laced a line drive triple into the right field gap one day. One of his teammates in the dugout said: "The only man who could catch that ball just hit it!"
@@Jim-km2dx It's not that close when you hear Mantle admit that Mays was the best out of the three NY center fielders for the Dodgers, Yankees, and Giants in the 1950s. I respected Mickey Mantle more than his kids did, but Willie Mays was the best player I ever saw...hands down.
So, you didn't see Mays play? To me he was the best. Roberto was next in line. They are the only two outfielders with 12 Gold Gloves in the history of the game.
@@tom7471 Yes, I saw him play towards the end of his career, & he was still good & I had tremendous respect. Saw him play against Cubs when he was on Mets at Wrigley field & he hit an opposite field home run! What a thrill. But Roberto was my guy. 1st or 2nd, you can't go wrong.
@@tom7471 You are correct! No one except Willie Mays makes 'THE CATCH' in the 1954 World Series, PLUS allowing only one run to score! Clemente WAS great, but not quite as great as Mays. I was fortunate enough to have seen both of them play. Willie was a better base stealer/runner, and hit for more power.
Wow!!! Willie Mays on Roberto Clemente: "Clemente was one of my favorites." The best player he ever saw. The comment by Mays brings to the forefront the level of baseball that was being played in Puerto Rico during winter league season. Reggie Jackson, Hank Aaron, Wille Mays, Frank Robinson all played in Puerto Rico. And, before Jackie Robinson broke the color line in 1947, players of color played in Puerto Rico because that was the closest you could be to Major League caliber (Satchel Page, Joshua Gibson and many others).
@Shel230 They couldn't play in the Majors prior to 1947 because they were players of color, and as you know, players of color were not allowed to play in the Major Leagues. That is the reason players like Satchel Page would go to play in Latin American countries, and Puerto Rico was one that welcomed players of all cultural backgrounds and made no distinctions along color lines. Also, you should be aware that unless Major Leagues accepted to integrate, they would've folded because players in the Negro Leagues were absolutely better than players in the White leagues! Plain and simple...
I am 61 now. And started watching baseball around 1970. My mom was a die hard Mets fan. They would often play the Pirates. And all I could remember about Clemente is that he was a menace to the opposite team. A total nightmare. Impossible to keep off the bases, and when he got on, I don't remember a time that he didn't score or steal a base. He was near the end of his career and still spectacular. What a player
Same here i'm just a year older, still cant believe the Pirates beat the Orioles and the great Brooks Robinson, Stargell couldnt buy a hit in that series yet Roberto carried them on his back.
I saw him a few times in the '60s at Crosley field. One game he hit 3 home runs, all of them two run homers. One to left, one to center and one to right, My dad had tickets for me and him to see Game 5, 1972 National League Playoffs. I couldn't go because of a class I had to take at U. of Cincinnati. I missed his last game. I failed the class anyway. I learned something that day about choices. Man, I made a bad one that day. As a Reds fan I put Roberto up there as my all time favorite "non-Reds" player. Followed by Bob Gibson.
@@victorduncan3254 - not only a tough out but a human vacuum at 3rd base. He destroyed the Reds the year before by robbing everything hit near third base including over. Pete Rose said Brooks played in the higher league!!!
@@hammer44head My mistake! You were saying that both Brooks Robinson and Stargell were slumping at the plate. I was referring to Frank Robinson. The Birds did win 3 games. I assumed that you couldn't completely shut him down....
We from Pittsburgh knew how great Clemente was and had to hear all of the BS from the large town media outlets--until the 1971 World Series when everyone got to see what we had been seeing for about 16 seasons. And Clemente was 37 years old then! Nothing like him.
Which Willie?...because it was 3 of them....Willie Stargell, Willie McCovey, and of course Willie Mays (Whom I'm assuming you are talking about never seen the other Willie play of the 2 others)
Although in all fairness to willie, he missed most of 52 and all of 53 due to military service. And Candelstick was much harder to hit home runs compared to Fulton county in Atlanta. I didn’t mean to disrespect Willie, may be greatest 5 tool player ever.
Very good point. Candlestick was cold, windy place. Maybe Willie would have had an additional 100 home runs in a place like Fulton county stadium all those years.
Polo Grounds were 250 Feet along the lines. Slick stadium where the Giants played when they came out to S.F was a minor league park with small dimensions. And Candlestick park was a hitters park. Hank Aaron also played in hitters parks his whole career. Forbes Field was a pitcher's Park. The dimensions were were bigger than all the major league parks.
Wrong. Milwaukee was a horrible park for Aaron. Check his home vs away stats. If Aaron would have played even in a HR neutral home park instead of Milwaukee, he absolutely would have hit over 50 homeruns in a season, probably four times.
I was born in '59. The best all around baseball player I ever saw, could do it all, was Willie Mays. If fact he was so good he became a cliche. In Little Leage, Pony League, college, whenever someone made a spectacular play, the comment was... "who does he think he is, Willie Mays?"
I believe had Roberto Clemente lived, he would of ran neck to necknwith Pete Rose on becoming the hits leader. He is the only one that would if came close or possibly taking the record from Rose
That the 3 out filders from Puerto Rico one time on the Caribbean world serie en Cuba 😂 the Cubans called the Murder Row im see that pic some place in Manhattan
Two great 'descriptions' of Willie Mays in his prime: Three fourths of the earth is covered by water, and the rest is covered by Willie Mays. When Willie Mays hit a shot to the outfield, one of his teammates in the dugout said: "The only man who can catch that ball, just hit it."
Willie chose from his heart and from what he saw on the diamond. As just a fan, I would have gone with The Hammer. He could anything these guys could and hit 755 home runs. One a side note, a happy 92nd birthday to The Say Hey Kid!
I grew up in SF bay area early 1960s and played little league and babe ruth. One of our coaches who worked for the Giants told us that Willie Mays and Willie McCovey didn't really like each other. Not sure why, but this interview reinforces that. To not pick your teammate who hit over 500 home runs and won NL player of the year multiple times is an insult. Its also very odd that the 1963-1975 Giants never won a penant or world series with so much batting firepower. They had 3 starters that hit 30+ home runs almost every year! I remember seeing a lot of their games that ended 9-8, 11-9, 12-10, etc with Giants losing after scoring so many runs.
Mays and McCovey probably weren't the best of friends, but you never heard one badmouthing the other. This interview with Mays is no different. No reasonable person would ever put McCovey on the Top 30 players of all-time list. EVERY reasonable person would put Clemente on that same list! Mays saw both of them play in their prime. He would know better than anyone... Also, the Giants may have had the hitting strength in the 60's, but their pitching staff, defense and speed on the basepaths was nowhere near as good as the Dodgers or Cardinals. Those are the main reasons why they never could win a pennant from '63 - '69.
"The real truth" is that Bonds couldnt stand not being the center of attention and decided he needed attention more than he needed the Hall. So he PED's out, the shape of his head changes, and his legacy is that of baseball's biggest cheater.
@@realtruth2817 He's a cheat. He was a cheat at the time, but he and the other roid boys were bringing a lot of attention to the game at a time when viewership was declining. It was fun to watch, but it was bullshit at the time and it is now. Here is the deal with Bonds. Before he got jacked and the shape of his head changed, he was a brilliant ballplayer. But at that time, he didn't have to cheat to do it. He was all natch and a sure thing for the Hall and would be considered a great player now. But, he couldn't handle not being the center of attention and literally threw his legacy and the Hall away for what amounts to a few pats on the head. Look at his Hall votes. He'll never get in, and shouldn't. I'll give you one more thing no one ever talks about. Henry Aaron hit all of his jacks unjuiced and hit most of his jacks off guys like Koufax and Gibson throwing off a fifteen-inch mound. Bonds hit most of his juiced and all of them off guys throwing off a ten inch mound and afraid to pitch to him. If you've ever thrown off both, you would know the difference right way. In my estimation, he didn't get near enough "dustings" or "chin music". If you were gonna walk Bonds, that should have been four at his head or knees. The answer to your question in short form: 7 MVP's. Not enough? No. Not when he pissed on the game to get them.
@@jasonkane8200 A human will NEVER be criticized by someone doing more than them. Only less... I could care less about who's supposedly better than who. Actions do the talking. Words mean nothing. And opinions are frivolous when it comes to facts.
I would say Ruth is the greatest player because revolutionized the sport. No other player has impacted the game more, with Jackie Robinson being a close second. Mays was the best baseball player ever, IMO. No weakness, and hit most of his 660HR in Candlestick, which is crazy. Mantle is the great what could have been because of his knee and off field issues. Still did pretty well, lol. If Ohtani can continue pitching at his previous level and hit like he hits, then he's in the conversation as well. Ted Williams was indeed the best pure hitter but was an otherwise flawed player. Defensively and, from what I've read, as a teammate.
Good choice. Clemente was not known as a power hitter, but then again he played much of his career in Forbes Field, a tough place to hit home runs. Without taking anything away from either Mays or Clemente, I never saw a greater player than Brooks Robinson. Impossible to compare him with Mays and Clemente, because they were different types of players.
Roberto Clemente covered a lot of ground in the outfield and had one of the strongest arms ever. He made a lot of basket catches, like Mays. He was also notorious for hitting screaming-hard line drives straight back at the mound. Pitchers knew to be ready to duck! Roberto died while serving a humanitarian mission, a terrible loss for baseball and the entire human race.
Simply the best to ever play the game, Willie did not just hit home runs (660), he had 3,283 hits, by comparison Babe Ruth only had 2,873 hits, Willie Mays also had 339 stolen bases compared to Babe Ruth's 123 stolen bases. Willie Mays was great on defense, he won 12 gold glove awards compared to Babe Ruth's zero gold gloves. Willie Mays was good in every area of the game, but some people complain that he should have won more championships as if one player can change the fate of an entire team. The best team wins championships not the best player, Babe Ruth benefited greatly from being on the 1920s Yankees Teams which were head and shoulders the best team of their era, just like Jordan played for the 90s Bulls teams which were head and shoulders the best team of their era. Take Babe Ruth off those Yankees teams and they still would have dominated, and we saw in the 90s when Jordan took a year off, the Bulls were still good and they made the playoffs without him.
I'd pick Mays over Ruth. Grew up watching Mays, Aaron, Mantle, Clemente, etc. But your comparisons need to be countered. Mays had 1900 more at bats than Ruth. Ruth had a higher batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, and OPS+. Considerably higher. Regarding Gold Gloves, they weren't even awarded until 1957, and for many years was simply voted on by managers and coaches, with little regard to defensive metrics. Championships are team accomplishments so I don't factor them in. I would give Mays the nod in regards to fielding and baserunning. That said, my starting outfield would be Aaron, Mays, and Mantle, who in my opinion was equal to Mays, especially when factoring in Mantle's injuries (torn ACL in his rookie year, and torn tendon in left shoulder in 1958). He put up pretty impressive numbers while playing most of his career hurt. Maybe had I actually seen Ruth, Williams, Dimaggio, and Musial (although I did Stan his last year) I'd have a different opinion.
I was a big Henry Aaron fan, but even in my "fan" days, deep down, I believed Clemente to be the best, maybe even the GOAT. Great defense, a cannon for an arm, hit for average (more than Aaron or Mays), had a great stolen base percentage, and I believe he could have been in the home-run-king conversation if he wanted to be (he hit 240), but I think he decided hitting for average was more important to his team than the increased strikeouts chasing the long ball that he would've accrued.
Aaron and Mays (and Mantle) were better. All around .300 batting average, but much better on-base, slugging percentage, OPS and OPS+ than Clemente. They all also had better stolen base percentage than Clemente. And better fielding percentage. Plus Mays and Mantle played center, which meant they had to cover more territory. Clemente (like many rightfielders) had a great arm, but I don't see that as a difference maker. I watched them all in the sixties; they're all greats but I'd put Clemente at the bottom among those four.
Clemente played most of his career at Forbes Field. The left field power alley in Forbes Field was 406 feet and it was 457 feet to straight away center. Today most of the stadium dimensions barely touch 400 feet, even in straight away center. A player/hitter would have to be a complete numbskull to try and be a right handed (and Clemente hit right-handed) home run hitter with a power alley at 406 feet and center field at 457 feet. Clemente hit with plenty of power. In his 18 year career Clemente hit 440 doubles and 166 triples. He wasn't so stupid as to try and blast a ton of fly balls that would have fallen harmlessly in some outfielder's glove.
I would have picked Hank Aaron , another five tool player. Clemente was great but not a home run hitter. Aaron hit fir average and also hit a ton of home runs. He could also steal bases and he was an excellent outfielder.
I'd love to know what made him think HE was better than Mantle. In their PRIME, Mantle was faster; hit for more average and power and had as strong a throw - ing arm. Fact is MM was better than him between 1956 and 1964 ... The Yankees won the WS in 1962 vs. the Giants and, overall, won 8 Pennants and 4 WS while the Giants won 1 Pennant and O WS in that period. Mantle won 3 MVPs and Mays won O, at that time. Mantle won a Triple Crown which Mays never did. Mays was real "flashy" but if Mantle hadn't had to battle injuries and Alcoholism most of his career, I think he would have gone down as the GOAT of baseball. Even better than Ruth !! Mays was Great; but I think Mantle was even better ! And Mays played with McCovey, Cepeda, Perry and Marichal on some very talented Giants teams; so I don't buy that Mantle played on the Yankees and that gave him an edge. Mickey was the reason the Yankees of that era were so dominant and he goes down with Ruth, Gehrig, and Joe DiMaggio as the great - est of all the Yankees.
Mays great player hit more homers at candlestick 204 vs 202 on the row from 1957 thru 1959 Mays hit 94 homers mantle in those years hit 113 homers after the 60 season mays complaint about the out field dementions out frield l and r and center were 367 367 then 420 center.in 61 those dementions reduced to 337 337 410 .Mays had 6 great seasons and only 1 world series mantle had 4 world series point I'm making is Yankee stadium was 43 per.cnt larger than candlestick .Yankee stadium had 4 plus markers 408. 415 457. 465 death valley.candlestick 1 400 marker.mays won more golden gloves coving small out field area.mays was great in a small stadium mantle great in a larger stadium..last mays had 253 ground outs mantle 113 .my pick mantle over mays last mantle hit appx balls just short of going out 18 per season..
![АЛАУДИНОВ у Скабеевой: эти их ВСУ нас НЕ ДОГОНЯТ 😁 [Пародия]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/an0anqU4WGQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Clemente, great answer. RIP Willie.
Willie Mays said it!! My Hero Roberto Clemente. Coming from Mays, you can’t top that!
Agreed! Willie Mays was like Jim Brown...You had to see them in real life game situations to know just how good they were.
Ok, if you say so...😂🤣
@@UFOsAreRealArea51 History says so!! I didn't have anything to do with it. LOL!!!
@@UFOsAreRealArea51Dude, Clemente is 6th all time for Right Fielders in WAR behind Ruth, Aaron, and Musial while playing 4 seasons less than the others….
Except Clemente couldn't hit like Mays or Aaron or Mantle, not with their power.
Clemente was awesome. So was Willie. RIP both.
Roberto was a great player. And an even greater human being.
An outfield of Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente is getting ready for a game right now on the field in of dreams. RIP Willie mays
What you're really suggesting is that Mantle didn't go to heaven.
@ron88303 Mantle was good man at heart. I say he's at first maybe 😅 . I wonder if the new dh rule has reached up there yet 😂
@@ron88303 no not at all ..I could have listed a million outfielders, Ralph Kiner, Ted Williams, Frank Robinson, Al Kaline, Stan Musial, The list would go on forever..I just named the first that came to the top of my head..have a great day buddy
@@gamernerd5x I sure hope not lol #dumpthedh and you all can pick any great outfielders you want ..wasn’t trying to disrespect any of the all time great players
@@athleticchipnyc My comment was meant in jest. It wasn’t intended to question your picks; all good ones.
Thank you, Mr. Mays for all you've done. RIP
He's right, of course. Clemente was one of a kind. Legendary. One of my top five of all time.
Good pick! I saw him play ... totally legit.
What a great player and a humble person he was. RIP: Willie Mays
I am Puerto Rican but have to admit that Mays was the best, with our Roberto right behind him. 🇵🇷 My opinion, of course.
Its all subjective about who is the "best" since its a team game the only thing that truly matters is did your team win a title.
@@hammer44head That was my very personal opinion but what you are saying I guess it is...
Roberto: 2 World Series, Willie: 1
BOTH were totally GREAT !!!🥰🤩🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲
@@luishumbertovega3900 Yogi Berra won 10. Why does nobody call him the best player ever?
@@joebarr725 He was great but also was in a great team, no one wins alone, it's a team effort.
Clemente & Mays....2 players you can't take your eyes off.....the style & skills were like a Maestro.
Mays was great but his humbleness made him greater.A true gentleman.For ever Roberto.!!! For ever Willie!
Mays had charisma like no other player ever had. Willie had a flair for the game that was unmatched. When you bought a ticket to the game it wasn't because you cared about the teams playing. It was to catch a glimpse of the greatest ballplayer who ever lived.
Mays ..Thank you..You know baseball
Oh yes. Willie recognizes the unquestionable greatness of Roberto Clemente - the closest all-time, all-around complete player to Willie. Maybe very close in skill level. RIP Roberto. Вічна пам'ять. Слава Україні!
Willie and Roberto had a magic that no one else had. The way they ran, moved and did their business put them both in a class by themselves. And they were both clutch! . I got to see them both play--they were my two favorite of all time.
CLEMENTE LA BESTIA!!! EL GOAT LATINO SIN DUDAS..!!!🖤💪🏻💪🏻🇵🇷
I had the honor of seeing Clemente when the Pirates played the Reds in Cincy, Ohio. The Reds tried to walk him, but he stepped out of the batters box and hit a double. Amazing !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm 75 years-old and Willie Mays is STILL the best all-round player I've ever seen. Even Mickey Mantle said so! Willie made the greatest catch in World Series history vs. the Indians in 1954. I remember when Willie laced a line drive triple into the right field gap one day. One of his teammates in the dugout said: "The only man who could catch that ball just hit it!"
Still Mantle would beat him in the Home Run Derby.
@@user-ur8vt5et4h Still Mantle lost to Harmon Killebrew.
pisode # Winner (winnings / cumulative winnings) Loser (winnings / cumulative winnings)
1 Mickey Mantle ($2,000) Willie Mays ($1,000)
2 Mickey Mantle ($2,000/$4,000) Ernie Banks ($1,000)
3 Mickey Mantle ($2,500/$6,500) Jackie Jensen ($1,000)
4 Harmon Killebrew ($2,000) Mickey Mantle ($1,000/$7,500)
And Mantle couldn't touch Mays when it came to defense. Willie was the 'Secretary of Defense'.
@@user-ur8vt5et4h And Killebrew knocked off Mantle in the 'Home Run Derby' show.
and hendrix said the guy of f Chicago was a better guitarist than him. id still take mantle over mays but its close as hell
@@Jim-km2dx It's not that close when you hear Mantle admit that Mays was the best out of the three NY center fielders for the Dodgers, Yankees, and Giants in the 1950s. I respected Mickey Mantle more than his kids did, but Willie Mays was the best player I ever saw...hands down.
Clemente’s upper body strength was incredible. His shoulders and hands were huge.
Pretty cool. Mays on Clemente.
I knew he'd say Roberto Clemente. Because he was the best all-around player that I ever saw.
So, you didn't see Mays play? To me he was the best. Roberto was next in line. They are the only two outfielders with 12 Gold Gloves in the history of the game.
@@tom7471 Yes, I saw him play towards the end of his career, & he was still good & I had tremendous respect. Saw him play against Cubs when he was on Mets at Wrigley field & he hit an opposite field home run! What a thrill. But Roberto was my guy. 1st or 2nd, you can't go wrong.
@@tom7471 You are correct! No one except Willie Mays makes 'THE CATCH' in the 1954 World Series, PLUS allowing only one run to score! Clemente WAS great, but not quite as great as Mays. I was fortunate enough to have seen both of them play. Willie was a better base stealer/runner, and hit for more power.
@@tom7471nah hank Aaron was better
Willie Mays saying you're the best he ever saw is like God telling you you're the best creation he's ever made.
RIP Willie and Roberto CF and RF covered in heaven..ok, and the BABE in LF 😉⚾
Cross town rival Mickey Mantle said the best hitter he ever saw was Ted Williams and the best overall baseball player, he ever saw, was Willie Mays.
Sounds about right.
Mantle no slouch himself.
Ted forgot Joe Dimaggio
Williams missed 5 seasons in his prime in service of his country. He plays those years, his numbers would be astronomical
And you couldn't argue with Mickey about that. Straight from the horses mouth!
Roberto Clemente and Willie Mayes amazing MLB ⚾🧢 players and close friends. 😎
Wow!!!
Willie Mays on Roberto Clemente:
"Clemente was one of my favorites."
The best player he ever saw. The comment by Mays brings to the forefront the level of baseball that was being played in Puerto Rico during winter league season. Reggie Jackson, Hank Aaron, Wille Mays, Frank Robinson all played in Puerto Rico. And, before Jackie Robinson broke the color line in 1947, players of color played in Puerto Rico because that was the closest you could be to Major League caliber (Satchel Page, Joshua Gibson and many others).
No they just couldn't play in the MLB that's WHy they went to mexico and Puerto rico
@Shel230
They couldn't play in the Majors prior to 1947 because they were players of color, and as you know, players of color were not allowed to play in the Major Leagues. That is the reason players like Satchel Page would go to play in Latin American countries, and Puerto Rico was one that welcomed players of all cultural backgrounds and made no distinctions along color lines. Also, you should be aware that unless Major Leagues accepted to integrate, they would've folded because players in the Negro Leagues were absolutely better than players in the White leagues! Plain and simple...
Thanks for the baseball history. This isn't common knowledge.
@@Shel230
Exactly, they weren't allowed in the Majors. Puerto Rico didn't have those problems.
AMEN, MY CHILDHOOD HERO AND MET HIM PERSONALLY ROBERTO CLEMENTE. A TRUE CHAMPION
Everyone probably thought Mays would say Bobby Bonds or Willie McCovey. He was clear that Roberto Clemente was his favorite.
I was thinking right away Hank Aaron And Roberto Clemente only
RIP WILLIE and ROBERTO as MAYS said it here that Clemente could do it all just like Mays!
Clemente an Mays were Baseball Gods, when I was a Little Leaguer. 1964,
He earned the loyalty of all Puerto Ricans everywhere when he spoke highly of Roberto Clemente.
I can believe that. I'm seeing a lot of latino love in general for Willie
You are correct Mr Mays
Lo dijo Willie Mays Puñeta 🇵🇷
I am 61 now. And started watching baseball around 1970. My mom was a die hard Mets fan. They would often play the Pirates. And all I could remember about Clemente is that he was a menace to the opposite team. A total nightmare. Impossible to keep off the bases, and when he got on, I don't remember a time that he didn't score or steal a base. He was near the end of his career and still spectacular. What a player
Same here i'm just a year older, still cant believe the Pirates beat the Orioles and the great Brooks Robinson, Stargell couldnt buy a hit in that series yet Roberto carried them on his back.
I saw him a few times in the '60s at Crosley field. One game he hit 3 home runs, all of them two run homers. One to left, one to center and one to right, My dad had tickets for me and him to see Game 5, 1972 National League Playoffs. I couldn't go because of a class I had to take at U. of Cincinnati. I missed his last game. I failed the class anyway. I learned something that day about choices. Man, I made a bad one that day. As a Reds fan I put Roberto up there as my all time favorite "non-Reds" player. Followed by Bob Gibson.
@@hammer44head without looking at any statistics, let me guess. The tough out was Robinson?
@@victorduncan3254 - not only a tough out but a human vacuum at 3rd base. He destroyed the Reds the year before by robbing everything hit near third base including over. Pete Rose said Brooks played in the higher league!!!
@@hammer44head My mistake! You were saying that both Brooks Robinson and Stargell were slumping at the plate. I was referring to Frank Robinson. The Birds did win 3 games. I assumed that you couldn't completely shut him down....
As a 🇵🇷 I always said WILLY MAYS was the best ever, still today no one can compare he has always been the MIKE JORDAN of baseball…🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷
We from Pittsburgh knew how great Clemente was and had to hear all of the BS from the large town media outlets--until the 1971 World Series when everyone got to see what we had been seeing for about 16 seasons. And Clemente was 37 years old then! Nothing like him.
I think Willie Mays was and is the greatest baseball player ever. Thank you, Mr. Mays for a ton of memories that will be there for many generations.
Willie made the greatest catch in World Series history in 1954. That's 60 years ago and STILL the greatest catch ever in the World Series.
Clemente didn’t have a weakness. His defense was amazing and what an arm! Both these guys were great 👍
Willie Mays was the best. Mays loved baseball and America loved Willie.
didnt he have trouble buying a house in san francisco?
He's with May's Aaron mantle can't be topped
That is love right there.....Roberto didnt even make a full career but left an impact. Roberto was a Marine too
Game recognize game. Roberto was a absolute beast and had the best throwing arm I ever seen, next to Bo Jackson.
Willie never saw Willie play! Outside of pitching, he was as good or better than everyone. Plus, he was smarter and less selfish than anyone.
Which Willie?...because it was 3 of them....Willie Stargell, Willie McCovey, and of course Willie Mays (Whom I'm assuming you are talking about never seen the other Willie play of the 2 others)
Although in all fairness to willie, he missed most of 52 and all of 53 due to military service. And Candelstick was much harder to hit home runs compared to Fulton county in Atlanta. I didn’t mean to disrespect Willie, may be greatest 5 tool player ever.
Very good point. Candlestick was cold, windy place. Maybe Willie would have had an additional 100 home runs in a place like Fulton county stadium all those years.
Polo Grounds were 250 Feet along the lines. Slick stadium where the Giants played when they came out to S.F was a minor league park with small dimensions. And Candlestick park was a hitters park. Hank Aaron also played in hitters parks his whole career. Forbes Field was a pitcher's Park. The dimensions were were bigger than all the major league parks.
Wrong. Milwaukee was a horrible park for Aaron. Check his home vs away stats.
If Aaron would have played even in a HR neutral home park instead of Milwaukee, he absolutely would have hit over 50 homeruns in a season, probably four times.
I was born in '59. The best all around baseball player I ever saw, could do it all, was Willie Mays. If fact he was so good he became a cliche. In Little Leage, Pony League, college, whenever someone made a spectacular play, the comment was... "who does he think he is, Willie Mays?"
Clemente and Mays. That must have been 2/3 of National Leagues all-star outfield for about 10 years.
Pete Rose was asked in an interview why he didn’t get to start in very many all-star games. He responded “who you wanna sit: Mays, Aaron or Clemente?”
My all time Hero “The Great One” retire #21 in all of BB.
Always thought the same. Grew up in San Mateo from 58-68. Saw Willie, Roberto and Henry Aaron. I'd take Roberto over Aaron.
Mays was better, and Mantle (even injured) was equally as good. Saw them all, too.
I believe had Roberto Clemente lived, he would of ran neck to necknwith Pete Rose on becoming the hits leader. He is the only one that would if came close or possibly taking the record from Rose
Great Pick!
Mays Clemente Arron my all time outfield
Top 3 in MLB ⚾
with frank robby reason number one why the NL won like 20 straight all star games of course the pitching as well,gibby,sandy,drysdale,marichal
I'd take Mays, Mantle, and Aaron.
That the 3 out filders from Puerto Rico one time on the Caribbean world serie en Cuba 😂 the Cubans called the Murder Row im see that pic some place in Manhattan
Mine is Mays, Aaron, and Mantle.
Two great 'descriptions' of Willie Mays in his prime: Three fourths of the earth is covered by water, and the rest is covered by Willie Mays. When Willie Mays hit a shot to the outfield, one of his teammates in the dugout said: "The only man who can catch that ball, just hit it."
Willie chose from his heart and from what he saw on the diamond. As just a fan, I would have gone with The Hammer. He could anything these guys could and hit 755 home runs. One a side note, a happy 92nd birthday to The Say Hey Kid!
And….an incredible over 3800 hits.
I guess everyone has a greatest era of baseball, but to me from the early 1950's through 1980's was when baseball was at it's best.
Clemente..mays..rickey henderson...my alltime starting outfield
I grew up in SF bay area early 1960s and played little league and babe ruth. One of our coaches who worked for the Giants told us that Willie Mays and Willie McCovey didn't really like each other. Not sure why, but this interview reinforces that. To not pick your teammate who hit over 500 home runs and won NL player of the year multiple times is an insult. Its also very odd that the 1963-1975 Giants never won a penant or world series with so much batting firepower. They had 3 starters that hit 30+ home runs almost every year! I remember seeing a lot of their games that ended 9-8, 11-9, 12-10, etc with Giants losing after scoring so many runs.
Mays and McCovey probably weren't the best of friends, but you never heard one badmouthing the other. This interview with Mays is no different. No reasonable person would ever put McCovey on the Top 30 players of all-time list. EVERY reasonable person would put Clemente on that same list! Mays saw both of them play in their prime. He would know better than anyone...
Also, the Giants may have had the hitting strength in the 60's, but their pitching staff, defense and speed on the basepaths was nowhere near as good as the Dodgers or Cardinals. Those are the main reasons why they never could win a pennant from '63 - '69.
My dad told me he seen Willie Mays when he was a kid in Phx az
Great pick
Roberto you got it
Mays, Clemente, Aaron. ( Mantle)
IF you wanna KNOW 'why' Barry Bonds is the BEST our Era's EVER seen, it's BECAUSE of this guy right here.
"The real truth" is that Bonds couldnt stand not being the center of attention and decided he needed attention more than he needed the Hall. So he PED's out, the shape of his head changes, and his legacy is that of baseball's biggest cheater.
@@jasonkane8200 lol 7 times MVP.
Enough ?
Opinions and especially Biased opinions mean zero.
YOU can't change what he accomplished.
@@realtruth2817 He's a cheat. He was a cheat at the time, but he and the other roid boys were bringing a lot of attention to the game at a time when viewership was declining. It was fun to watch, but it was bullshit at the time and it is now. Here is the deal with Bonds. Before he got jacked and the shape of his head changed, he was a brilliant ballplayer. But at that time, he didn't have to cheat to do it. He was all natch and a sure thing for the Hall and would be considered a great player now. But, he couldn't handle not being the center of attention and literally threw his legacy and the Hall away for what amounts to a few pats on the head. Look at his Hall votes. He'll never get in, and shouldn't. I'll give you one more thing no one ever talks about. Henry Aaron hit all of his jacks unjuiced and hit most of his jacks off guys like Koufax and Gibson throwing off a fifteen-inch mound. Bonds hit most of his juiced and all of them off guys throwing off a ten inch mound and afraid to pitch to him. If you've ever thrown off both, you would know the difference right way. In my estimation, he didn't get near enough "dustings" or "chin music". If you were gonna walk Bonds, that should have been four at his head or knees. The answer to your question in short form: 7 MVP's. Not enough? No. Not when he pissed on the game to get them.
@@jasonkane8200 A human will NEVER be criticized by someone doing more than them.
Only less...
I could care less about who's supposedly better than who.
Actions do the talking.
Words mean nothing.
And opinions are frivolous when it comes to facts.
@@realtruth2817 That's right. Actions do the talking. His action was to cheat.
my very first baseball game at the 'stick in the 60s had Mays, McCovey, Marichal and Bonds all in the same lineup. R.I.P. Willie
Bobby Bonds, who was a darn good player in his own right.
Mickey Mantle, when he was healthy, was the best baseball player ever.
No doubt about it; but he never was healthy. But it is what it is ... or was what is was.
Mays might have had an edge over Clemente running the bases. Both great ball players, both fun to watch.
Best player- Babe Ruth
Best All Around Player- Willie Mays
Best Hitter- Ted Williams
I would say Ruth is the greatest player because revolutionized the sport. No other player has impacted the game more, with Jackie Robinson being a close second.
Mays was the best baseball player ever, IMO. No weakness, and hit most of his 660HR in Candlestick, which is crazy.
Mantle is the great what could have been because of his knee and off field issues. Still did pretty well, lol.
If Ohtani can continue pitching at his previous level and hit like he hits, then he's in the conversation as well.
Ted Williams was indeed the best pure hitter but was an otherwise flawed player. Defensively and, from what I've read, as a teammate.
My dads favorite was Clemente
Good choice. Clemente was not known as a power hitter, but then again he played much of his career in Forbes Field, a tough place to hit home runs. Without taking anything away from either Mays or Clemente, I never saw a greater player than Brooks Robinson. Impossible to compare him with Mays and Clemente, because they were different types of players.
It was such an obvious answer!!
Roberto Clemente covered a lot of ground in the outfield and had one of the strongest arms ever. He made a lot of basket catches, like Mays. He was also notorious for hitting screaming-hard line drives straight back at the mound. Pitchers knew to be ready to duck! Roberto died while serving a humanitarian mission, a terrible loss for baseball and the entire human race.
Definitely one of the great ones.
My favorite too
What a champion. And Clemente too.
high praise
When baseball was baseball
HEs right🙏
😎❤
Rest easy Willie!
Hard to argue with that !!
Humble, Classy, Dignified At all Times! We absolutely were the lucky ones to be able to share The Air With The Say Hey Kid!
RIP, Willie.
Dude had a cannon
Just think if Mays hadn't spent 2 years in the army, how many more home runs would he have hit. Also Candlestick park was a tough place to hit too
Clemente 4 Batting titles 15 gold gloves died with plenty of seasons left
May's tested clementes arm he lost
Simply the best to ever play the game, Willie did not just hit home runs (660), he had 3,283 hits, by comparison Babe Ruth only had 2,873 hits, Willie Mays also had 339 stolen bases compared to Babe Ruth's 123 stolen bases. Willie Mays was great on defense, he won 12 gold glove awards compared to Babe Ruth's zero gold gloves. Willie Mays was good in every area of the game, but some people complain that he should have won more championships as if one player can change the fate of an entire team. The best team wins championships not the best player, Babe Ruth benefited greatly from being on the 1920s Yankees Teams which were head and shoulders the best team of their era, just like Jordan played for the 90s Bulls teams which were head and shoulders the best team of their era. Take Babe Ruth off those Yankees teams and they still would have dominated, and we saw in the 90s when Jordan took a year off, the Bulls were still good and they made the playoffs without him.
I'd pick Mays over Ruth. Grew up watching Mays, Aaron, Mantle, Clemente, etc. But your comparisons need to be countered. Mays had 1900 more at bats than Ruth. Ruth had a higher batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, and OPS+. Considerably higher. Regarding Gold Gloves, they weren't even awarded until 1957, and for many years was simply voted on by managers and coaches, with little regard to defensive metrics. Championships are team accomplishments so I don't factor them in. I would give Mays the nod in regards to fielding and baserunning. That said, my starting outfield would be Aaron, Mays, and Mantle, who in my opinion was equal to Mays, especially when factoring in Mantle's injuries (torn ACL in his rookie year, and torn tendon in left shoulder in 1958). He put up pretty impressive numbers while playing most of his career hurt. Maybe had I actually seen Ruth, Williams, Dimaggio, and Musial (although I did Stan his last year) I'd have a different opinion.
Aaron wasn't the defensive player that Clemente was, but he stole three time the number of bases.
I was a big Henry Aaron fan, but even in my "fan" days, deep down, I believed Clemente to be the best, maybe even the GOAT. Great defense, a cannon for an arm, hit for average (more than Aaron or Mays), had a great stolen base percentage, and I believe he could have been in the home-run-king conversation if he wanted to be (he hit 240), but I think he decided hitting for average was more important to his team than the increased strikeouts chasing the long ball that he would've accrued.
Aaron and Mays (and Mantle) were better. All around .300 batting average, but much better on-base, slugging percentage, OPS and OPS+ than Clemente. They all also had better stolen base percentage than Clemente. And better fielding percentage. Plus Mays and Mantle played center, which meant they had to cover more territory. Clemente (like many rightfielders) had a great arm, but I don't see that as a difference maker. I watched them all in the sixties; they're all greats but I'd put Clemente at the bottom among those four.
Clemente,,,top 5,,,ALL TIME!
My pick for #2 also, Roberto. E-Z pick.
Clemente played most of his career at Forbes Field. The left field power alley in Forbes Field was 406 feet and it was 457 feet to straight away center. Today most of the stadium dimensions barely touch 400 feet, even in straight away center.
A player/hitter would have to be a complete numbskull to try and be a right handed (and Clemente hit right-handed) home run hitter with a power alley at 406 feet and center field at 457 feet. Clemente hit with plenty of power. In his 18 year career Clemente hit 440 doubles and 166 triples. He wasn't so stupid as to try and blast a ton of fly balls that would have fallen harmlessly in some outfielder's glove.
Clemente... 12 GG, 4 Batting Titles, and the Pirates paid the Dodgers $4,000 for his rights.
Now these days it's his Godson Barry Bonds he speaks of
Bonds was a cheater. He can buy a ticket to the Hall of Fame.
Clickbait. Mays didn't say that, the interviewer posed the question saying that, and Mays immediately went to Clemente.
Hey man,
Willie Mays Hays here,
Plays like Mays,
Runs like Hays,
Hits like sh1t.
I would have picked Hank Aaron , another five tool player. Clemente was great but not a home run hitter. Aaron hit fir average and also hit a ton of home runs. He could also steal bases and he was an excellent outfielder.
Wait...did he say "the best player other than me.." anywhere in there?
Clemente didn’t have Willie’s power but had all the other skills. He had a better arm in the outfield.
He wasn't the only one. Rightfielders typically have the strongest arms.
I'd love to know what made him think HE was
better than Mantle.
In their PRIME, Mantle
was faster; hit for more
average and power and
had as strong a throw -
ing arm.
Fact is MM was better
than him between 1956
and 1964 ...
The Yankees won the
WS in 1962 vs. the Giants and, overall, won
8 Pennants and 4 WS
while the Giants won 1
Pennant and O WS in
that period.
Mantle won 3 MVPs and Mays won O, at that time.
Mantle won a Triple
Crown which Mays
never did.
Mays was real "flashy"
but if Mantle hadn't had
to battle injuries and
Alcoholism most of his
career, I think he would
have gone down as the
GOAT of baseball. Even
better than Ruth !!
Mays was Great; but I
think Mantle was even better !
And Mays played with
McCovey, Cepeda, Perry
and Marichal on some
very talented Giants teams; so I don't buy that Mantle played on
the Yankees and that
gave him an edge.
Mickey was the reason
the Yankees of that era
were so dominant and
he goes down with Ruth, Gehrig, and Joe
DiMaggio as the great -
est of all the Yankees.
Agree willie was jealous that hank bested him in most statistical categories
Say Hey Says......and people believe!
Willie said it! Pa q lol se pa
WAIT! WAIT! WAIT! SO PLAYERS USE TO HIT MORE HR's BACK IN THE DAY??? IF 25 WAS CONSIDERED MEDIOCRE. WHAT WAS THE AVERAGE???
Mays great player hit more homers at candlestick 204 vs 202 on the row from 1957 thru 1959 Mays hit 94 homers mantle in those years hit 113 homers after the 60 season mays complaint about the out field dementions out frield l and r and center were 367 367 then 420 center.in 61 those dementions reduced to 337 337 410 .Mays had 6 great seasons and only 1 world series mantle had 4 world series point I'm making is Yankee stadium was 43 per.cnt larger than candlestick .Yankee stadium had 4 plus markers 408. 415 457. 465 death valley.candlestick 1 400 marker.mays won more golden gloves coving small out field area.mays was great in a small stadium mantle great in a larger stadium..last mays had 253 ground outs mantle 113 .my pick mantle over mays last mantle hit appx balls just short of going out 18 per season..
No need to pick just one; outfields have three positions. I pick Aaron, Mays, and Mantle.