Sox_Fan and I were trading thoughts in the Bobby Bonilla Day thread, and it inspired this thread.
Who was the best MLB player you ever saw - in person? I added the "in person" qualifier, because otherwise this becomes another GOAT thread. But obviously, the entire body of work should be considered, not just the games you saw. Why did you name the player you named?
As I mentioned in the other thread, Roberto Clemente was the best I ever saw. He had another gear that I never saw in any other player. In 1971 or 1972, our family went to Three Rivers Stadium to see the Pirates and the Dodgers. We had seats along the third base line in the lowest tier of the upper deck, so a very good view of the field. This was before they moved the fences in 10 feet, so the right center gap was 385 feet from home. That was where Clemente caught a screamer, flat-footed, the 21 on his back plastered against the 385 sign. Bill Russell of the Dodgers was on second base and tagged up. Clemente threw him out by eight feet.
Roberto was also a proud, fierce competitor. When the Pirates visited New York, the TV series The Odd Couple was filming a show in which an opposing player hit into a triple play against the Mets. They approached Clemente, who was receptive until they explained the plot. He declined to participate, saying, "Roberto Clemente does not hit into a triple play - ever!" Bill Mazeroski agreed to film the scene.
His actions on and off the field changed the hearts and minds of a lot of Pirates fans. I think he would have received a lot more recognition during his career had he played in a major market.
Who was the best MLB player you ever saw - in person? I added the "in person" qualifier, because otherwise this becomes another GOAT thread. But obviously, the entire body of work should be considered, not just the games you saw. Why did you name the player you named?
As I mentioned in the other thread, Roberto Clemente was the best I ever saw. He had another gear that I never saw in any other player. In 1971 or 1972, our family went to Three Rivers Stadium to see the Pirates and the Dodgers. We had seats along the third base line in the lowest tier of the upper deck, so a very good view of the field. This was before they moved the fences in 10 feet, so the right center gap was 385 feet from home. That was where Clemente caught a screamer, flat-footed, the 21 on his back plastered against the 385 sign. Bill Russell of the Dodgers was on second base and tagged up. Clemente threw him out by eight feet.
Roberto was also a proud, fierce competitor. When the Pirates visited New York, the TV series The Odd Couple was filming a show in which an opposing player hit into a triple play against the Mets. They approached Clemente, who was receptive until they explained the plot. He declined to participate, saying, "Roberto Clemente does not hit into a triple play - ever!" Bill Mazeroski agreed to film the scene.
His actions on and off the field changed the hearts and minds of a lot of Pirates fans. I think he would have received a lot more recognition during his career had he played in a major market.
