Greatest Outfielder of all time

[milagros317]

As long as people have started football and basketball polls here, why neglect my favorite sport.

Who is the best outfielder (any position, RF, CF, or LF) of all time?

(Players listed in alphabetical order by last name.)

 

[Soda Bobinski]

Willie Mays.

 

[gibby59]

Roberto Clemente

 

[SlaverTickler]

Barfield

I might be spelling his name wrong, and I am no dout showing my Biest, but I think former Blue Jay Jessie Barfield was pretty damb awsome. Maybe he's not the best ever, but he is my presonal favorite.

 

[ticklingfeet4fu]

Wow that is a toughie. But you have to put Willie Mays up there. I mean they are missing many great ones. Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Duke Snider, Ralph Kiner. A great question but not enough to choose from. 🙄

 

[milagros317]

Even a die-hard Dodger fan like me must say that Duke Snider belongs in the Hall of Fame, but he doesn't belong on a list of the 3 greatest outfielders of all time.

A case can be made for any of those I named being on the list of 3, unless you want to disqualify The Evil One (BB) for steroid use.

 

[Mitchell]

Milagros, my good friend, I chose Willie Mays for the choices you gave, because he was an awesome defensive center fielder, and finished his career with 660 homers, fourth behind only Aaron, Ruth, and Bonds.
I know he is young yet, and doesnt yet have the offensive credentials that Mays had, but many consider the Braves Andruw Jones to be the best defensive center fielder of all time. The guy just knows how to go get it. Also, he is excellent offensively as well. Best center fielder can be a tough choice. Are we only talking about defense, or the whole package of hitting and defense? I think Jones is the best modern day center fielder, and maybe the best since Mays, or perhaps of all time, but of the choices you have, I had to go with Mays.

Mitch

 

[ticklingfeet4fu]

Even a die-hard Dodger fan like me must say that Duke Snider belongs in the Hall of Fame, but he doesn't belong on a list of the 3 greatest outfielders of all time.

A case can be made for any of those I named being on the list of 3, unless you want to disqualify The Evil One (BB) for steroid use.

You never said we were narrowing down to the best of three. By the way, I have spoken with MANY men and women of the age who would put Duke right there among the very BEST. Heck he was part of the song Willie, Mickey and the Duke. I mean it is very subjective. Some might say Joe DiMaggio and some might say Mickey Mantle and there are though who in fact would put Duke in that catagory. It is a matter of opinion. Nobody can really be wrong unless you name a player like Joel Youngblood or Dan Norman then you must actually present a case to convince me.

 

[milagros317]

My poll here is actually for the best one, not the best 3.

But when thinking about an all-time complete team, you are going to need 3 outfielders, so it is natural to think about which 3 you would put on your all-time best team.

 

[Tcklsh_Kandy]

Wow ! I'm totally shocked . Being a Yankee fan by tyradtion ( My dad is ) I am SHOCKED to not see Joe DiMaggio and or Micky Mantle .

 

[milagros317]

IMHO Babe Ruth the Yankee was easily better than both of them. 😀

 

[ticklingfeet4fu]

Wow ! I'm totally shocked . Being a Yankee fan by tyradtion ( My dad is ) I am SHOCKED to not see Joe DiMaggio and or Micky Mantle .

I was pretty taken back by that as well. I am a Mets fan but know Yankee history ( in fact baseball history ) better than most.

 

[ticklingfeet4fu]

IMHO Babe Ruth the Yankee was easily better than both of them. 😀

The problem with that is he was not a Yankee only. He was a Red Sox and a Boston Brave. So he is looked at a little differently. Did he do a lot for the Yankees? Unquestionably. But he was not a PURE Yankee. He also won 3 World Series. Joe DiMaggio won 9 World Series and lost ONLY 1 and Mickey Mantle won 7 World Series titles. If you base it on winning alone they were unquestionably up there in Yankee lure and history.

 

[milagros317]

The problem with that is he was not a Yankee only. He was a Red Sox and a Boston Brave.

That may be a problem for Yankee fans, but it's not a problem for me. 😛
Seriously, I'm judging by ability, not contribution to Yankee history.

 

[Etienne]

Mays

The greatest outfielder of all time?
Please, Willie Mays.
End of discussion.

 

[Ray<3tiklishft]

Al Kaline wasn't the greatest but deserves some love. Youngest ever batting champ. Great defense.

399 HR's
3,007 hits

Hall Of Famer, too.

 

[ticklingfeet4fu]

That may be a problem for Yankee fans, but it's not a problem for me. 😛
Seriously, I'm judging by ability, not contribution to Yankee history.

It is not just the contribution to Yankee history. These guys like Yogi Berra and Phil Rizzuto and Don Mattingly and Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle and Lou Gehrig hold a special place in Yankee fans hearts because they are home grown. That is why Jeter and Bernie Williams and Mariano Riveria are so loved by Yankee fans. Not just because they are great and have won but because they are the Yankees. They represent what is great and special about baseball. Now Yankee fans ( you know I am a Mets fan ) am I close on this theory of mine? I get the feeling that is the reason why Yankee fans push for Don Mattingly and Thurman Munson to go to the Hall of Fame because they are Yankees. They have NEVER been anything else but Yankees.

 

[cyborg]

#21 all the way

Roberto Clemente for sure