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Originally Posted by Cannon Shell
For some reason Aaron never seems to get his due when people talk about great players. When talikng about the greatest player you hear Ruth, Mantle, Mays, Williams, DiMaggio, Bonds, but rarely hear people making a case for Aaron. I guess the fact that most of the other guys played in NY and Aaron played in the midwest and South may have something to do with it. Buth he was crushing the ball during the 60's when Pitching was king. You would have to think that all things being equal, if he played in the same time period that Bonds did that he could have had much better numbers, maybe 800 HR's.
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Chuck, good point. I think you touched upon a very common and blurred aspect. It's an exercise in futility to compare Ruth to Bonds or Ruth to any player of the "modern era" so to speak. It's simply a comparison of data and opinion, with no real substantial base. On the other hand, comparing an Bonds to, let's say, Willie Mays is much more palatable. There will still be variables that are at play, but it's more feasible. I have always been a fan of Aaron, and I came to know him in recent years through some mutual friends.
IMO, there is an element of shame that a record like Aaron's will be broken by "a" Barry Bonds. Aaron was the model of consistency. I could be wrong on some of my stats as I am going on memory here -- however, I think Aaron only led the league in HR's 4 or 5 times. He hit 30 plus about 15 or so times and never hit 50 in a season (I don't think). But he hit 40 about a half dozen times and just kept hitting 30 plus time and time again over a career that didn't reach 25 years.
Hank Aaron was, and still is a class act and a real gentleman.
On another note, I recently saw an interview with Willie Mays, where they asked him about Bonds (his godson). Mays refused to comment on the steroid issue. But when they asked him about Bonds possibly being considered one of the all-time greats, his standing when stacked up against some of the all-time greats, etc. -- including Mays -- Mays was very quick to answer and was very definitive.
Mays talked about fielding, hitting, throwing, running, and the categories that people would tend to look at when rating or ranking the all-time greats. The interviewer asked how Bonds would stack up against Mays himself. Mays said Bonds couldn't throw with or run with him, when both were in their prime. I forget what he said about fielding, but I seem to vaguely remember that Mays gave himself the edge there as well. I would think that Mays would get the call there. Mays spoke about his problems with his knees later on in his career (Mays played for several years after he should have, wanted to, etc.). Mays said Bonds was a 'stronger' hitter and that he (Mays) didn't have the body, or the ability to 'muscle' or "power" the ball like Bonds. Mays didn't take anything away from Bonds, but he certainly didn't let anyone think Bonds is or should be considered a better player.
It was a very good interview.
Eric