1960s All MLB Team (Tigers included)

[tycobb420]

http://www.examiner.com/article/the-mlb-all-decade-team-1960-69

 

[tinselwolverine]

Now...I loved that movie 61*; and I had read about most of the stuff that was in that movie when I was a kid (primarily from two sources; "The Baseball Life of Mickey Mantle;" and Mantle's own book, "The Quality of Courage," in the chapter about Maris) but...

Look at the way Maris ended the 60s.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/marisro01.shtml

Rightfielder of the decade?

Really?

Ahead of our own #6?

Really?

In the latter part of the decade, Kaline was getting MVP votes, being elected to the All Star team and winning Gold Gloves during seasons when Maris was getting to only single digits in home run production.

And as much as I love Mantle...centerfielder of the decade during the 60s?

Really?

Mantle didn't even finish the 60s; his production tailed off dramatifally in the latter half of the decade...and...in the latter half of the decade...

Mantle didn't even play centerfield.

 

[tinselwolverine]

Not to be a total homer...

Now I loved Norm Cash; he was my favorite major leaguer back when I was the age that people (kids, ostensibly) would have things like favorite major leaguers...that said...

1st baseman of the decade?

Really?

Ahead of Boog Powell?

Really?

Could make an argument for Tony Perez, too, except Perez's career started in the mid 60s, and he played third base a lot.

 

[kalinecountry]

I agree with TinselWolverine, a strong case could be made for Kaline, and also Aaron, Clemente, or even Frank Robinson for RF ahead of Maris.

 

[tinselwolverine]

That said...

While the decade of the 60s may not have been the pinnacle of Mantle's career, I'm a little hard pressed to come up with/make an argument for anybody (besides Mays, who was also named) who was better...

 

[byco42]

This is not a "best of the 60s" article; it's the "best seasons of the 60s by position." The only season listed I'd contest is Cash's 1961, which was cork-aided. I'd instead recommend Willie McCovey's 1969 season as a replacement.

 

[byco42]

That said...

While the decade of the 60s may not have been the pinnacle of Mantle's career, I'm a little hard pressed to come up with/make an argument for anybody (besides Mays, who was also named) who was better...

Had The Mick not drank to excess, I think he'd have been the best to ever play MLB.

 

[tinselwolverine]

Had The Mick not drank to excess, I think he'd have been the best to ever play MLB.

Better than Ted Williams had Williams not gone into the military during the prime of his career?

Or what about Babe Ruth, if Ruth hadn't eaten so much?

 

[byco42]

Better than Ted Williams had Williams not gone into the military during the prime of his career?

Or what about Babe Ruth, if Ruth hadn't eaten so much?

Ted did not have the Mick's defensive skills or blinding speed (when he was younger). Mantle in playing in Ruth's era would have been a monumental mismatch.

 

[kalinecountry]

For me, the Mick was the greatest, loved his swing like he was wielding a sledgehammer horizontally. Forearms the size of 'Popeyes'.
The drinking and all the injuries, took the toll on him. He missed a couple hundred more to injury than Kaline lost. Off the top of my head, maybe KG Junior lost as many games as Mantle.

 

[tinselwolverine]

Mantle struck out a lot. He didn't hit nearly for the average that either Williams or Ruth did. I don't know if not drinking would have cured that.

I've read that Williams got to be really, really good at playing caroms off the Fenway Park left field wall.

But Ruth tops my list, above those two and Mays and Aaron all else for one simple reason:

No other great major league hitter has also been a really, really good major league pitcher.

 

[kalinecountry]

Mantle struck out a lot. He didn't hit nearly for the average that either Williams or Ruth did. I don't know if not drinking would have cured that.

I've read that Williams got to be really, really good at playing caroms off the Fenway Park left field wall.

But Ruth tops my list, above those two and Mays and Aaron all else for one simple reason:

No other great major league hitter has also been a really, really good major league pitcher.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/SO_career.shtml
When Mantle retired he had the record with 1710, now he is 24th and by the end of the month 25th when Jeter passes him. Mantle broke Ruth's record of 1330 by 380 more k's. now there are 100 players with more career k's than Ruth.

Williams and Jim Rice were probably average at best defensively in left, but both played the wall and caroms at fenway better than given credit for. Yaz was exemplary as a left fielder at fenway but also other parks,

 

[tonyballs]

Mantle struck out a lot. He didn't hit nearly for the average that either Williams or Ruth did. I don't know if not drinking would have cured that.

I've read that Williams got to be really, really good at playing caroms off the Fenway Park left field wall.

But Ruth tops my list, above those two and Mays and Aaron all else for one simple reason:

No other great major league hitter has also been a really, really good major league pitcher.

For sure NOT drinking would have cured that""""

 

[tycobb420]

Mantle said if he knew he'd live as long as he did, he would have taken better care of himself.

and this is the best year by position as opposed to a team of the 60s. A little different take.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Maris after '61 -- .259 .343 .446 .789. Hardly worth being on the team of the decade.

 

[Thumb]

Maris after '61 -- .259 .343 .446 .789. Hardly worth being on the team of the decade.

Again, it's not a team of the decade.

It's the best single season at each position during the 60's, and who had it.

"The following are the greatest seasons, by position, in the major leagues between 1960 and 1969.".

 

[tycobb420]

I think it's funner with the single season vs. the decade. Everyone does teams of the decade. This required some thought on the author's part.

 

[Rebbiv]

Highest WAR per season

1967 - Yastrzemski LF 12.0
1965 - Mays CF 10.9
1964 - Mays CF 10.7
1962 - Mays CF 10.2
1963 - Mays CF 10.2
1961 - Mantle CF 10.2
1968 - Yastrzemski 10.0
1967 - Santo 3B 9.6
1969 - Petrocelli SS 9.5
1960 - Mays CF 9.2
1961 - Aaron RF 9.1
1961 - Cash 1B 8.9
1969 - Jackson RF 8.8
1996 - Mays CF 8.8
1963 - Aaron RF 8.8
1967 - Clemente RF 8.7
1965 - Santo 3B 8.7
1964 - Santo 3B 8.6
1964 - Allen 3B 8.5

 

[tinselwolverine]

Yeah I didn't read the introduction very carefully. The best seasons from 1960 through 1969.

Which seems, like...I dunno...kind of pointless endeavor to me.

 

[hellifino]

every time I see Kofaxs' stats, I wonder how he even made the hall. sure he had 3 or 4 great seasons, but the others, including the 1st 7 that was bad years.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/koufasa01.shtml