Not trolling, is the Willie Mayes catch THAT special anymore?

[Majestic Pape]

Historical significance and impact? Yes, it is one of, if not the, greatest of all-time.

Technically, at this point, just judged simply on its own compared to what we have seen since? Hell no. It's just another play.

It's no different than in basketball and watching Julius Erving's famous reverse layup. Yes, it is great and amazing and incredible because of its significance, but if you were to judge it blindly compared to some of the plays that get made today it'd just be another SportsCenter Top 10 highlight.

 

[Absolut]

how do you judge a catch damn near 450 feet away from the plate on its own with what youve seen since, in parks where a 450 foot shot is clearing the bleachers in the outfield? jim edmonds diving catch is the best ever? mays ran and caught up with a ball hit 50 feet farther, didnt dive, and turned and saved the run. fukk outta here with jim "i usually dove to make routine catches look harder than they were" edmonds. dudes catch doesnt come near this one. hed still be chasing that ball mays caught

 

[VICVALLIN]

Historical significance and impact? Yes, it is one of, if not the, greatest of all-time.

Technically, at this point, just judged simply on its own compared to what we have seen since? Hell no. It's just another play.

It's no different than in basketball and watching Julius Erving's famous reverse layup. Yes, it is great and amazing and incredible because of its significance, but if you were to judge it blindly compared to some of the plays that get made today it'd just be another SportsCenter Top 10 highlight.

i don't even know what to say to this stupidity, except for

 

[MegaTronBomb!]

yeah, minus all the dominicans, cubans, ricans, asians, blacks and everyone other non-cac

yeah, minue the glaring fact that there were already latinos and blacks in the majors in the 60's...

don't reply to me again.

 

[Bilz]

Willie Mays wasn't fully outstretched when he made his catch and since all of us have only seen the highlight and didn't see it in live game, it probably doesn't mean as much as it should.

Most estimates have the ball at 415-420 feet. Except for that one portion in the middle that went to 470 or 480 or whatever, center field in Polo Ground was actually shorter than the power alleys and wasn't much farther than the average major league stadium.

Gary Matthews Jr robbing the home run was the best catch I have seen. It took unbelievable timing and precision to pull that off and he had to take his eye off of it right near the end to climb the wall.

 

[Taadow]

but in the 1960's baseball was about the same as it is today.

...Or at least it is the closest of the major sports to being as it was.

It could be argued baseball gameplay has regressed. As mentioned, parks are shorter for better and for worse. We'll probably never see another 100-base stealer. They have 5-man rotations and middle relievers to save starters' arms when Bob Gibson and them used to have 50 decisions an' chit. Miggs is on the cusp of being a Triple Crown Winner. Last nicca to do that was 45 years ago!

But as was said, Baseball is cumulative and about giving props where props are due.

 

[Hammer]

typical over the shoulder catch little leaguers can make

 

[wtfyomom]

Willie Mays wasn't fully outstretched when he made his catch and since all of us have only seen the highlight and didn't see it in live game, it probably doesn't mean as much as it should.

Most estimates have the ball at 415-420 feet. Except for that one portion in the middle that went to 470 or 480 or whatever, center field in Polo Ground was actually shorter than the power alleys and wasn't much farther than the average major league stadium.

Gary Matthews Jr robbing the home run was the best catch I have seen. It took unbelievable timing and precision to pull that off and he had to take his eye off of it right near the end to climb the wall.

finaly someone who gets it, Im sick of people saying ballparks were bigger, they were at certain points usually the alleys, down the line was even shorter than today.

HHR please you know as well as anyone its a great catch but not number one, I know youre a progressive thinker with baseball for the msot part.

Mastermind how is it a bad thread? Even if you disagree its a good discusiion imo

And I never said Edmonds was better, I agree he used to dive on purpose but gary matthews to me is clearly a better play than this. I dont think its close. The catch today by dude on the Pirates is better to me and what inspired the thread. Endy Chavez catch vs the cards also >> Mayes

 

[wtfyomom]

Yeah catches where you went nearly 430 ft to catch it and be able to throw it back in and hold the runners all while in the WS loses luster

You're a horrible poster.

fact that it was in the WS means nothing, does that make the degree of diffuculty any harder? Secondly Im not saying ti isnt a great play but its not otherwordly anymore. Athletes are better now.

And youre a fakkit

 

[MegaTronBomb!]

fact that it was in the WS means nothing, does that make the degree of diffuculty any harder? Secondly Im not saying ti isnt a great play but its not otherwordly anymore. Athletes are better now.

And youre a fakkit

Mays was playing shallow center...ran to about 420+ out... only Minute Maid is that deep...and threw somebody out.

You can't name any player who's done that.

 

[wtfyomom]

Mays was playing shallow center...ran to about 420+ out... only Minute Maid is that deep...and threw somebody out.

You can't name any player who's done that.

only cause most fields are not 420 theyre more like 400-410, theres plenty of fielders that could do it playing today

 

[Joe Sixpack]

Yes it is..

 

[Amare's Right Hook]

No but he is still an amazing player .........in any era

 

[OH SOHH TRILL]

yeah, minue the glaring fact that there were already latinos and blacks in the majors in the 60's...

don't reply to me again.

Reading comprehension fail.

 

[Carlos Huerta]

finaly someone who gets it, Im sick of people saying ballparks were bigger, they were at certain points usually the alleys, down the line was even shorter than today.

HHR please you know as well as anyone its a great catch but not number one, I know youre a progressive thinker with baseball for the msot part.

Mastermind how is it a bad thread? Even if you disagree its a good discusiion imo

And I never said Edmonds was better, I agree he used to dive on purpose but gary matthews to me is clearly a better play than this. I dont think its close. The catch today by dude on the Pirates is better to me and what inspired the thread. Endy Chavez catch vs the cards also >> Mayes

It's Willie Mays, you fakkit.