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To: EveningStar

Well...
Ozzie Smith was deserving based on his defense only. But he was amazing!
Rizzuto and Rice are in only because they played for the Yankees and Red Sox.
Mazeroski and Sutter...well, ya got me.


4 posted on 01/08/2017 1:48:20 PM PST by Artemis Webb (Ted Kennedy burns in hell.)
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To: Artemis Webb

Rizzuto - a first baseman? Not! He was a shortstop.

Makes the whole article suspect.


31 posted on 01/08/2017 2:26:02 PM PST by NTHockey (Rules of engagement #1: Take no prisoners. And to the NSA trolls, FU)
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To: Artemis Webb
Sutter...well, ya got me.

Bruce Sutter was as good as any fireman of his era, with most saves four years in a row. His numbers might watered down due to his playing for a long time, and the save numbers might not seem all that great, but he played in an era when complete games were NOT all that rare.

And he had his best seasons with the Cardinals and the Cubs, meaning he did not have a remarkable supporting cast, and in Wrigley he did NOT have a pitcher's park.

Those who saw Rizzuto play say he was the greatest bunter they ever saw. Maybe not enough on its own, but an often overlooked feature.

Ozzie Smith was perhaps the greatest defensive shortstop up until the recent generation. His lifetime batting average is in the 260s, about the same as Brooks Robinson, but with no power. Unlike Robinson, he was a very good base-stealer. He played shortstop. Yeah, we have shortstops these days who hit 30+ homeruns, but not then or before then.

I wouldn't have voted for Jim Rice, as that era is full of great batting outfielders, and Lynn was the glove in that OF, NOT Rice. Rice had a couple of really good batting seasons, and the rest of the lineup made sure that he wasn't pitched around as much as he might have been on another team. Heck I would have picked a guy like Reggie Smith, who wasn't nearly as good at Self-Promotion, but that's me. I don't think Rice was an awful pick, just not a standout when you have George Fosters, Reggie Smiths and Dave Parkers out there.
79 posted on 01/08/2017 7:23:57 PM PST by Dr. Sivana (There is no salvation in politics.)
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