Andruw and Vic

moose · 10-22-2002, 11:34 PM

I'm sure I'll get ridiculed off the board for this....

...but watching the Vic Wertz/Mays clip a few times (they just showed it on the WS Telecast), it really seems like Andruw would have made that catch.

I mean, I think most agree 'Druw is one of the best fielding CFs of all time, especially with respect to range, but still -- that's always thought of as the catch of catches.

Discuss.

Gosfgiants · 10-22-2002, 11:42 PM

I've seen Mays say several times that was not his best catch (most recently in today's paper). That's the one everyone remembers because it was in the World Series. My father used to be a fixture at the Polo Grounds before the Giants moved. He felt that the catch in question was a routine play for Mays. You also have to remember that the Polo Grounds had a huge center field, and Mays would play that shallow. Just on that fact he beats Jones.

VNV Nation · 10-22-2002, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by moose
I'm sure I'll get ridiculed off the board for this....

...but watching the Vic Wertz/Mays clip a few times (they just showed it on the WS Telecast), it really seems like Andruw would have made that catch.

I mean, I think most agree 'Druw is one of the best fielding CFs of all time, especially with respect to range, but still -- that's always thought of as the catch of catches.

Discuss.

I'm not going to ridicule you because, as great as the catch was, and it was certainly great, I think I've seen a handful that are better.

In some respects, Mays had it easier, because he didn't have to worry about running into a wall. Now, covering the amount of ground is the incredible thing, to be sure, but based on pure speed, there were probably a few better ones.

I saw Lenny Dykstra make a great catch in '92 I think, and Andy Van Slyke made on around that time. Eric Davis stole three homers in 1987 alone, I believe. Devon White made great catches all the time, and there's the Jim Edmonds catch.

I would rank several of these as more difficult/dangerous although maybe not more amazing/important.

moose · 10-23-2002, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by VNV Nation
and there's the Jim Edmonds catch.

that edmonds catch was truly unbelievable - but to tie it into my discussion here, i don't think andruw (or mays) would have made edmonds' catch -- because they probably wouldn't have needed to dive straight back to catch it.

i'm not knocking the mays catch -- it was undoubtedly great -- but I wonder if Andruw could also have made the catch with ease.

Andruw may or may not be the equal (or better) of mays at tracking 'em down in the field, but they're probably close enough that if Mays didn't put the Vic Wertz catch in the top few of his career, then maybe Andruw would have had it too.

VNV Nation · 10-23-2002, 01:09 AM

i don't know how you could make the Edmonds catch without diving straight back for it.

moose · 10-23-2002, 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by VNV Nation
i don't know how you could make the Edmonds catch without diving straight back for it.

1. get a better jump than the bad one edmonds got
2. be faster than edmonds
3. catch it over the shoulder

Max Power · 10-23-2002, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by moose
I'm sure I'll get ridiculed off the board for this....

Nah. You're more likely to get tossed for starting threads on topics where we already have threads (like how to pitch Bonds) and starting threads in the wrong forum............dude, "Mays Catch" - it's Baseball History not PAS&S.

moose · 10-23-2002, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Max Power
Nah. You're more likely to get tossed for starting threads on topics where we already have threads (like how to pitch Bonds) and starting threads in the wrong forum............dude, "Mays Catch" - it's Baseball History not PAS&S.

at least take comfort in the fact that i started to post it in history, but changed my mind (Assuming the discussion would move toward andruw as opposed to the catch).

VNV Nation · 10-23-2002, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by moose
1. get a better jump than the bad one edmonds got
2. be faster than edmonds
3. catch it over the shoulder

i don't think you could do that

JamesI · 10-23-2002, 09:03 AM

The Mays catch is magnified for being in the series. Andruw or Edmonds have not made that kind of play in the World Series. While I think either of them probably could have gotten to that ball, its still one of the best ever just due to when it occured.

VNV Nation · 10-23-2002, 09:05 AM

The Devon White catch was in the World Series and probably tougher and more important but no one really talks about it.

pwdennis · 10-23-2002, 09:09 AM

The remarkable thing about the Mays catch in the 1954 World Series was not the catch - it was the amazing off-balance throw that Mays made to finish off the play. Truly unbelievable

KCBOOMER · 10-23-2002, 10:45 AM

There have been any number of astonishing catches by center fielders. To say which is the best is just opinion of those we have seen. We have no basis of judging those we haven't seen.

pathogan · 10-23-2002, 10:52 AM

...first catch in game 3 of the 69 series was as important. I agree that the truly astonishing part of the catch was the 180 and THROW afterwards. Arnold Hano wrote a BOOK centered around this catch called, if I remeber A DAY IN THE BLEACHERS. That ball was 460+ feet from Home plate....that is a long long way to run.As great as Andruw is, I dont think so...we'll never know

Max Power · 10-23-2002, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by VNV Nation
The Devon White catch was in the World Series and probably tougher and more important but no one really talks about it.

I once tried and the thread died:

http://www.netshrine.com/vbulletin2/...=&threadid=246

10-22-2002, 11:34 PM	#1
moose Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Socs Posts: 3,400	Andruw and Vic I'm sure I'll get ridiculed off the board for this.... ...but watching the Vic Wertz/Mays clip a few times (they just showed it on the WS Telecast), it really seems like Andruw would have made that catch. I mean, I think most agree 'Druw is one of the best fielding CFs of all time, especially with respect to range, but still -- that's always thought of as the catch of catches. Discuss.

10-22-2002, 11:42 PM	#2
Gosfgiants NetShrine All-Century Team Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 1,136	I've seen Mays say several times that was not his best catch (most recently in today's paper). That's the one everyone remembers because it was in the World Series. My father used to be a fixture at the Polo Grounds before the Giants moved. He felt that the catch in question was a routine play for Mays. You also have to remember that the Polo Grounds had a huge center field, and Mays would play that shallow. Just on that fact he beats Jones. __________________ It'll always be Pacbell Park Beat LA!!!

10-23-2002, 09:09 AM	#12
pwdennis NetShrine All-Century Team Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Winter Springs, FL Posts: 2,503	The remarkable thing about the Mays catch in the 1954 World Series was not the catch - it was the amazing off-balance throw that Mays made to finish off the play. Truly unbelievable __________________ "I would submit that if the world survives for a million years, perhaps its finest hour may be that in the last half of the 20th century, when the power to blow up the world rested in the hands of a few men in two very unsophisticated and suspicious countries, we didn't do it, and one American, Richard Nixon, moved the cold war away from permanent confrontation toward victory. How could any wrong that he did compare with that?" - John Sears

10-23-2002, 10:45 AM	#13
KCBOOMER NetShrine All-Century Team Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Home of the T-Bones Posts: 11,116	There have been any number of astonishing catches by center fielders. To say which is the best is just opinion of those we have seen. We have no basis of judging those we haven't seen. __________________ KCBOOMER *Buck O'Neil: The Monarch of Baseball*

10-23-2002, 10:52 AM	#14
pathogan william Blake's Innkeeper Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 2,828	tommie agee's... ...first catch in game 3 of the 69 series was as important. I agree that the truly astonishing part of the catch was the 180 and THROW afterwards. Arnold Hano wrote a BOOK centered around this catch called, if I remeber A DAY IN THE BLEACHERS. That ball was 460+ feet from Home plate....that is a long long way to run.As great as Andruw is, I dont think so...we'll never know

10-23-2002, 01:09 AM	#5
VNV Nation Membership Suspended 11/19/02 Join Date: May 2002 Location: VNV Nation Posts: 2,952	i don't know how you could make the Edmonds catch without diving straight back for it.

10-23-2002, 09:03 AM	#10
JamesI Netshrine Vacuum Cleaner Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Potsdam, N.Y. Posts: 3,723	The Mays catch is magnified for being in the series. Andruw or Edmonds have not made that kind of play in the World Series. While I think either of them probably could have gotten to that ball, its still one of the best ever just due to when it occured.

10-23-2002, 09:05 AM	#11
VNV Nation Membership Suspended 11/19/02 Join Date: May 2002 Location: VNV Nation Posts: 2,952	The Devon White catch was in the World Series and probably tougher and more important but no one really talks about it.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread: