I watched/listened to probably 98% of every game of Ripken's streak. I also was critical, toward the latter part of the streak, that his daily name on the lineup card was hurting the team. I also think I came full circle this week after hearing dozens and dozens of both local and national fellow players and managers talk about his career.
He was never as flashy as Ozzie (how could he be at almost a foot taller) but never, and I mean never, was out of postion. When he led the league with a .986 fielding % (or something close to that), it was beacuse he was called every single pitch for the entire year (verified this week in interviews with Eddie Murray, Ken Singleton, Doug Decines, Jim Palmer, Earl Weaver and others).
His stats are well above avg for a short stop, he instilled a work ethic likely never to be surpassed for a 20+ year career, his was and is respected by managers, teammates, other HOF'ers, bat boys, beer vendors etc....
IMO - if the 'streak' ended mid-way, and he had two 1000 game streaks, he still would be a unanimous 1st ballot selection. Enough about the streak, just look at the stats and listen to those that actually played with him or coached him.
He was never as flashy as Ozzie (how could he be at almost a foot taller) but never, and I mean never, was out of postion. When he led the league with a .986 fielding % (or something close to that), it was beacuse he was called every single pitch for the entire year (verified this week in interviews with Eddie Murray, Ken Singleton, Doug Decines, Jim Palmer, Earl Weaver and others).
His stats are well above avg for a short stop, he instilled a work ethic likely never to be surpassed for a 20+ year career, his was and is respected by managers, teammates, other HOF'ers, bat boys, beer vendors etc....
IMO - if the 'streak' ended mid-way, and he had two 1000 game streaks, he still would be a unanimous 1st ballot selection. Enough about the streak, just look at the stats and listen to those that actually played with him or coached him.
Sandy Koufax had 5-6 great years and that was it. Hack Wilson had a very short career too. Before 1980, you needed 5-8 great years, now you better have 10 minimum.
Wonder if the people who think Ripken was overrated, think Biggio is a HOFer, and why? To me, there was no comparison.
Wonder if the people who think Ripken was overrated, think Biggio is a HOFer, and why? To me, there was no comparison.
Dsethi
You make a good point except for the fact that you over looked the great Ernie "Let Play Two" Banks.
Elected to the Hall in 1977, his first year of eligibility Ernie's # 14 is permanately retired by the Chicago Cubs. Banks clouted 512 homers - however the last several years of his career he played mostly first base but is still considered a shortstop by the baseball HOF...He played 18 years all with the Cubs and won the NL MVP back to back in 1958 and 59 while playing for a perennial celler dweller Cubs team. For my money the best SS to ever lace em up.
Bio from Wikipedia...
wil..
You make a good point except for the fact that you over looked the great Ernie "Let Play Two" Banks.
Elected to the Hall in 1977, his first year of eligibility Ernie's # 14 is permanately retired by the Chicago Cubs. Banks clouted 512 homers - however the last several years of his career he played mostly first base but is still considered a shortstop by the baseball HOF...He played 18 years all with the Cubs and won the NL MVP back to back in 1958 and 59 while playing for a perennial celler dweller Cubs team. For my money the best SS to ever lace em up.
Bio from Wikipedia...
wil..
I agree with a lot of TheRightSide here as well. And not just baseball talk if you get my drift.
As far as Ripken, the game is about winning....winning and winning. I felt he was hurting his team by playing everyday and not taking a day off as his numbers dwindled. I said this often at that time. I understand that it is tough to come out when you have a incredibly historic record....but come on...he needed to sit in my opinion. I think that streak hurt Ripken and his team more than helped them.
As far as Ripken, the game is about winning....winning and winning. I felt he was hurting his team by playing everyday and not taking a day off as his numbers dwindled. I said this often at that time. I understand that it is tough to come out when you have a incredibly historic record....but come on...he needed to sit in my opinion. I think that streak hurt Ripken and his team more than helped them.
It is meaningless. It bears no relation to productivity. If Ripken had taken 10 days off during his 15+ years of consecutive play, would that have made anything he did on the field less or more important or valuable? Would that have made him any less durable? I don't know if it would have had any impact on his or the team's productivity, but the streak is meaningless to whether or not the team wins and/or he plays well. No one gives a shit about AC Green's streak and it is no different than Ripken's.
Greens streak may be no different from Ripkens being that they are both sports longest in respect. However AC Greens career can not be compared to Ripken ... , Green made the allstar game 1 time ( he scored 0 pts in it ) , He averaged under 10 pts for his career and never lead the NBA in any statstical category. He was role player on a team which was loaded with talent. No body even mentions Green for the Hall , nor will they ever ... to compare the two is idiotic at best.
Come on Ice, the difference between Smith defensively and the next best defensive SS is probably 3 times as great as the difference between the best and second best at any other position. Frankly, Smith's offensive numbers, when compared with his middle infield peers and other HOF middle infielders from before him, are pretty damn solid. Completely different era and impossible to compare his offense with current SS offensively.
Rupert, not comparing the players, only the streaks. No one cares about Green's and rightfully so. I said it the other day and I will say it again, two things can be equally true. I think Ripken is over rated, I also think he is unquestionably a HOF player. I also think his streak, at some point, became a selfish endeavor that did hurt the team. I don't think he or the streak held the team hostage in the manner the Giants are holding themselves hostage.
Dsethi is correct in that he changed the game for future SS and many guys are benefitting from it and him playing there. He was a VERY good defensive SS and probably the best ever at positioning himself. However, much like Nolan Ryan, ancillary factors (the streak in the case of Ripken and the Ks, No-Nos, and throwing 90+ into his 40s) cause people to elevate them higher than I, personally, think they belong. Ripken is one of the 3 or 4 best SS at the time of his retirement, but he isn't one of the 20 or 30 best players ever like many make him out to be. That said, no doubt 1st ballot HOF.
Dsethi is correct in that he changed the game for future SS and many guys are benefitting from it and him playing there. He was a VERY good defensive SS and probably the best ever at positioning himself. However, much like Nolan Ryan, ancillary factors (the streak in the case of Ripken and the Ks, No-Nos, and throwing 90+ into his 40s) cause people to elevate them higher than I, personally, think they belong. Ripken is one of the 3 or 4 best SS at the time of his retirement, but he isn't one of the 20 or 30 best players ever like many make him out to be. That said, no doubt 1st ballot HOF.
