# SDMB Baseball Hall of Fame Round #7: Center Fielders **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [August 16, 2008, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-baseball-hall-of-fame-round-7-center-fielders/460240 "2008-08-16T18:22:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2008, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-baseball-hall-of-fame-round-7-center-fielders/460240/21 "2008-08-17T16:33:39Z")
Mays Cobb Speaker Mantle Flood Averill Doby Lofton Griffey J. DiMaggio ---
**Author:** ![pricciar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2008, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-baseball-hall-of-fame-round-7-center-fielders/460240/22 "2008-08-17T18:40:24Z")
Billy Hamilton Richie Ashburn Willie Mays Ken Griffey Jr. Joe Dimaggio Mickey Mantle Ty Cobb Duke Snider Tris Speaker Larry Doby ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2008, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-baseball-hall-of-fame-round-7-center-fielders/460240/23 "2008-08-17T19:37:07Z")
[QUOTE=gonzomax] 1. Cobb 2. Mays 3. Speaker 4. Mantle 5. Hack Wilson 6. Griffey Jr. 7. Combs 8. Doby 9. Puckett 10. Averill [/QUOTE] Could you please replace Doby with Joe Dimaggio. Thanx ---
**Author:** ![Parthol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dec6dc/32.png) [@Parthol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Parthol)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2008, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-baseball-hall-of-fame-round-7-center-fielders/460240/24 "2008-08-17T20:18:34Z")
Ty Cobb Willie Mays Mickey Mantle Tris Speaker Billy Hamilton Joe DiMaggio Duke Snider Ken Griffey, Jr. Larry Doby Richie Ashburn Ashburn is an admittedly sentimental choice – I could just as easily have chosen Averill, Edmonds, Murphy, Wynn or Puckett. ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2008, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-baseball-hall-of-fame-round-7-center-fielders/460240/25 "2008-08-17T20:43:26Z")
Far be it for me to tilt at more windmills, but you guys who are enamored with Hack Wilson and his teammate- and era-dependent 191 RBI do know that he played in 100 games or more in all of **9 seasons**? ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2008, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-baseball-hall-of-fame-round-7-center-fielders/460240/26 "2008-08-17T20:59:41Z")
Ty Cobb Joe Dimaggio Larry Doby Ken Griffey Jr. Billy Hamilton Mickey Mantle Willie Mays Duke Snider Tris Speaker Hack Wilson ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2008, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-baseball-hall-of-fame-round-7-center-fielders/460240/27 "2008-08-17T22:03:34Z")
**RickJay** , please change my vote from Edmonds to Ashburn. Thanks! So my ballot now looks like: Mays Mantle Speaker Cobb DiMaggio Snider Griffey Hamilton Doby Ashburn Much appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2008, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-baseball-hall-of-fame-round-7-center-fielders/460240/28 "2008-08-17T22:22:45Z")
Yeah, IMO, Hack Wilson is a one-hit wonder of the HOF. Great season, mediocre career. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2008, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-baseball-hall-of-fame-round-7-center-fielders/460240/29 "2008-08-17T23:26:31Z")
I noted the changes requested. My own ballot: Willie Mays Mickey Mantle Ty Cobb Tris Speaker Joe DiMaggio Ken Griffey, Jr. Billy Hamilton Richie Ashburn Larry Doby Jim Edmonds It’s interesting to compare Larry Doby with Earl Averill. Although Doby got a late start due to the colour of his skin, their careers were not much different in length, with Averill having about a hundred more games. Superficially, Averill’s numbers look better, but adjusted for context Doby’s were probably a hair better. I think Doby ranks above Averill; it’s harder to rank him ahead of some other guys, like Snider and Puckett and Lynn and Jimmy Wynn, whose numbers are also good, but on the whole they’ll all pretty close so I’m going with the pioneer who likely lost some playing time due to his race. As much as people talk about Ken Griffey being a “what could have been” guy, he had a much longer career than most of the players mentioned in the OP list, and is very accomplished. Willie Mays, IMHO, is the greatest center fielder of all time. He, Cobb, Mantle, DiMaggio and Speaker are a really, really clear top 5. ---
**Author:** ![imthjckaz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/imthjckaz/32/3223_2.png) [@imthjckaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imthjckaz)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-baseball-hall-of-fame-round-7-center-fielders/460240/30 "2008-08-18T00:00:49Z")
My vote: Ty Cobb Joe DiMaggio Jim Edmonds Ken Griffey, Jr. Fred Mickey Mantle Willie Mays Kirby Puckett Duke Snider Tris Speaker Hack Wilson ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-baseball-hall-of-fame-round-7-center-fielders/460240/31 "2008-08-18T01:55:24Z")
Ty Cobb Tris Speaker Ken Griffey, Jr. Joe DiMaggio Willie Mays Duke Snider Mickey Mantle Kirby Puckett Larry Doby Jim Edmonds ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-baseball-hall-of-fame-round-7-center-fielders/460240/32 "2008-08-18T04:55:15Z")
Forgive the hijack, but I’ll repeat a question I’ve asked on other threads: Kirby Puckett was a very good ballplayer, and his election to the Hall of Fame doesn’t outrage me. BUT… DO you think his numbers alone would have gotten him in on the first ballot if he hadn’t been perceived (wrongly, VERY wrongly) as a saintly figure? ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-baseball-hall-of-fame-round-7-center-fielders/460240/33 "2008-08-18T12:46:37Z")
Matty Alou Ty Cobb Joe DiMaggio Larry Doby Kenny Lofton Mickey Mantle Willie Mays Willie McGee Duke Snider Tris Speaker Richie Ashburn ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-baseball-hall-of-fame-round-7-center-fielders/460240/34 "2008-08-18T14:04:52Z")
Willie Mays Mickey Mantle Ty Cobb Duke Snider Tris Speaker Joe DiMaggio Ken Griffey, Jr. [deliberate line break] Richie Ashburn Larry Doby Fred Lynn I think my top seven are a really, really top 7. if you have those 7 on your list, you’ll need to explain yourself to me. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-baseball-hall-of-fame-round-7-center-fielders/460240/35 "2008-08-18T14:21:57Z")
Sorry–that should be “if you DON’T have those 7 on your list…” Take **Sigmagirl** , for a recent example: you’re gonna put Matty F. Alou in the HoF and omit Junior? In which universe is that appropriate? Let’s discuss. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-baseball-hall-of-fame-round-7-center-fielders/460240/36 "2008-08-18T14:28:16Z")
[QUOTE=pseudotriton ruber ruber] I think my top seven are a really, really top 7. if you have those 7 on your list, you’ll need to explain yourself to me. [/QUOTE] Sorry, but I simply don’t think Snider’s as good as he superficially appears. His numbers are flashy at first glance, but he wasn’t a great defensive center fielder, had a short career by the standards of great players, and his numbers are a bit boosted by context. I don’t see why Billy Hamilton wasn’t a better choice, so there’s my explanation. Snider just missed my list. There’s no dishonor in being 11th, this is a tough standard. ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-baseball-hall-of-fame-round-7-center-fielders/460240/37 "2008-08-18T14:34:04Z")
> [@](#): > > I don’t see why Billy Hamilton wasn’t a better choice, so there’s my explanation. Yes. There’s some irony, **prr** , in your not voting for a turn-of-the-century guy who uncharacteristically (for someone not extremely famous) seems to have garnered substantial support in this thread. What don’t you like about Hamilton? ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-baseball-hall-of-fame-round-7-center-fielders/460240/38 "2008-08-18T14:46:08Z")
[QUOTE=Gadarene] Yes. There’s some irony, **prr** , in your not voting for a turn-of-the-century guy who uncharacteristically (for someone not extremely famous) seems to have garnered substantial support in this thread. What don’t you like about Hamilton? [/QUOTE] I’m very unimpressed by stolen bases, especially 19th century stolen bases–who the hell knows even what they were?–and without that stat, is Hamilton much of anything? Educate me. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-baseball-hall-of-fame-round-7-center-fielders/460240/39 "2008-08-18T14:58:12Z")
Joe DiMaggio Mickey Mantle Willie Mays Ty Cobb Ken Griffey, Jr. Tris Speaker Duke Snider Billy Hamilton Richie Ashburn Larry Doby (I wanted to vote for Doby and no one else is enough better that missed where I feel bad about giving him my 10 spot.) ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-baseball-hall-of-fame-round-7-center-fielders/460240/40 "2008-08-18T14:58:20Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m very unimpressed by stolen bases, especially 19th century stolen bases–who the hell knows even what they were?–and without that stat, is Hamilton much of anything? Educate me. First, Hamilton was a base-runner of extraordinary skill. Yes, many of those stolen bases wouldn’t count as such under today’s rules, but what they _did_ mean – often taking an extra base as the result of an error, passed ball, or general fielder miscue – was much, much more valuable in an era where the error rate was astronomically high and slugging percentages historically very low. Advancing an extra base had more value during that time than perhaps any other period in baseball history, given the poor fielding and low offense, and Hamilton was unparalleled in that regard. Second, Hamilton was extremely adept at getting on base to begin with. I assume I don’t need to go on at length about how valuable that is. Third, he was an excellent defensive player – which, again, is a skill that’s even more at a premium at a time with such poor general defensive play. Finally, to the extent that being a pioneer should count for anything, he was apparently the first player to start sliding into bases. Seems to have served major league baseball well. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-baseball-hall-of-fame-round-7-center-fielders/460240.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-baseball-hall-of-fame-round-7-center-fielders/460240.md?page=3)