The greatest home runs of all times (Page 5): I was a 12-year-old Yankees fan. I'm afraid I rubbed it in with friends, who were all pulling for the Pirates, when Bobby Richardson...

craigart14

rehess wrote:

Bill Mazeroski's home run that decided the 1960 World Series.

I was a 12-year-old Yankees fan. I'm afraid I rubbed it in with friends, who were all pulling for the Pirates, when Bobby Richardson knocked in 6 runs, including a grand slam, to win (IIRC) game three. He only had 26 RBIs all season, but had 12 in the Series while the Yankees outscored the Pirates 55 to 27. He is still the only player to be named Series MVP from the losing team. Mazeroski ruined all that, and my sixth grade friends never let me forget that.

Dannj

craigart14 wrote:

A pinch hit shot, no less. Yes, in the 8th.

👍

FrankR Loc: NYC

davidrb wrote:

Johnny Bench hit many dingers but his last was his best. In his final game and what would be his last at-bat he hit his final homer. Pure Hollywood! Pure Bench! Greatest catcher of all times.

The greatest catcher of all time was, and may always be, Lorenzo Pietro “Yogi” Berra. Everybody else is competing for second place and beyond.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

FrankR wrote:

The greatest catcher of all time was, and may always be, Lorenzo Pietro “Yogi” Berra. Everybody else is competing for second place and beyond.

Interesting enough, Yogi only played catcher only part time towards the end of his career {Howard was the regular}. In one game I saw on TV, he was playing outfield; as the ball came off the bat, he would turn around and run - only looking for the ball when he was ready to catch it

Dannj

rehess wrote:

Interesting enough, Yogi only played catcher only part time towards the end of his career {Howard was the regular}. In one game I saw on TV, he was playing outfield; as the ball came off the bat, he would turn around and run - only looking for the ball when he was ready to catch it

The outfield play saved his legs and kept his bat in the lineup. A lot of catchers moved to first base at the ends of their careers. This of course was pre-DH days.
Yogi wasn’t a particularly good outfielder but he got the job done. It’s interesting because the “technique” used on this play is used by the really good fielders. You can run faster without your head turned so you run to where the ball will be landing and look for it when you get there.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Dannj wrote:

The outfield play saved his legs and kept his bat in the lineup. A lot of catchers moved to first base at the ends of their careers. This of course was pre-DH days.
Yogi wasn’t a particularly good outfielder but he got the job done. It’s interesting because the “technique” used on this play is used by the really good fielders. You can run faster without your head turned so you run to where the ball will be landing and look for it when you get there.

and as soon as he saw the ball leave the bat he knew where it would come down.

LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

FrankR wrote:

The greatest catcher of all time was, and may always be, Lorenzo Pietro “Yogi” Berra. Everybody else is competing for second place and beyond.

Or not:

https://sportsh2h.com/h2h-11-johnny-bench-vs-yogi-berra/

SteveR Loc: Michigan

FrankR wrote:

The greatest catcher of all time was, and may always be, Lorenzo Pietro “Yogi” Berra. Everybody else is competing for second place and beyond.

You can look at all the stats you want to, but two stand out. Yogi leads all catchers in RBI's, and won three MVP's, equal to Mickey. Casey called Yogi his "go to guy." That tells you something. Of all the great players on those teams, Yogi was his man.

Dannj

SteveR wrote:

You can look at all the stats you want to, but two stand out. Yogi leads all catchers in RBI's, and won three MVP's, equal to Mickey. Casey called Yogi his "go to guy." That tells you something. Of all the great players on those teams, Yogi was his man.

And Yogi may be he best “bad” ball hitter of all time.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Dannj wrote:

And Yogi may be he best “bad” ball hitter of all time.

He liked them high, I understand. When we played against Ted Simmons our strategy was to throw him low and away, so if he got ahold of one it wouldn't go out of the park. Wouldn't you know, the very first pitch my pitcher threw was high and inside. Probably shoulder high or even a little higher. Simmons pulled up his bat level with the ball and hit a hard liner into right field. That was my up close introduction to a major league swing.

LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

Dannj wrote:

And Yogi may be he best “bad” ball hitter of all time.

I’d go with Sammy Sosa, but he was certainly a great one.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Has Joe Dimaggio been mentioned? In 14 years (three years missed during the war not counted), he had 1537 RBI's and hit .325.