best base-runners of all time

[yanks0714]

This is one of those times where what we watched on the popular opinion. I'm old enough and fortunate enough to have watched Willie Mays play baseball on television. He was excitement personified whatever he was doing. Hitting, fielding, and especially on the bases. Willie was fast, sure, but he had great instincts, intelligence, and aggressivness. He literally scared opposing teams into making mistakes.

Maybe Ty Cobb was the greatest base runner of all time, but if he was better than Willie, he must have been otherworldly.

[HDH]

Vince Coleman was certainly special. He would beat out a grounder then, on base, everyone was sure he was going to steal. He would lean back toward 1B to help avoid being thrown out by the pitcher then take off to 2B. After stealing 2B, he was off to 3B. He scored so many runs in innings the Cards had no hits, just a couple of groundouts or fly outs and scored from 1B on routine singles because he was off with the pitch. Others I remember were Willie Wilson and Kirk Gibson.

Pete Rose was smart. He would take a base on any situation and then distract the fielders in order for his teammates to take that extra base or score. How many TV shotss do you see Pete Rose on base waiving to his teamamtes to take that extra base? All of them! Rose was exceptional.

Jackie Robinson was fast and daring. He was a running back in college and big for a baseball player. He intimidated defenders because he wasn't afraid to crash violently into unsuspecting or suspecting baseman waiting to tag him.

Ty Cobb is a legend and has to be considered the greatest base runner. He is documented for making outs on the base when it might not be as important just to set up the fielder into making an error on the next time Cobb was on base. Every run mattered in Cobb's time and he wanted his team to be the one who scored it, one way or another. He was possesed. All players round a bag wide whentaking multiple bases. Not Cobb. I read that he had a tecnique where he would push off the bag with his inner foot, pivoting straight toward the next bag in order to avoid rounding the bag. What most people don't know is that most of the famous photos are intended show this detail.

My opinion is that Billy Hamilton is the greatest base runner. The objective is to score runs and Hamilton is one of three players (Harry Stovey, George Gore) to score more runs than games played. His SB total is aided by the rules of the time but, he's sure to be among all time leaders regardless. Billy Hamilton established the prototype for a leadoff hitter forever with his ability to get on base, disrupt the defense, and score runs.

[HDH]

Vince Coleman was certainly special. He would beat out a grounder then, on base, everyone was sure he was goingto steal. He would lean back toward 1B then take off to 2B. After stealing 2B, he was off to 3B. He scored so many runs in innings the Cards had no hits, just a couple of groundouts or fly outs.

Pete Rose was smart. He would take a base on any situation and then distract the fielders in order for him teammates to take that extra base or score.

Ty Cobb is a legend and has to be considered the greatest base runner. He is documented as Rose is for making an out on the base when it might not matter just to set up the fielder into aking an error on the next time Cobb was on base.

My opinion is that Billy Hamilton is the greatest base runner. The objective is to score runs and Hamilton is one of three players (Harry Stovey, George Gore) to score more runs than games played. His SB total is aided by the rules of the time but, he's sure to be among all time leaders regardless. Billy Hamilton established the prototype for a leadoff hitter forever.

[csh19792001]

Vince Coleman was stealing twice as many bases as Tim Raines, who himself was one of the best basestealers ever. Raines was an infinitely better player than Coleman. But if you're just talking baserunning, nobody even comes close to Coleman.

On Coleman....he attempted to steal 47% of the time, and made it 81% of the time! I can't speak to his baserunning, overall, but Coleman definitely challenges everyone- even The Rickey- in terms of ability to steal bases, and his aggressiveness in doing so..