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NO STAT IS SAFE. NO ERA IS FORGOTTEN.
VOL. 1, NO. 10 · MAY 4, 2026 · EVERY MONDAY
ISSUE #010 · INTEGRATION
Willie Mays — The Greatest
All-Around Player Argument
On September 29, 1954, Willie Mays made The Catch in Game 1 of the World Series — the most famous
📅 THIS DATE IN
BASEBALL defensive play in baseball history.
THE STAT THAT SHOULDN'T EXIST 01
THE CASE FOR MAYS AS THE GREATEST PLAYER EVER IS THE MOST COMPLETE CASE IN BASEBALL.
660 HR. 338 SB. 12 Gold Gloves. Career WAR Second
Only To Ruth.
WILLIE MAYS — WAR BABE RUTH TED WILLIAMS
143.1 162.4 ~130
HANK AARON BARRY BONDS MIKE TROUT (PROJECTED)
Mays hit 660 career HR (third all-time), stole 338 bases, won 12 Gold Gloves in center field, and posted a
career WAR of 156.4 — second only to Ruth. He also lost two prime years to military service at ages 21-22.
Full projection: approximately 750-800 HR.
THE GAME YOU FORGOT 02
VS Cleveland Indians SEPTEMBER 29, 1954
8th
~440 ft 1 Sweep W
INNING EST. DISTANCE DEFENSIVE OUTS WS RESULT RESULT
The Catch
THE GREATEST DEFENSIVE PLAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
Game 1, 1954 World Series. Vic Wertz hit a ball that would have been a triple against any other outfielder.
Mays turned his back, sprinted, caught it over his shoulder at roughly 440 feet, spun, and fired back to the
infield. The Giants swept Cleveland in four games. The Catch happened in the World Series because Mays
made sure it would matter.
ERA VS ERA 03
Greatest Baseball Player Ever — The Full Mays Case
WILLIE MAYS · OFFENSE WILLIE MAYS · DEFENSE + PROJECTION
CAREER HR GOLD GLOVES
CAREER BA VS MILITARY YEARS LOST
.302 2 (ages 21-22)
CAREER SB PROJECTED HR W/ MIL.
338 ~750
Third-most home runs ever. Stolen base totals of a leadoff hitter. 12 Gold Gloves at center. Two military years
at ages 21-22. Career WAR second only to Ruth. The case for Mays as the greatest player ever is the most
complete argument in baseball.
Greatest baseball player of all time?
WILLIE MAYS BABE RUTH HANK AARON TED WILLIAMS
THE COLDEST MOMENT 04
1952-53 · MILITARY SERVICE AT AGES 21-22
He Hit .345 In The Negro Leagues At 19. Then Lost
Two Years To The Military.
Mays was called into service after his 1951 rookie season. He missed 1952 and 1953 entirely. He
returned in 1954 and immediately hit .345 with 41 HR and won his first Gold Glove. The 660
home runs is the floor. We'll never know the ceiling.
Baseball is a game, yes. It is also a business. But what it most truly is, is disguised
combat.
— WILLIE MAYS
THE STAT VAULT 05
CAREER WAR
CAREER HOME RUNS
660 156.4 Second only to Ruth among position
Third all-time. With two military years
players. Built on hitting, defense, and
returned, most projections reach 750+.
baserunning.
CONSECUTIVE GOLD GLOVES YEAR OF THE CATCH
1957 to 1968. His arm was considered the Game 1, World Series. The most famous
best in baseball. defensive play in baseball history.
338 CAREER STOLEN BASES
For a power hitter in the 1950s-60s, this total is extraordinary.
THE FORGOTTEN MAN 06
OVERLOOKED · UNDERRATED · DESERVES MORE
Larry Doby
CLEVELAND INDIANS · 1947–1959
2X AL HR CHAMP · .283 CAREER BA · 7 ALL-STARS
He Integrated The American League 11 Weeks After Robinson. Nobody
Remembers.
Larry Doby integrated the AL on July 5, 1947 — 11 weeks after Robinson. He faced the same death threats,
the same teammates who refused his handshake. He won two AL HR titles and made 7 All-Star teams. He's
in the Hall of Fame and mentioned a fraction as often as Robinson.
THE CONNECTION:
Robinson broke the NL barrier. Doby broke the AL barrier 11 weeks later. The gap in historical
recognition is enormous and unearned. Doby's integration was equally dangerous, equally
significant, and equally overlooked.
COMING NEXT MONDAY
Next Monday: Hank Aaron hit 755 HR under death threats. The FBI monitored his mail for two years.
Who's Your Forgotten Man?
Reply with a player from any era who deserves more credit. Best answer gets featured next Monday.
All Eras. All Stats. No Debate.
Every Monday. No exceptions.