Len Dawson - 87
According to Wikipedia, he was the 7th son of the 7th son. He only had two children, so couldnât continue the streak.
Officially only 2 children, but he WAS an athleteâŚI am definitely kidding. His wife died young.
I enjoyed his work on Inside the NFL
Former Mets Catcher John Sterns - age 71, cancer
a very solid player, 4 time all star
Joan Hodges (Gil Hodges wife) - aged 96
She saw him finally get inducted and her life was complete
Maury Wills, 89
his prime was before my time, but the first to make the SB a weapon
Yeah I was too young to see him play. Todayâs analytics would not have though much of his game offensively. But different era and yeah probably the first guy to really go crazy with the SBs.
Kind of amazing the year he stole 104 he was only caught 13 times and 13 was the league high. 88% success rate is crazy good, especially when everyone knows youâre going. Though it doesnât look like he was able to replicate that high a success rate the rest of his career.
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I would assume teams adjusted, pick offs, step offs, pitch outs, player positioning
also came up at 26, for the 104 he was 28
amazed at his MVP votes in '71, curious as to the story behind that. '69, maybe a catalyst on his return to LAD.
I was lucky enough to watch Wills in his prime but Ricky Henderson was the best base stealer I ever saw.
RIP Maury.
anyone, ever saw
ok, maybe Cobb
i would think Brock > Wills
I knew that there were more liberal rules regarding stolen bases in the Cobb era so I looked some stuff up. âDefensive indifferenceâ was counted as a stolen base until 1920. But I did not know that until 1950, a runner could get a stolen base by advancing on a fielderâs choice.
RIP Wills
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Not to take anything away from Wills, but the âHe changed the gameâ talk seems like nonsense. he changed the particular game at the time when he was on first or second, but I donât see a shit-load of base stealers and teams using the stolen base as a weapon.
He was unique. That seems a lot truer and more flattering than âchanged the game.â
SBs went up 33% or so in the 60âs, while he played. They went up another 50% in the 70âs, after he retired. (No word on caught-stealing stats.)
Now, the 1910âs: THAT was the era.
Didnât see him play. Missed by a couple years. Prior to Willis, leaders were more likely less than 40 with one player touching 50 in 15-20 years before. Following Wills, Brock elevated and other lead off guys followed. Lopes was key for Dodger titles, Moreno helped Pittsburgh, and Coleman was there for Cards. Henderson was amazing. Last guy to steal 70 was Ellsbury in 2009. While the SB didnât sustain itself speed and base running is still important.
There is a drama to the SB. Dave Roberts versus Mariano Rivera in 2004 was one of the best moments in baseball. Wills deserved recognition for elevating speed during a time of bigger parks.
will be interesting to see how much the rule changes bring it back
NFL Pro Bowl, RIP. Doubt anyone will miss you.
Turn it into the Superstars competition of the 1970âs.
Looks like Payton Manning is going to be in charge of this. Might actually be fun.
Agree with this. Have them not just do football things. Make them do events from other sports (3 point contest, home run contest, penalty kick shootout). Have the final event be a Ninja Warrior/American Gladiator type competition.
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Bruce Sutter - HoF relief pitcher - only 69 - cancer
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