Day: June 11, 2016

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Clete Boyer

Clete Boyer was an infielder for the Yankees, Braves, and Kansas City Athletics. Clete had his best years with the Yankees. The Yankees picked him up in 1959. Boyer’s best season was in 1967 with the Braves when he hit 26 home runs with 96 runs batted in. He also won two World Series rings with the Yankees. One in 1961 and a second in 1962. Boyer’s main career highlight besides the World Series rings is the Gold Glove he picked up in 1969 with the Braves. Boyer played his last game in the Majors with the Braves. At the end of his career, Boyer had accumulated 162 home runs, 654 RBIs, 200 doubles, a .242 batting average, and 1,396 hits over 1,725 career games. Boyer sadly died in 2007 at the age of 70. Even though he is gone, his legacy lives on in die-hard Yankee fans’ hearts.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Jake Arrieta, Zack Greinke, or Clayton Kershaw

During the 2015 baseball season, the National League saw many great pitchers like Gerrit Cole, Michael Wacha, and Max Scherzer. But Jake Arrieta, Zack Greinke, and Clayton Kershaw really stood out. Zack Greinke pitched 45.2 consecutive scoreless innings while posting a 1.66 ERA. Jake Arrieta led the Chicago Cubs to a playoff birth by winning 22 games and pitching a no-hitter. Clayton Kershaw had anothe monster year posting a 2.13 ERA and striking out 301 batters. All these pitchers have 2 things in common: they led their teams to the playoffs and are all fighting for the National League Cy Young award. As you can see, these pitchers have a great career in front of them and are capable of winning the Cy Young award.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

1961: Mickey Mantle or Roger Maris

Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle had one of the greatest season baseball history. They were both chasing Babe Ruth’s home run record. Roger Maris hit 61 home runs while Mickey Mantle hit 54. Roger Maris won the Most Valuable Player award that year. Even though Roger Maris had more home runs, Mickey Mantle had a slugging percentage of .687 while Roger Maris had a slugging percentage of .620. In the end, Mickey Mantle had a WAR of 10.2. As you can see, both Micke Mantle and Roger Maris had an incredible season in 1961.

by Jacoby Nolnaho

Mike Trout or Mickey Mantle

Proclaimed on of the best players in their era, Mike Trout and Mickey Mantle have amazing stats in their first five seasons. Mike Trout hit more home runs, hit more doubles, and steal more bases than the ”Mick,” but Mickey drove in more RBIs, scored more runs, struck out less than Mike, and walked more. Mickey Mantle may have those great statistics but Mike Trout has more awards. He won the American League Rookie of the Year in 2012, an MVP award in 2014, and two All-Star game MVP awards in 2014 and 2015. Mike Trout was also the youngest player to hit for the cycle. One stat that Mickey Mantle and Mike Trout both share is that they have both been voted in to four All-Star games. Thanks in part to their WAR. Mike Trout’s WAR is an amazing 37.8 while Mickey Mantle’s WAR is 28.5. As you can see, Mickey Mantle and Mike Trout are both the greatest players of their era but I guess we will never find out who is better in their first five seasons.