Who is best athlete ever in Boston/New England?

[PATRIOT64]

Which athlete is THE BEST ever in the history of Boston/New England Sports?

 

[TommyD4207]

Which athlete is your favorite overall in the history of Boston/New England Sports?

Favorite or best?

Favorite = Steve Grogan
Best = Larry Bird

The "best" arguement could change in another 5 years, however.

 

[PATRIOT64]

Favorite or best?

Favorite = Steve Grogan
Best = Larry Bird

The "best" arguement could change in another 5 years, however.

Made the change,It should read who is the best athlete - and I agree Larry Bird RIGHT NOW is the best ever - Brady is moving up quickly

 

[RayClay]

You forgot Babe Ruth. Held the consecutive scoreless innings record in World series play for 43 years (29 2/3 innings).

He could hit pretty good too.

 

[PATRIOT64]

You forgot Babe Ruth. Held the consecutive scoreless innings record in World series play for 43 years (29 2/3 innings).

He could hit pretty good too.

Yeah Ray, Babe Ruth was pretty good but MOST of his career was spent with the Yankees and everyone I know calls Ruth a lifetime Yankeee per say, so in all due respect he is not truly a longtime Boston Athlete but did play well in the years in NE.

 

[RayClay]

Yeah Ray, Babe Ruth was pretty good but MOST of his career was spent with the Yankees and everyone I know calls Ruth a lifetime Yankeee per say, so in all due respect he is not truly a longtime Boston Athlete but did play well in the years in NE.

Well, everyone here acts like only playoff stuff counts. That record is consecutive World series innings. He played on three red sox World Champions in 1915,1916 and 1918. Better than they've done since.

He also led the league in home runs twice while on the Sox in 1918 and 1919.

By the way, he went 13-7 while leading the league in home runs in 1918, 9-5 while setting the home run record in 1919.

 

[PATRIOT64]

Well, everyone here acts like only playoff stuff counts. That record is consecutive World series innings. He played on three red sox World Champions in 1915,1916 and 1918. Better than they've done since.

He also led the league in home runs twice while on the Sox in 1918 and 1919.

By the way, he went 13-7 while leading the league in home runs in 1918, 9-5 while setting the home run record in 1919.

I hope people who vote don't just count playoff stuff because Rice and Yaz would get little votes despite superb careers in Boston but really never sniffed a Championship.

 

[PATRIOT64]

Larry Bird is probably will always be by idol in sports in any sport and I don';t really think Brady will ever be able to top Larry in my view as the greatest of all time and I don't know if anyone ever will.

Larry was THAT good but it was a true shame he will never be recognized as the best as much as he deserved because he was in the Magic Johnson,Isaiah Thomas era - other than Celtics fans and people inside the New England states, he will always be underated into what he meant to the Celtics championships during his career.

 

[RayClay]

I hope people who vote don't just count playoff stuff because Rice and Yaz would get little votes despite superb careers in Boston but really never sniffed a Championship.

Yaz was one of the greatest clutch hitters I've seen. Check the stats thread.

Seriously, though, Ruth wouldn't win because of the trade. But he would have possibly been a hall of fame pitcher in addition to the greatest home run hitter ever and he certainly contributed to the Sox. Worth a mention IMO.

Dominated his sport and era more than any of the other choices and contributed to three titles.

Rice doesn't belong. One dimensional slugger who faded early.

Jimmy Foxx > Jim Rice, even just counting his Red Sox years.

 

[Coleslaw]

Bobby Orr was the best athlete this town has ever or will ever see.

 

[maverick4]

11 Championships in 13 Seasons.

Any objective person has to say Bill Russell.

He is the epitome of 'winner'.

 

[Seels]

No other votes for Williams? Seriously?

Williams is either the best or second best hitter in baseball EVER. The only one that even comes close is Ruth, and you can argue Williams was better (more competitive era, lost 5 prime years to war, no lineup protection). He was voted on for MVP every single year of his career, while playing on some dreadful Boston teams. Excluding his 1959 season, every single year of his career, was at worst equal to what Alex Rodriguez did this year, or what Pujols has done the last few years. His career average for ops/slug/obp is probably comparable to any other players career highs (minus Ruth).

To put it another way, Williams and Ruth are to baseball what Gretzky and Lemieux are to hockey. Bird Brady Russell and everyone else were great, but what was normal for Williams is what the elite players of today might expect to do maybe once or twice in their career. Maybe. His career OPS+ (a baseball stat that shows how well of a hitter you are in contrast to your era) is higher than any active player has ever had as a career high. This is like Brady having a higher career quarterback rating than any other player ever hitting for one season.

Williams easy, followed by Russell / Bird / Brady, in that order. Yaz Rice and Clemens shouldn't even be options.

 

[Aqua4Ever04]

Has to be Teddy Ballgame IMO. Hitting a baseball is the hardest thing to do in sports and to get a hit 4 out of 10 times against the best the world has to offer is simply amazing. Can you imagine his stats if not for the (was in 2 year) layoff in his career?

 

[sanvara]

Bill Russell was the best player on teams that won 11 rings and Brady has twice as many votes right now. Who can vote for Brady over Bill Russell? Wow.

 

[PatriotsReign]

Which athlete is THE BEST ever in the history of Boston/New England Sports?

I say Bobby Orr hands down. Unfortunately, most of our members are probably too young to have witness his grace on the ice. To this day, I've never seen another hockey player take over a game the way he could. He was so much better than all the other player in the league, it was at times embaressing to watch them chase him around the rink.

I'd have to vote for Bill Russel as a close second to Mr Orr. Russel was great, but he has other players who have played at his level since then and some would argue Chamberlain was at Russel's level. Besides, we're talking greatest athlete here, not greatest player to lead their team to championships. Barry Sanders was far better than Emmit Smith, but Smith has a couple of rings.

 

[DarrylS]

Russell, Orr, Williams, Brady and Bird in no specific order... all are amongst the greats of all time, and all bring different, but similar things to their respective arenas.. very close vote, but have to go with Russell..

 

[Fencer]

I picked Russell over his fellow great winners Bird and Brady because I think he could have clobbered them in a decathlon. (I bet Bird would have won the strength events, but not by the margin Russell would win running/jumping kinds of events.)

Track-and-field-style athleticism isn't the biggest consideration, but it deserves SOME weight.

 

[wistahpatsfan]

Went with Russell because of overall athletic ability and stamina, not to mention the championships, which alone should get him the top votes.

Bill Russell...not even close.

 

[Charlotte Pats Fan]

Orr

Without a doubt the most amazing athlete I have ever seen. He had so many "WTF he really didn't do that did he" moments. It's too bad he had the devastating knee injuries and was basically done by age 27.

 

[Flying Fungi]

yes...i was going to submit bourque and john hannah for consideration...as well as another athlete...

marvin hagler

best fighter, actor to come from new england

my personal choice would likely be bill russell

*edit* i might have to change my vote over to marvelous

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZHIo5ylQA8&feature=related