Baseball's Top 10 moments

[|MP|Buccaneer]

Ok, this has been rubbing me the wrong way for a while, but just wasn't imporant enough to post with the other issues going on.

I hate when the general public votes on things like this.  People are sheep.  Let the experts vote on it I say.  Let the sports writers, Hall of Fame players, even players today vote on it.  

Let's just break down the Top 10

1) Cal Ripken Jr. breaking Lou Gehrig's consecutive games streak
2) Hank Aaron breaking Babe Ruth's all-time home run record
3) Jackie Robinson becoming the first black to play in Major League Baseball
4) The home run chase by Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa to beat Roger Maris' single-season home run record
5) Gehrig's farewell speech in Yankee Stadium
6) Pete Rose breaking Ty Cobb's all-time career hits record
7) Ted Williams becoming the last player to hit above .400
Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak
9) Kirk Gibson's pinch-hit home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to win Game 1 of the 1988 World Series
10) Nolan Ryan's seventh career no-hitter

That's the list for those who haven't seen it.

Ok, if the list were up to me:

1) Gehrig's farewell speech
2) Hank Aaron braking the Babe's home run record
3) Jackie Robinson being the first black palyer (although, it's not really a moment).

Now, after these three, I wonder where all the old timers are?  Where's Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig's amazing Home Run derby in the series (it didn't happen like in the movie, but it still did happen). Where is Ty Cobb?  Where is the Babe?  

I'll give Cal Ripkin Jr a top 10 slot.  It was a big deal to baseball, and a good moment.

Mr Coffee earned his spot too, he's a top 10.

Ted Williams was great, I just don't know if there was an actual moment involved.

The problem I have is that people voted on things that they were alive to see.  Kid's wouldn't vote for Gehrig, I'm afraid to ask how many don't know who he is.  

Gibson!!!!  don't get me started.  It was game freaking 1.  Such bullshit.  Say the 84 Series and it would be closer.

There are so many great players (two of whom had recoreds broken in that top 10 list) that should have been there.  How many years did Ty Cobb's record stand?  The Babe's?  How could they not make it?

Al Kaline's not there, but Gibby is.  I could cry.

Here's a moment for you.  One that should have been the top 5.  Babe Ruth being traded to the Bo Sox.  That was an unfogettable moment.

Bah.  This is why I hate the media.  Notice all the moments shown in the commercial made the top 10.  Two were easy picks, but fucking Gibby?!?

[(SiX)Ben]

The reason Ripkin won is it was an event that happenned in which everyone can relate too... Who here was alive during Aaron's home run, Mayes amazing over the shoulder catch, etc.. But when Ripken did it, even I was alive... That's why it won! It's really a crappy moment compared.

Ben

[PsYcO aSsAsSiN]

Gibson is there because he was unable to even pick up a bat before game time, yet when it counts the most in game 1 of the 1988 World Series, in the bottom of the 9th against the heavily favored Athletics led by the bash brothers, he hits a blast over the right field fence to win the game.

That is a true moment.

As for other moments that weren't on the list that should have been:

Babe Ruth calling his shot in the 1932 World Series

Pete Rose running over Ray Fosse like a freight train in the 1970 All-Star Game.

Added on: Most of the "Top 10 Moments" as voted on by "fans" happened during the TV age - when people saw it over and over and over again. Since when is Ichiro coming to the majors a top moment in baseball history? 12 of the 30 moments have been from 1985 to now, a true shame.

[|MP|Buccaneer]

Assassin, he did more impressive things in a Tiger's uniform.  It was advertising it that made that a moment.  

And I'd agree with your other two too.

[(SiX)Ben]

I gotta say, I can't believe Babe Ruth calling his homerun shot over the wall wasn't on there.. He was the first major leaguer EVER to make it over the wall... And he was laughed at because they didn't think it possible...

Also, I wanna add in the "Giants win the pennant! THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT! AND THE CROWD IS GOING WILD!" When the Giants came back from... like 15 games back on the dodgers to win the pennant... That was a great moment (granted i'm a bit biast)

No matter which way you look at it, there's gotta be a brawl moment... A moment where both bleachers got off and just erupt into a big fight... (That'd win no contest)

Gehrig's speech deserved better frankly. Non-baseball fans had heard it... I mean, when it reaches others you know its good!

I gotta put down Micheal Jordan trying to play baseball... If only just to mock him... (I'm one of those few people in the world who don't like him)

Ben

[PsYcO aSsAsSiN]

A good moment for comic relief would have been Randy Johnson destroying that pigeon a few years ago with a fastball. That was fucking hilarious.

Bucc: He couldn't even pick up a bat before the game and he hits a homerun inthe bottom of the ninth to give the Dodgers the first win in the WS that they end up winning. That was a great moment.

[Deadeye]

sin, he had a pulled hamstring.  he could pick up a bat.  that's all just hype.  gibson was always a cry baby.

actually, i haven't seen the whole list, but if one of the two bird slayings didn't make it, i'll be shocked.  

did the pine tar incident make it in?  that was a big deal too.

i think the made the list pretty bland.  i'd say one of the most memorable nfl moments was dickey b killing a detroit lion on the field, but that would never make a list.  but it sure as hell was memorable.  

speaking of which, were the black sox on the list??  doubt it.

[PsYcO aSsAsSiN]

No Black Sox.

Here arethe "Top 30 Moments" chosen by Mastercard.

[Deadeye]

thanks for the link.

notice that they have everyone that has broken the hr record since the babe, but not the babe himself.  the only mention of ty cobb is when his record was broken.  

there were some more moments on that list that were good, and should have been well above some that made the top 10.  there were some that were just missing all together.

[Bondo]

For football, I'd have to rank the 1 foot short reach of Kevin Dyson against the Rams in the Super Bowl up there...simply because it was the first exciting Super Bowl in years.  I'd also have to rank the Patriots win as it was perhaps the most shocking of the three worst to first type winners the past three years.  But for more classic type things...the Immaculate Reception perhaps (although John Madden claims it was incomplete).

As for baseball, I guess Babe calling his home run, Joe Carter's home run for the Blue Jays, and Gehrig's farewell speech.

[Ace]

First off, placing Gehrig's farewell anywhere but #1 is a travesty. Some of the other choices were pretty whack. Like Nolan Ryan being on over Bobby Thomson amongst others... wtf?! Here is how I would rank it:

1. Gehrig's farewell
2. Aaron hitting 715
3. McGwire hitting 62
4. Thomson's home run
5. Cal Ripken's 2131st game
6. Mays robbing Vic Wertz
7. Ruth calling his shot
8. Fisk waving his homer fair
9. Pete Rose running over Ray Fosse
10. Carl Hubbell striking out 5 future hall of famers consecutively in the 1934 All Star game.

Many will notice that I did not put Jackie Robinson on this list. Why? No, I'm not crazy, but answer me this. What is the first thing that pops into your mind when you think of these moments. I see Gehrig at the microphone, I see Aaron is his tacky Braves jersey rounding the bases, I see Fisk jumping up and down waving his arms, I hear Russ Hodges screaming "The Giants win the pennant!" When I think of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier, nothing comes up. I'm not denying the incredible significance, but comparing basically a whole season in a contest of moments doesn't work for me. DiMaggio got excluded for the same reason.

[Bondo]

If Nolan Ryan should make the list for anything, it was when he got the guy who charged the mound into a headlock and stated wailing on him .