OT: Best All Around Infield Ever

[sox83cubs84]

Re: OT: Best All Around Infield Ever

BigTruck:

I didn't care for Hernandez because he was a JERK...period. There are numerous stories out there of him dissing fans and even promoters over autographs, but the one I personally witnessed was c.1983-84. A female autograph collector (although to be fair, she looks more like SNL's Pat than a woman) approached him for an autograph outside Wrigley Field, and he pushed her in the shoulder in a "get away from me" manner. I don't care what your gender is or how attractive/unattractive you are...this was more than Hernandez needed to do or should have done.

Dave M.
Chicago area

[5kRunner]

Re: OT: Best All Around Infield Ever

Maybe it's becuase he's rarely in St. Louis - not sure. Most guys who have played for the Cardinals favor them. There are a few though, that will tell you they didn't enjoy their time here.

Hernandez was a great player, I just personally never really saw him as a Cardinal - since I became a fan after he went to the Mets...(and you know what STL fans called the mid-80's Mets? PONDSCUM).

Now that I think about it, I didn't like Keith becuase of his mustache.

Who does this guy think he is?

I'm Keith Hernandez.

[bigtruck260]

Re: OT: Best All Around Infield Ever

I think Keith considers himself a Cardinal, whenever he talks about his career or opinion on baseball teams, he always favors the Cradinals.

Maybe it's becuase he's rarely in St. Louis - not sure. Most guys who have played for the Cardinals favor them. There are a few though, that will tell you they didn't enjoy their time here.

Hernandez was a great player, I just personally never really saw him as a Cardinal - since I became a fan after he went to the Mets...(and you know what STL fans called the mid-80's Mets? PONDSCUM).

Now that I think about it, I didn't like Keith becuase of his mustache.

[joelsabi]

Re: OT: Best All Around Infield Ever

I would have to say the Milwaukee Brewers had a great infield back in the early 1980's.

1st base- Cecil Cooper
2nd base- Jim Gantner
shortstop- Robin Yount
3rd base- Paul Molitor
Catcher- Ted Simmons

I used to watch the Brewers back in the days because of their high powered offense and Yount was one of my favorite shortstops to watch. Never seen so many homeruns from a team those years.

[SkubeBats]

Re: OT: Best All Around Infield Ever

I would have to say the Milwaukee Brewers had a great infield back in the early 1980's.

1st base- Cecil Cooper
2nd base- Jim Gantner
shortstop- Robin Yount
3rd base- Paul Molitor
Catcher- Ted Simmons

[nyjetsfan14]

Re: OT: Best All Around Infield Ever

I'll have to agree: Garvey, Lopes, Russell and Cey is one of the better of all time. But as much disdain as I have for the Yanks, I say gimme any infield with Derek Jeter at SS and I'll take my chances.

[metsbats]

Re: OT: Best All Around Infield Ever

From 1973-75 the Baltimore Orioles has Brooks Robinson, Mark Belanger, and Bobby Grich who all won Golden Gloves during those years.

[sox83cubs84]

Re: OT: Best All Around Infield Ever

These are the saddest of possible words: "Tinker to Evers to Chance." Trio of bear cubs, and fleeter than birds, Tinker and Evers and Chance. Ruthlessly pricking our gonfalon bubble, Making a Giant hit into a double – Words that are heavy with nothing but trouble: "Tinker to Evers to Chance."

Of course, Harry Steinfeldt was the third baseman (and only non-HOFer in the bunch).

Dave M.
Chicago area

[CollectGU]

Re: OT: Best All Around Infield Ever

Orignally I was thinking both offense and defense, but I think the discussion where it has lead to defense prowess is more interesting .

I like the original thread, best infied in terms of offense and defense. Current Yankees dwarf the 1999 Mets, just about as good defensively, and LIGHT YEARS ahead offensively...its not even close

[LastingsMilledge85]

Re: OT: Best All Around Infield Ever

Yep. Sorry - I never really think of Keith as being a Cardinal. I moved to STL in late 1983, and he made some comments after winning with the Mets in '86 that made me hate him as a player...Clark is the first guy I identify with in my personal Cards history.

I think Keith considers himself a Cardinal, whenever he talks about his career or opinion on baseball teams, he always favors the Cradinals.

[bigtruck260]

Re: OT: Best All Around Infield Ever

Did Hernandez ever play togther with Pendleton and Ozzie?

Yep. Sorry - I never really think of Keith as being a Cardinal. I moved to STL in late 1983, and he made some comments after winning with the Mets in '86 that made me hate him as a player...Clark is the first guy I identify with in my personal Cards history.

[joelsabi]

Re: OT: Best All Around Infield Ever

These are the saddest of possible words: "Tinker to Evers to Chance." Trio of bear cubs, and fleeter than birds, Tinker and Evers and Chance. Ruthlessly pricking our gonfalon bubble, Making a Giant hit into a double – Words that are heavy with nothing but trouble: "Tinker to Evers to Chance."

Classic Baseball poem. If you ever read Smithsonian Baseball, the author has a chapter on his own collection which include the flannels of these three immortalized players.

[b.heagy]

Re: OT: Best All Around Infield Ever

These are the saddest of possible words: "Tinker to Evers to Chance." Trio of bear cubs, and fleeter than birds, Tinker and Evers and Chance. Ruthlessly pricking our gonfalon bubble, Making a Giant hit into a double – Words that are heavy with nothing but trouble: "Tinker to Evers to Chance."

[joelsabi]

Re: OT: Best All Around Infield Ever

1999 Mets, there's no question.

Hernandez, Alfonso, Ordonez, and Ventura? Wow thats major big time Defense. Has Alfonso ever won a Gold Glove. Wasn't he originally a SS but theres no way to take the job from Ordonez.

[joelsabi]

Re: OT: Best All Around Infield Ever

Joelsabi I must say I am a bit surprised you would put Cano into that company of best ever. After all the big mistakes he was made.
As for the other 3 No Argument here.

I would throw into this category maybe not the best ever but pretty damn close
Moose Skowron - Tony Kubek - Bobby Richardson (Gold Glove) - Clete Boyer (Gold Glove)

Orignally I was thinking both offense and defense, but I think the discussion where it has lead to defense prowess is more interesting so I am glad the direction the thread has gone. If I ever won the lotto, I would change my theme to collecting fielding glove from every player that won a Gold Glove.

There was talks of Cano maybe winning a Golden Glove earlier in the year but then again its the manager plugging his own player.

On your choice, I never seen them play. Need to check out a classic game by this unit.