Why is Willie Mays considered the best baseball player ever?

Answer 1

Because of his 521 home runs, last person to hit above .400 for a season, led the majors in 1957 with a .388 average at the age of 38, he won the triple crown(but not the MVP that season Joe Dimagio did, for reasons unknown), he has a lifetime average over .340, one of the tops in RBI's, walks, OBP among other things, he has all these accomplishments and missed 5 prime years serving in the military in two different wars. His eyes were better than 20/20, it is said if he let one go, it was because it was a ball, teams played a shift on him (like they do to Barry Bonds nowdays) instead of hitting the opposite way, he liked to shove it down there throats and hit it right at them in the gaps, or over their heads for a home run. His fielding may be the one thing that stops him from being the best of all time, he wasn't a bad fielder, just no Willie Mays(not that there has ever been another Mays).

Answer 2

He was the ultimate five-tool player. He could hit for average (.302 lifetime), hit with power (660 career home runs), run (338 stolen bases), play defense (12 Gold Gloves as a centerfielder) and throw (his legendary over-the-head catch in the 1954 World Series was followed by a strong-armed relay back to the infield).