Posted 10:17 pm Sunday, July 15, 2012
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Baseball At Its best, July 15
I was both surprised and amazed while reading Thomas Sowell’s column in the July 9 Tyler Morning Telegraph titled “Baseball is Easier To Gauge Than Politics.”
For those readers who may have missed it, Mr. Sowell asked his readers, “Who was the all-time greatest hitter?” He then goes on to compare hitting statistics (batting average and slugging average) of some of the greatest hitters ever in Major League Baseball. Players mentioned included Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig and Ted Williams.
I was surprised and amazed that Pete Rose was not mentioned at all in his writing. Love him or hate him, Pete Rose is right up there with all the greats. Most baseball fans know that Pete Rose is the all-time hits leader with 4,256. Some fans may not know that he also appeared in 17 All-Star games (at five different positions) and has a lifetime batting average of .303. Someone reading this may think that I am a huge Pete Rose fan. I would prefer to compare the Detroit Tigers former great Al Kaline and his hitting statistics, (3,007 hits and a career .297 batting average) with the other former great players.
I also think that Michael Young of the Texas Rangers is a clutch hitter with 2,152 hits and a .302 batting average (as of July 1). Enjoy the rest of the 2012 season.
Tom Deal
Tyler
For those readers who may have missed it, Mr. Sowell asked his readers, “Who was the all-time greatest hitter?” He then goes on to compare hitting statistics (batting average and slugging average) of some of the greatest hitters ever in Major League Baseball. Players mentioned included Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig and Ted Williams.
I was surprised and amazed that Pete Rose was not mentioned at all in his writing. Love him or hate him, Pete Rose is right up there with all the greats. Most baseball fans know that Pete Rose is the all-time hits leader with 4,256. Some fans may not know that he also appeared in 17 All-Star games (at five different positions) and has a lifetime batting average of .303. Someone reading this may think that I am a huge Pete Rose fan. I would prefer to compare the Detroit Tigers former great Al Kaline and his hitting statistics, (3,007 hits and a career .297 batting average) with the other former great players.
I also think that Michael Young of the Texas Rangers is a clutch hitter with 2,152 hits and a .302 batting average (as of July 1). Enjoy the rest of the 2012 season.
Tom Deal
Tyler
