The best Center Fielders in Major League Baseball history

The best Center Fielders in Major League Baseball history

10) Richie Ashburn – A six time All Star, “Put Put” played 1,948 games in center field for 15 seasons from 1948-1962, mainly with the Phillies. Ashburn batted .308 with a .396 on base percentage and 234 stolen bases, and is credited with saving 39 runs defensively.

 

9) Jim Edmonds – “Jimmy Baseball” won eight Gold Gloves while playing 1,768 games in center field in 17 seasons from 1993-2010, primarily with the Angels and Cardinals. A four time All Star, Edmonds batted .284 with 393 homers and 1,199 RBI’s. He is credited with saving 80 runs on defense.

 

8) Andruw Jones – A five time All Star and winner of 10 Gold Gloves, “The Curacao Kid” played 1,724 games in centerfield and is credited with saving an impressive 220 runs at the position. Jones’ .992 fielding percentage is higher than the league average of .987 for the time of his career, 17 seasons from 1996-2012, mainly with the Braves. He batted .254 with 434 home runs and 1,289 RBI’s.

 

7) Duke Snider – The “Duke of Flatbush” played 1,589 games in center field for the Dodgers in 18 years from 1947-1964. The eight time All Star had a fielding percentage of .985, higher than the league average of .982, and batted .295 with 407 home runs, 1,333 RBI’s, and a .380 on base percentage.

 

6) Ken Griffey Jr. – Winner of 10 Gold Gloves and a 13 time All Star, “Junior” played 2,145 games in center for the Mariners and Reds. For 22 years from 1989-2010 Griffey batted. 284 with 630 home runs and 1,836 RBI’s. He was named the 1997 American League MVP.

 

5) Mickey Mantle – “The Commerce Comet” played 1,742 games in centerfield for the Yankees for 18 seasons from 1951-1968.  Mantle hit .298 with 536 homers, 1,509 RBI’s, a .421 on base percentage, and .557 slugging percentage. He was named to 20 All Star teams (two were played some years), won the AL MVP three times, and was awarded one Gold Glove.

 

4) Joe DiMaggio – A 13 time All Star and winner of the AL MVP award in 1939, 1941, and 1947, “Joltin’ Joe” played 1,634 games in centerfield for the Yankees, leading AL centerfielders in assists for three seasons. DiMaggio batted .325 with 361 home runs, 1,537 RBI’s, a .398 on base percentage and a .579 slugging percentage in 13 seasons from 1936-1951.

 

3) Tris Speaker – The 1912 AL MVP played 2,088 games in centerfield for 22 seasons from 1907-1940, primarily with the Indians and Red Sox. “The Grey Eagle” had a fielding percentage of .972, higher than the league average of .965, and led AL centerfielders eight years in double plays, seven years in assists, and four years in range factor. Speaker batted .345 with 3,514 hits, 1,531 RBI’s, 436 stolen bases, a .428 on base percentage, and a .500 slugging percentage. He is Major League baseball’s all time leader in doubles with 792.

 

2) Ty Cobb – Playing 1,697 games in center for 24 years from 1905-1928, mainly with the Tigers, Cobb won the AL MVP in 1911 and led AL centerfielders twice in fielding percentage and three times in double plays. “The Georgia Peach” is the majors’ all time leader in career batting average with a mark of .366. He had an on base percentage of .433, slugging percentage of .521, 4,189 hits, 1,944 RBI’s, and 897 stolen bases.

 

1) Willie Mays – A 24 time All Star and winner of the 1954 and 1965 NL MVP, the “Say Hey Kid” played 2,829 games in centerfield in 22 seasons from 1951-1973, primarily with the Giants. Mays won 12 Gold Gloves and is credited with saving an impressive 176 runs defensively in centerfield. He batted .302 with a .384 on base percentage, .557 slugging percentage, 660 home runs, 1,903 RBI’s, and 338 stolen bases.

 

Top 10 TV Action Heroes of All Time

TV Guide recently released its list of the 24 greatest action heroes on TV in the history of the medium. Here is one viewer’s opinion of the 10 best action heroes on TV of all time, based on too many years of watching television…

The Top 10 TV Action Heroes of All Time

10) The Lone Ranger (Clayton Moore, The Lone Ranger, ABC, 1949-1957)
9) Wonder Woman (Lynda Carter, Wonder Woman, ABC, 1975-1979)
8) Xena (Lucy Lawless, Xena the Warrior Princess, syndicated, 1995-2001)
7) Nikita (Peta Wilson, La Femme Nikita, USA, 1997-2001)
6) Emma Peel (Diana Rigg, The Avengers, ABC, 1961-1969)
5) Jaime Somers (Lindsay Wagner, The Bionic Woman, ABC/NBC, 1976-1978)
4) Steve Austin (Lee Majors, The Six Million Dollar Man, ABC, 1973-1978)
3) MacGyver (Richard Dean Anderson, MacGyver, ABC, 1985-1992)
2) Superman (George Reeves, The Adventures of Superman, syndicated, 1952-1958)
1) Batman (Adam West, Batman, ABC, 1966-1968)

Some TV studio bosses are full of baloney

In this week’s issue of TV Guide the heads of eight television studios were asked a number of questions, such as “What would you say is your new sleeper hit?” and “Which actor is poised to become a superstar?” I have no problem with their answers to most questions – even though for those two questions they’re just guessing – but the one question I sense some B.S. with their answers is “What would you be doing if you weren’t in the entertainment business?”

 

The most honest answer was from Jamie Erlicht, president of programming and production at Sony Pictures Television. His reply was “Trying to get back in.” Honest and funny.

 

But the two ridiculous answers were from Kevin Beggs, chairperson of Lionsgate Television Group, and Peter Roth, president and chief content officer of Warner Brothers Television Group. Their response? “Teaching.”

 

Really? I’m supposed to believe that these guys would give up their six or seven – or maybe eight – figure salaries and work as teachers? They would actually work at a difficult job such as teaching, for fifty or sixty thousand dollars a year? If they were not working in the entertainment business? Come on.

 

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, since they’re really in the bullshit business, so they’re trying to make themselves feel honorable by saying they’d be teachers if they weren’t in entertainment. I’d like to see some of them spend even one day as a teacher. Actually they probably wouldn’t last two minutes in a classroom, let alone a day.

 

Come on Beggs and Roth. I could do your jobs better than you, and I’ve never work in the entertainment business. At least I’d pick some quality shows to be on TV instead of junk that lasts one episode.

Television’s 25 best catchphrases

A catchphrase is a way to build a character and give an identity to a television show. TV Guide recently released its list of the 60 most notable catchphrases on TV shows in the history of the medium. Here is one viewer’s opinion of the best 25 catchphrases of all time, based on too many years of watching television…

 

25) “Kiss my grits!” (Flo Castleberry, Alice)

24) “Dy-no-mite!” (J.J. Evans, Good Times)

23) “This tape will self-destruct in five seconds.” (Mission: Impossible)

22) “Resistance is futile.” (Star Trek, The Next Generation)

21) “How you doin’?” (Joey Tribbiani, Friends)

20) “Yadda, yadda, yadda.” (Elaine Benes, Seinfield)

19) “Baby, you’re the greatest.” (Ralph Kramden, The Honeymooners)

18) “The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.” (Jim McKay, Wide World of Sports)

17) “You look mahvelous.” (Fernando, Saturday Night Live)

16) “Danger, Will Robinson!” (The Robot, Lost in Space)

15) “To the Batmobile!” (Batman, Batman)

14) “Yabba Dabba Do!” (Fred Flintsone, The Flintstones)

13) “Eat my shorts.” (Bart Simpson, The Simpsons)

12) “Live long and prosper.” (Commander Spock, Star Trek)

11) “Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Superman!” (Adventures of Superman)

10) “Good night, John Boy.” (The Walton family, The Waltons)

9) “I’m listening.” (Frasier Krane, Frasier)

8) “Come on down!” (Johnny Olson, The Price is Right)

7) “Make it so.” (Captain Picard, Star Trek the Next Generation)

6) “Book’em, Danno.” (Detective Steve McGarrett, Hawaii Five-O)

5) “Let’s be careful out there.” (Sergeant Phil Esterhaus, Hill Street Blues)

4) “And that’s the way it is.” (Walter Cronkite, CBS Evening News)

3) “Aaay!” (Fonzie, Happy Days)

2) “D’oh!” (Homer Simpson, The Simpsons)

1) “Heeere’s…Johnny!” (Ed McMahon, The Tonight Show)

The Greatest TV Kids of All Time

There have been many popular shows on television that featured child characters in both starring and supporting roles, and TV Guide recently released its list of the 60 greatest TV kids in the history of the medium.  Here is one TV viewer’s opinion of the 15 best television kids of all time, based on too many years of watching television…

15) Laura Ingalls, Little House on the Prairie (Melissa Gilbert, 1974-1982, NBC)
14) Barbara Cooper, One Day at a Time (Valerie Bertinelli, 1975-1984,CBS)
13) Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver, Leave it to Beaver (Jerry Mathers, 1957-1963, CBS/ABC)
12) Angela Chase, My So-Called Life, (Claire Danes, 1994-1995, ABC)
11) Steve Urkel, Family Matters, (Jaleel White, 1989-1998, ABC)
10) Will Robinson, Lost in Space (Billy Mumy, 1965-1968, CBS)
9)  Wesley Crusher, Star Trek: The Next Generation (Wil Wheaton, 1987-1994, syndicated)
8) Meadow Soprano, The Sopranos (Jamie Lynn-Sigler, 1999-2007, HBO)
7) Malcolm, Malcolm in the Middle (Frankie Munoz, 2000-2006, FOX)
6) Marcia Brady, The Brady Bunch (Maureen McCormick,1969-1974, ABC)
5) Danny Partridge, The Partridge Family, (Danny Bonaduce, 1970-1974, ABC)
4) Opie Taylor, The Andy Griffith Show (Ron Howard, 1960-1968, CBS)
3) Doogie Howser, Doogie Howser M.D. (Neil Patrick Harris, 1989-1993, ABC)
2) Bart Simpson, The Simpsons (Nancy Cartwright, 1988-present, FOX)
1) Kevin Arnold, The Wonder Years (Fred Savage,1988-1994, ABC)

The 15 Best Sci-Fi TV Shows of All Time

Some of the most fun and interesting stories can be found in the genres of horror, science fiction, and fantasy. There have been many popular shows on television in these categories, and TV Guide recently released its list of the 60 best sci-fi TV shows in the history of the medium. Here is one TV viewer’s opinion of the 15 best sci-fi television shows of all time, based on too many years of watching television…

15) Quantum Leap (1989-1993, NBC)
14) Xena: Warrior Princess (1995-2001, syndicated)
13) Stargate SG-1 (1997-2007, SHO/SYFY)
12) Game of Thrones (2011-present, HBO)
11) Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003, WB/UPN)
10) Lost in Space (1965-1968, CBS)
9) Batman (1966-1968, ABC)
8) Lost (2004-2010, ABC)
7) Falling Skies (2011-present, TNT)
6) The Six Million Dollar Man (1974-1978, ABC)
5) Star Trek (1966-1969, NBC)
4) The Twilight Zone (1959-1964, CBS)
3) Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994, syndicated)
2) The Walking Dead (2010-present, AMC)
1) The X-Files (1993-2002, FOX)

The All Time Best Theme Songs for TV Shows

A television show’s theme song can be an important aspect of the program, often setting the mood of the show. TV Guide recently released its list of the 60 best theme songs for TV shows in the history of the medium. Here is one TV viewer’s opinion of the 20 best TV theme songs of all time, based on too many years of watching television…

20) Laverne & Shirley (ABC, 1976-1983)
19) The Sopranos (HBO, 1999-2007)
18) Star Trek (NBC, 1966-1969)
17) The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (NBC, 1962-1992)
16) The Greatest American Hero (ABC, 1981-1983)
15) Sesame Street (PBS, 1969-present)
14) Get Smart (NBC, 1965-1970)
13) The Flintstones (ABC, 1960-1966)
12) Dallas (CBS, 1978-1991)
11) The Mary Tyler Moore Show (CBS, 1970-1977)
10) Cheers (NBC, 1982-1993)
9) Batman (ABC, 1966-1968)
8) Happy Days (ABC, 1974-1984)
7) Gilligan’s Island (CBS, 1964-1967)
6) The Andy Griffith Show (CBS, 1960-1968)
5) Welcome Back Kotter (ABC, 1975-1979)
4) Hawaii Five-O (CBS, 1968-1980)
3) M*A*S*H (CBS, 1972-1983)
2) The Jeffersons (CBS, 1975-1985)
1) Hill Street Blues (NBC, 1981-1987)

The 20 Best Written TV Series of All Time

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) recently released its list of the 101 Best Written TV Series in the history of the medium. Here is one TV viewer’s opinion of the 20 best written shows of all time, based on years of watching television, which may or may not be a good thing…
20) Dexter (Showtime, 2006-2013)
19) Veep (HBO, 2012-2013)
18) Star Trek the Next Generation (syndicated, 1987-1994)
17) The Closer (TNT, 2005-2012)
16) M*A*S*H (CBS, 1972-1983)
15) Oz (HBO, 1997-2003)
14) Modern Family (ABC, 2009-2013)
13) The Wonder Years (ABC, 1988-1993)
12) The X Files (Fox, 1993-2002)
11) Cheers (NBC, 1982-1993)
10 The Mary Tyler Moore Show (CBS, 1970-1977)
9) In Plain Sight (USA, 2008-2012)
8) Frasier (NBC, 1993-2004)
7) Breaking Bad (FX, 2008-2013
6) Hill Street Blues (NBC, 1981-1987)
5) Homeland (Showtime, 2011-2013)
4) Justified (FX, 2010-2013)
3) The Shield (FX, 2002-2008)
2) The Sopranos (HBO, 1999-2007)
1) All in the Family (CBS, 1971-1979)