Today is the 50th anniversary of Willie Mays' over the shoulder catch and no look throw. An article on ESPN.com is calling it the greatest catch in baseball history. Ugh, did no one see what Jim Edmonds did when he was an Angel still. I have never seen a catch as incredible as that. Mays's catch was great, no doubt, but the best? It was only dramatic because it was during a world series, so maybe the greatest clutch catch ever, but not the best. What do you guys think?

I've never seen Jim Edmond's catch...

I'm not a baseball fan but I have never heard of this guy. Everyone has heard of Willie Mays.

Edmonds' catch was something special

who made the barehanded one? was it kirby puckett?

that is my fav

Edmonds is and always will be one of the best defensive players ever, if you ask me. Ozzie Smith had some amazing catches, too... not sure how you could call any catch "the best ever", though.

i need vid clips...lol

i think it was kevin mitchell when he played for the giants

Oh wow, I forgot about Ozzie's behind, one handed groundball catch. That was way back when he was a Padre, that was absolutly magical. It hit a rock while he was diving, ricochet up and behind him and he caught it barehanded. Got up and threw the guy out, good old TWIB tapes. That's short for This Week in Baseball.

Edit: I found a picture of the catch, the video is way more impressive...

It sure was, in left field foul grounds, that was also in TWIB.

oh, i thought it was puckett.

anyways, thats my fav

eh, im a football fan.

the edmonds catch was probably my favorite. i'm as big of a baseball fan as anyone, but im sorry, theres at least one play on web gems every couple nights better than willie mays's catch. the only thing that makes it remotely special is that it was in the world series. i just never found it that impressive

My favorite catch/play was during an all-star game when Cal Ripken Jr. snagged a hot shot down the third base line with his bare hand and gunned out the runner.

Yeah, to be perfectly honest, Mays' catch doesn't make me go "Wow...that was incredible..." It's your run-of-the mill over the head catch. Kinda often nowadays.

No Contest Kids... Jim Edmonds Catch Was the Most Amazing Catch in Baseball History Hands Down... Jim Continues to Make Catches of that Stature Day In and Day Out... He is Defensively the Best Center Fielder of All Time... Mays Was a Great Player but in No Way Could he Ever Match the Highlight Reel Jim Has Put Up in His Career...

Willie Mays will be credited with having the greatest catch ever for a long time because sports journalists like nostalgia. Some of these guys grew up watching and idolizing Willie Mays so he will always hold a special place in their hearts. A lot of writers call Babe Ruth one of the greatest baseball players ever, and I doubt he'd even be a star if he played baseball today. He was a fat and out of shape alcoholic. I would bet that he wouldn't have even made it to the Major League level. The same goes with football. A lot of writers call Jim Brown the best running back ever and I would bet that he would not be nearly as good if he played today. The players are so much bigger, faster, and in better shape than when he played.

I'll let this thread stay alive, even though it's a bit old. Could be a good discussion given some of the amazing catches made this past season.

does anyone have any links to some great catches; pictures?

Being a big mets fan, i really thought Wrights bare-handed catch was just amazing, maybe not the best ever but one of the top 3 this year imo