As a sports announcer, I’m often asked questions about great players in various sports. Recently, someone asked me who I thought was the greatest all-around baseball player of all time. “Oh, that’s easy,” I replied. “It has to be Willie Mays.” [Note: the late Hall of Fame announcer Ernie Harwell also held this position, so I knew I was in good company.]
My questioner persisted, however: “What do you think his batting average would be if he were playing today?”
“Oh, probably .200, maybe .220,” I responded.
“That low?” he exclaimed. “Do you think pitching has improved that much in fifty years?”
“No,” I told him. “But you have to remember he’s ninety years old.”
As a sports announcer, I’m often asked questions about great players in various sports. Recently, someone asked me who I thought was the greatest all-around baseball player of all time. “Oh, that’s easy,” I replied. “It has to be Willie Mays.” [Note: the late Hall of Fame announcer Ernie Harwell also held this position, so I knew I was in good company.]
My questioner persisted, however: “What do you think his batting average would be if he were playing today?”
“Oh, probably .200, maybe .220,” I responded.
“That low?” he exclaimed. “Do you think pitching has improved that much in fifty years?”
“No,” I told him. “But you have to remember he’s ninety years old.”