Tribute to Tony Gwynn and others

I'm 47 years old and reflecting on the loss today of Tony Gwynn.

In no particulair order, the best pure hitters I've seen play...

1. Gwynn
2. Rose
3. Ichiro
4. Brett
5. Molitor

These are the top 5 that immediately come to mind, for me.

As they come to me...

Carew

Boggs?

Healthy Mattingly.
Gwynn and Carew.
I saw Mantle play twice, but at 5 years old, the overall experience was overwhelming, and while I did know he was great, I wasn't breaking down his swing.

Henry Aaron was the best I ever saw live. Then Mays. Gwynn and Boggs were great guys at getting singles and doubles, but not hitters of the magnitude of Aaron and Mays. When I was a kid when those guys came to the Polo Grounds and then later, Shea, all I would do was watch their every move. Mays was certainly the more flamboyant and a great showman. But bad Henry was smooth economy in motion and repose. The real "natural" and the best hitter I ever saw.

George Brett would certainly be one of the best, if not the best, hitter I ever saw. Had trouble staying healthy though.
As a Dodger fan in the 70's, the one guy I did not want to see coming to the plate with a chance to win the game was Joe Morgan.

Stan Musial and Ted Williams were the best hitters I had the privilege to see play in person.

But Gwynn was an outstanding hitter and person and his death will be a loss to the baseball community.