Greatest Center Fielders/Greatest Singers

More great female singers: Annie Lennox, Tina Turner, Grace Slick, Melissa Ethreidge

Yes, and Patsy Cline, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Nicks, Patti Smith, Chrissie Hynde, Emmylou Harris, Karen Carpenter, Joni Mitchell, Debbie Harry, and Dusty Springfield among others.

Again, I never said there weren't any great female singers. I just said that none of them merited my Top Ten. I would love to see someone actually put up a Top Ten with some female singers on it. I think Niners might be the one.

I'd swap Fred Lynn for Andruw Jones...Lynn was an outstanding CF, with a sweet swing. I put him over Jones based on Jones career nosedive at the end of his Atlanta days.

As far as greatest singer, I'd definitely put Christina Aguilera up there...not based on her accomplishments as a singer, but strictly on the quality of her voice (at least that's my interpretation).

I was just starting to get into baseball when Lynn came up for the Red Sox in 1975 when he won ROY/MVP/Gold Glove. That year at least, he played what had to be one of the best defensive center fields in a while. Even being somewhat biased towards Lynn as a Boston guy, I would have trouble putting him on the list. He was definitely a good player but I think overall his career was a disappointment, leaving me with the feeling of what could have been versus what he actually accomplished. I think I would put Damon over Lynn.

As far as greatest singer, I'd definitely put Christina Aguilera up there...not based on her accomplishments as a singer, but strictly on the quality of her voice (at least that's my interpretation).

For those who partially or entirely judge singers on vocal range--and that is a legitimate standard--here is an interesting chart on greatest vocal ranges of top Pop/Rock/R&B singers. As one would imagine, Aguilera is high on the list:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/2 ... 57698.html

joltin joe dimaggio for centerfield

For all you hair metal fans, Sebastian Bach in his prime could really belt out a tune.

Sebastian Bach was really a great singer with an amazing voice, and "I Remember You" is probably the greatest Hair Metal ballad of all time.

As to Dimaggio, he was obviously pretty awesome. However, the majority (and best) of his CF years were before WW II, and this thread is focusing on post-WW II CFers. Thanks for the input, though.

Good lists and topic.

I would also give a second nod to Ann Wilson of Heart. I am also a huge U2 fan and Bono is the best front man over the past 20 years in my opinion, but I'm not even sure that Bono would put himself anywhere near the top of list as a vocalist. Hmmm - maybe he would.

Thanks, Risden. The posts (including yours) have particularly made it interesting.

As to Bono. I'm sure the loathsome, sanctimonious "Rattle and Hum" Bono would include himself in the list then spew "am I buggin ya? I don't mean to bug ya." However, Bono has matured both personally and musically, and his remarkable work for Africa has humbled him greatly. So, I think he would decline in favor of Van Morrison, whom he has always worshipped. I am still curious, however, why people feel he falls short of meriting inclusion in the Top Ten. However, "greatest frontman of past 20 years" is substantial approbation.

As to Ann Wilson, you guys have me completely befuddled there. I liked "Crazy on You" and "Barracuda," and she has great range, but her singing style is so over-the-top and she spent the last half of her career singing awful Hair Metal power ballads like this one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Cw1ng75KP0

It would be difficult to place her over canonical female singers like Aretha Franklin, Patsy Cline, Janis Joplin, Patti Smith, And Stevie Nicks, but I would love to hear the argument for doing so and placing her in the Top Ten. I may even be converted...

Thanks, Risden. The posts (including yours) have particularly made it interesting.

As to Bono. I'm sure the loathsome, sanctimonious "Rattle and Hum" Bono would include himself in the list then spew "am I buggin ya? I don't mean to bug ya." However, Bono has matured both personally and musically, and his remarkable work for Africa has humbled him greatly. So, I think he would decline in favor of Van Morrison, whom he has always worshipped. I am still curious, however, why people feel he falls short of meriting inclusion in the Top Ten. However, "greatest frontman of past 20 years" is substantial approbation.

As to Ann Wilson, you guys have me completely befuddled there. I liked "Crazy on You" and "Barracuda," and she has great range, but her singing style is so over-the-top and she spent the last half of her career singing awful Hair Metal power ballads like this one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Cw1ng75KP0

It would be difficult to place her over canonical female singers like Aretha Franklin, Patsy Cline, Janis Joplin, Patti Smith, And Stevie Nicks, but I would love to hear the argument for doing so and placing her in the Top Ten. I may even be converted...

Actually the song you just posted, for me makes her case. While the song itself may be sappy and schmaltz, her range on it is INCREDIBLE. I have yet to hear anyone do justice to that song in trying to cover it. Any other version I've heard comes off a a piss poor imitation at best. Now I'm not necessarily saying she's a better female singer than the five you mentioned,( I'd take her over Nicks though) she certainly deserves to be in the discussion of a top 10 for female singers.

As for Bono, he's in a category for me, like Geddy Lee or Dave Mathews, or Steve Perry or Stevie Nicks, great doing their stuff and able to cover other acts to a certain extent, and their respective bands' sounds would not be the same without their vocals, but could they move into another genre and be as good?

I don't think so and that is the tipping point for me.

As Risden said, Bono is undoubtedly the best rock front man of the last 20 or so years, taking a mantle worn by, in no particular order, Plant, Jagger, Daltry, Mercury, but a top 10 singer? I just think he's not quite there, especially if you include male and female vocalist on the same list. He works at at though, there's no doubt about that and I respect the work he has put in to be better since the band started.


Please note, this is MY opinion, and therefore is not any more right or wrong any more than your opinion is right or wrong.