I've been watching baseball since 1951, that's as far back as my memory goes where I can recall actual games I was at or have seen on TV. So that includes a very long list of super stars and Hall of Famers. DiMaggio, Williams, Aaron, Mays,
Clemente, Musial and you can fill in the rest for that 59-year period.

One thing I can say without reservation Willie Davis was the most electrifying base runner I have ever seen. And watching him run down fly balls in center field was a thing of beauty.

I know this is 2010 and we have repay and slow motion and stop action and all kinds of technology but this is for sure in my book; Willie Davis was the best and fastest base runner of all time. Going from first to third he was the best and chasing down balls hit in the alleys he was the best.

Many play by play announcers used the word gazelle like and he was. He used large leaps not human steps; he didn't look as if he was running he looked like he was gliding. Both of his feet were off the ground at times like a Greyhound.

I enjoyed watching him more than a Mays or a Mantle. His team was also one of the most enjoyable to watch. The Dodgers of the early 60's were a spectacular group Davis got three World Series rings with them. They were a pitch, run and steal team. They played great baseball and Willie was a major part of the running game and the defense. He covered center field like no other.

When you here the term today “he covers a lot of ground” the prototype for that was Davis he roamed from alley to alley with ease.

I can see in my mind as if it were yesterday the time Willie was on first and Maury Wills was on third against the Mets at the Polo Grounds, they pulled a double steal. Davis broke for second, the catcher threw to the pitcher who threw back to the plate and they had Wills hung up. Davis was between second and third at this point. Wills got back to third safely, now Davis was hung up. Then Wills broke for home again and the throw went home Wills was safe. Davis made it to third
and as the pitcher and catcher were shaking their heads as to how all that happened and walked back to the mound together Davis raced home...2 runs no hit!
That's what the Dodgers did, and then Koufax or Drysdale would shut you out!
What a team, what an era.

Davis was 69, his career stats won't amaze you but if you saw him play you would be amazed.

I will miss you Willie.

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