Nasty, mean submarine hurler who is most remembered as a headhunter, and he's the only man to kill a batter (Ray Chapman) with a pitch. He won 20 or more games twice with The Red Sox, twice with The Yankees, and once with The Reds, though, and had other fine years as well. With N.Y. he won 26 and 27 games in the early 20's, and was probably THE best pitcher of the Ruth era Yankees, even better at his peak IMO than Hoyt, Pennock, Shawkey, Ruffing, Gomez,etc. Would probably have made The Hall, had it not been for Chapman's death and the fact that he was one of, if not THE, most despised players of the 1910's and 20's. Great pitcher, like him or not: and I don't.

By all accounts, Mays was a brass-plated, blue-chip son of a bitch. He is also one of the best right handers ever, with one of the highest winning percentages of all time. A tough, even brutal competitor, he was hated by opponents and disliked by team-mates. His reputation is forever damaged by the submarine pitch that struck Chapman at the plate and killed him, which, together with Mays reputation for being thoroughly disagreeable, probably cost him a plaque in Cooperstown.

Mays has no place in the top 20