Jose Altuve—all sports question

[VYFan]

I realize this has a baseball flavor, but across all sports, including football, basketball, track, etc., is he the best 5’6” athlete of all time?

You guys will probably come up with some others; just wonder who else would be better.

 

[X Misn Tx]

I'd pick Messi

Unless they have to be exactly equal. I think he's 5'7. Also Maradonna was 5'5. Also Manny Pacquiao. All better in my book.

 

[VYFan]

I'd pick Messi

Unless they have to be exactly equal. I think he's 5'7. Also Maradonna was 5'5. Also Manny Pacquiao. All better in my book.

Yes, those are three amazing athletic careers—legends.

 

[X Misn Tx]

It's an elite group. I'm sure there are others.

 

[SabreHorn]

Spud Webb

 

[El Sapo]

When trying to think up more athletes it's okay to come up short.

 

[VYFan]

Spud Webb

Good player.

Altuve has an MVP, a World Series ring, 3 batting championships and a lifetime.315 average; also good on defense and has led the league in steals before. Lots of HRs from a usually weak position. Only age 29.

Messi, though, yeah he has skins on the wall.

 

[Ajo Macho]

Spud Webb

Spud Webb didn't have a hall of fame career like some others here, but considering the extreme advantage tall players have in basketball, you might say his career is as impressive as some others on this list, where being short isn't an overwhelming disadvantage (like baseball).
Muggsy Bogues didn't quite have the career Spud Webb did, but he lasted 14 NBA seasons at 5'3". That's almost unimaginable. How did he play defense? How did he score, ever?

If we go into non-team sports, like gymnastics, distance running, and horse racing, there's a laundry list of short athletes.

Worth mentioning: The average height for American men is 5'9". That makes 5'6" as short as 6'0" is tall. Some of the guys mentioned so far (Lionel Messi, Spud Webb) are 5'7", which is as far from the American norm as 5'11". Not all that short.
Worldwide, the average height for men is 5'7". Messi is average. Ronaldo is freakishly tall.

 

[VYFan]

Spud Webb didn't have a hall of fame career like some others here, but considering the extreme advantage tall players have in basketball, you might say his career is as impressive as some others on this list, where being short isn't an overwhelming disadvantage (like baseball).
Muggsy Bogues didn't quite have the career Spud Webb did, but he lasted 14 NBA seasons at 5'3". That's almost unimaginable. How did he play defense? How did he score, ever?

If we go into non-team sports, like gymnastics, distance running, and horse racing, there's a laundry list of short athletes.

Worth mentioning: The average height for American men is 5'9". That makes 5'6" as short as 6'0" is tall. Some of the guys mentioned so far (Lionel Messi, Spud Webb) are 5'7", which is as far from the American norm as 5'11". Not all that short.
Worldwide, the average height for men is 5'7". Messi is average. Ronaldo is freakishly tall.

Yes. Definitely when you consider that Pacquiao is in a weight-bracketed sport.

 

[nashhorn]

Pele.

 

[2003TexasGrad]

Altuve is on the list but Messi would be ahead of him for sure. 5 Ballon d'ors in a sport every country in the world competes in trumps 1 MVP. And that's no knock on Altuve. Hes probably a hall of famer if he stays at the same level another 4 years.

 

[theiioftx]

Altuve has most of his career ahead of him. Damn good guy and one of the best players in baseball today.

 

[SabreHorn]

Altuve is in a class by himself. My post was intended to show the distance between Altuve and any other candidate.

 

[LonghornCatholic]

I went to college with Spud Webb and was photographer for school paper. Dude could dunk from stand still position. He was cool with me because they loved having their pics taken.

He invited me to hoop with him and the boys one Saturday. I didn't have my sneakers, so he gave me a pair of his. Had no idea he would end up in the NBA.

Regret not hanging on to 'em. I vote Spud Webb

 

[X Misn Tx]

Altuve is on the list but Messi would be ahead of him for sure. 5 Ballon d'ors in a sport every country in the world competes in trumps 1 MVP. And that's no knock on Altuve. Hes probably a hall of famer if he stays at the same level another 4 years.

nor should it be. we're talking about all time greatest athletes. it's never a knock on Jordan or Lebron to say one is better than the other, whichever way you go.

the great thing about boxing/fighting is the weight class so you can see some elite athletes in smaller packages