T1B

Another one of those list things just to get people talking and debating about baseball...much like the All-Century team or the great Latino players of all-time. Who did/would you consider the greatest player for each franchise?

(Picks based on what they've done in that uniform, not over entire career)

Orioles: Cal Ripken, Jr.
Red Sox: Ted Williams
White Sox: Frank Thomas
Indians: Bob Feller
Tigers: Ty Cobb
Royals: George Brett
Angels: Tim Salmon
Twins: Harmon Killebrew
Yankees: Babe Ruth
Athletics: Dennis Eckersley
Mariners: Ken Griffey, Jr.
Devil Rays: Fred McGriff
Rangers: Juan Gonzalez
Blue Jays: Joe Carter
Diamondbacks: Randy Johnson
Braves: Hank Aaron
Cubs: Ernie Banks
Reds: Frank Robinson
Rockies: Larry Walker
Marlins: Jeff Conine
Astros: Jeff Bagwell
Dodgers: Duke Snider
Brewers: Robin Yount
Mets: Tom Seaver
Phillies: Mike Schmidt
Pirates: Roberto Clemente
Cardinals: Stan Musial
Padres: Tony Gwynn
Giants: Willie Mays
Nationals/Expos: Gary Carter

The most interest debates to me...
- Frank Robinson is arguably the greatest player on two different franchises, his career was pretty even between the Reds and Orioles. I have him as the greatest Red but I gave Ripken the nod over him with Baltimore.
- Who is the greatest Yankee? Picking between some of the greatest players of all-time...can by far put together the greatest all-time team.
- What do you do with great players who have been on multiple teams? Nolan Ryan? Randy Johnson? Roger Clemens? Reggie Jackson?
- Do you reward guys that play all or most of their career for one team?

I personally think this is a little more fun of a debate and discussion than the All-Century because that's easy to just pick guys over their careers. This thing is more about what a player has done in that particular uniform. You may have had great players in a uniform at one time but not long enough to have a lasting impact. Some of the greatest players may be left off these team lists because they didn't play long enough with that team. I picked guys mostly on longevity and quality of their years with that team.

Koufax IMO is the greatest Dodger

You see Sammy Sosa melt about not being named one of the 5 for the Cubs?

"This is supposed to be the five best players?" said Sosa, the Cubs' all-time leading home run hitter and the only man to hit 60 or more in three seasons.

"Let me say all of the respect that I have for [the five]. I would like to know who was the one who made that decision of the five best. I just thought I should say something about that now.

"Maybe if I had played in another city most of my career, maybe this wouldn't affect me,"

Jim Rome actually made a funny on TV by saying that it was amazing how Sammy can now speak English.

The Assassin wrote:Koufax IMO is the greatest Dodger

I'd value your opinion more about that pick because they are your team...I gave it to Snider because of longevity. It's tough to judge Koufax career since he's kind of the Gale Sayers of baseball. Amazing numbers for that short period of time. If I'm not mistaken but isn't Duke Snider not even in the Hall of Fame?

The Silver Fox was put in the HOF in 1980, same year he had his number retired by the Dodgers.

Tim Salmon for the Angels? Nolan Ryan is a much better pick IMO, 4 no hitters from 71-79. Could also go with Jim Fregosi as well.

Cross Traffic wrote:The Silver Fox was put in the HOF in 1980, same year he had his number retired by the Dodgers.

Maybe I'm thinking of Gil Hodges then...

Tim Salmon for the Angels? Nolan Ryan is a much better pick IMO, 4 no hitters from 71-79. Could also go with Jim Fregosi as well.

That's the tricky part of picking a guy who's been on multiple teams. Ryan, over his career, is probably the greatest player ever to wear the Angels uniform and arguably the same can be said about the Astros and the Rangers as well. With Salmon, he spent his entire career with the Angels, won a ring and put up solid numbers.

The ultimate Red was Johnny Bench. Robby was the greater overall player, but he left Cincinatti before his greatest season and won his World Series rings with Baltimore as well. Bench was a Red all his career and won 2 WS rings with the team.

Hard to argue with too many of the other selections.

While Bags was always my favorite player, I can't help but think he was on the juice. Therefore, i'm giving the nod to Biggio as the greatest Astro. Biggio also came up through the Stros farm system as well. Bags came through Boston's system.

Shoalzie, Shoalzie, Shoalzie....

The Duke went into the Hall in the same class as Al Kaline.

Where I differ with Shoalzie...


ChiSox-Luke Appling
A's-Ricky Henderson
Pirates-Honus Wagner
Mariners-Edgar Martinez
Reds- Pete Rose
Dodgers-Jackie Robinson

That was tough. I wouldn't even vote for some franchises...Arizona, TB, Fla,. Others are tough with either no true stars or guys who did alot of their production on other teams.

ex.
Texas-Pudge-maybe, Rusty Greer-was good for like 3 years, Nolan Ryan-not for his work in Arlington, Jim Sundburg-whatever, Mark Teixiera-in 9 or 10 more years.

Cleveland...nobody from the last 35 years?


No brainers IMO....

Yankees- Babe Ruth
Red Sox- Teddy Ballgame
Blue Jays-Joe Carter
Cubs- Ernie Banks
Royals- George Brett
Braves-Hank Aaron
Giants- Willie Mays
Padrees- Tony Gwynn


Good debates...

St. Louis.-Lou Brock, Musial. Stan was "the man", but Brock was special too. Hell one could argue for Bob Gibson.

Cinci-Pete Rose, Johnny Bench. I'm guessing Red fan goes with Bench, although Pete is a hometown guy and they're behind him for re-instatement.

ChiSox- Luke Appling, Nellie Fox, or Minnie Minoso. Ummm, paging Mace.

With the Reds, you can't underrate what Frank Robinson did for his time there ('56-'65). Hit .302, 324 homers, drove in 1009 runs, scorerd 1043, and had 1,673 hits. This is a helluva career for a guy but he did this in 10 years and had great years in Baltimore as well. Robinson kind of goes against my stance on guys with longevity...Johnny Bench probably is the most identifiable Red in history but that 10 year stretch for Robinson in Cincinnati can go up against any 10 year stretch for a player in history. Bench in my opinion is the greatest catcher of all-time...I don't mean to slight him at all in this discussion. I was initially choosing him for the Reds until I took a closer look at Robinson's numbers while with the Reds.

With most of these teams, one name immediately jumps to mind, so we'll just go with those...

Orioles: Cal Ripken Jr.
Red Sox: Ted Williams
White Sox: Shoeless Joe
Indians: ManRam
Tigers: Ty Cobb
Royals: George Brett
Angels: Garret Anderson
Twins: Rod Carew
Yankees: Babe Ruth
Athletics: Jimme Foxx
Mariners: Ken Griffey Jr.
Devil Rays: Fred Mcgriff
Rangers: Juan Gonzalez
Blue Jays: Joe Carter
Diamondbacks: Randy Johnson
Braves: Hank Aaron
Cubs: Ernie Banks
Reds: Johnny Bench
Rockies: Larry Walker
Marlins: Jeff Conine
Astros: Nolan Ryan
Dodgers: Sandy Koufax
Brewers: Paul Molitor
Mets: Tom Seaver
Phillies: Steve Carlton
Pirates: Roberto Clemente
Cardinals: Stan Musial
Padres: Tony Gwynn
Giants: Willie Mays
Nationals/Expos: Dennis Martinez

Cleveland was the toughest for me.

Cleveland? Gotta go with Bernie Carbo or Joe Charboneau .

Orioles: Jim Palmer
Red Sox: Ted Williams
White Sox: Luis Aparicio
Indians: Shoeless Joe
Tigers: Ty Cobb
Royals: George Brett
Angels: Nolan Ryan
Twins: Harmon Killebrew
Yankees: Babe Ruth
Athletics: Jimmy Foxx
Mariners: Ken Griffey, Jr.
Devil Rays: Fred McGriff
Rangers: Jim Sundberg
Blue Jays: Dave Steib
Diamondbacks: Randy Johnson
Braves: Hank Aaron
Cubs: Ernie Banks
Reds: Frank Robinson
Rockies: Larry Walker
Marlins: Jeff Conine
Astros: Mike Scott
Dodgers: Sandy Koufax
Brewers: Paul Molitor
Mets: Tom Seaver
Phillies: Mike Schmidt
Pirates: Bill Maz
Cardinals: Stan Musial
Padres: Tony Gwynn
Giants: Sal Maglie*
Nationals/Expos: Tim Raines


*Homer pick. As a Niagara Falls native I have too. I knew Sal Maglie as did my whole family. He came into my family's restaurant and there is a dish named after him. He went to high school with my grandparents (both sides) and his buried like 2 or 3 plots away from one of my grandmothers. War the Barber. :D


Rick Manning on the other hand gets no love.