Who is your Franchise Guy?

[95Marinerschangedmylife]

Its Junior with no doubt. He was the best thing to ever hit Seattle in sports in my opinion.

[actionjackson]

Originally Posted by Chicagofan76

AJ I am interested why u think these guys are the franchise guys for these team. some u come close on. Some r not even in the top 10.
Crawford I guess prob is correct, but wouldnt Longoria be #1
Why do u have so many turn of the Cnetury guys on here i deleted Honus Wahner but Roberto Clemente & Willie Stargell r 1 & 2 Honus might be 3 but I would guess he is closer to 5 or 6.
Nap for the indians not even close. Bob Feller is #1 by far. even Lou Boudreau is above Nap. Most of the 90's Indians r in ftont of Nap.
If u count the Senators with the Twins u cant go wrong with The Brig Train but Kirby runs away with this 1 for just the Twins
Hanley Ramirez for Marlins ok I might concede that 1 but I know 5 yrs ago Jeff Conine was #1
NYM Seaver top 3 but I would have gone with Doc or Daryl Starwberry.
Cap Anson wouldnt even be top 10 for the Cubs, Ernie Banks is an overwhelming #1 Santo and Ryno r 2 & 3. Even Tinkers to Evers to chance ranks above Cap Anson.
Randy Johnson played what 3 yrs for Dbacks. I would have guessed that Luis Gonzalez or Mark Grace or Curt Schilling would be theri #1 but no one has played enough yrs for them.
While I like Jackie for the Dodgers myself. Koufax or Duke Snider Pee Wee Reese and even Pizza should be above him.
Willie Mays for NY Giants by far not for SF that belongs to Willie McCovey.

See, that's where you and I are different (which last I checked is OK by the way ) CF76. I look at the entire history of the franchise when making my selections. You use some other method. That's cool.

It's my belief that Tom Terrific would win, in a landslide for the Mets, over those two should've-been-superstars who utterly fell apart before their careers really got going. Randy Johnson played 8 years with the D-Backs, and won 4 straight Cy Young Awards in his first four seasons there.

With all due respect to the other great Dodgers, Robinson was a cut above all of them in talent, and in what he represents in American history. Most players have their best season on average at the age of 27. Robinson didn't enter MLB until the age of 28. Think about what his career in Dodger blue would look like if he'd been able to break the colour barrier in let's say 1941. I'm not gonna hold against him the fact that people in his time couldn't look past the colour of a person's skin and I don't think anybody else should.

[1998 Yankees]

Originally Posted by Chicagofan76

as great as Ichiro is and he is my all time fav non White Sox player.. I have to go with Griffey on this...He helped saved the franchise...and was the face of the franchise and MLB at the time.

Originally Posted by 95Marinerschangedmylife

Its Junior with no doubt. He was the best thing to ever hit Seattle in sports in my opinion.

I think you guys will probably be right (that is, USA Today Readers will agree with you). As great as Ichiro is, Junior was the more impactful player. Also, it feels like Ichiro is a visitor, really.

[actionjackson]

Originally Posted by actionjackson

See, that's where you and I are different (which last I checked is OK by the way ) CF76. I look at the entire history of the franchise when making my selections. You use some other method. That's cool.

Also Nap Lajoie arrived in Cleveland in 1902, when the team was known as the Bronchos. In 1903 the team changed its name to the Cleveland Naps, and remained that way until he was purchased by the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1914-1915 offseason. When they name the team after you for all but one of the years you played for it, you're not only a franchise guy, you're a franchise icon.

[1998 Yankees]

Originally Posted by actionjackson

Also Nap Lajoie arrived in Cleveland in 1902, when the team was known as the Bronchos. In 1903 the team changed its name to the Cleveland Naps,

I never knew that. I wondered what Naps were.

[actionjackson]

Originally Posted by 1998 Yankees

I never knew that. I wondered what Naps were.

There you go. Now you can shut down your "must try to learn one new thing every day" quest until tomorrow.

[Chicagofan76]

Originally Posted by actionjackson

See, that's where you and I are different (which last I checked is OK by the way ) CF76. I look at the entire history of the franchise when making my selections. You use some other method. That's cool.

It's my belief that Tom Terrific would win, in a landslide for the Mets, over those two should've-been-superstars who utterly fell apart before their careers really got going. Randy Johnson played 8 years with the D-Backs, and won 4 straight Cy Young Awards in his first four seasons there.

With all due respect to the other great Dodgers, Robinson was a cut above all of them in talent, and in what he represents in American history. Most players have their best season on average at the age of 27. Robinson didn't enter MLB until the age of 28. Think about what his career in Dodger blue would look like if he'd been able to break the colour barrier in let's say 1941. I'm not gonna hold against him the fact that people in his time couldn't look past the colour of a person's skin and I don't think anybody else should.

Ok for some reason I didnt think or know that Randy Johnson played 8 yrs for Arizona dont know what I was doing 1999-2000, 2004...so yeah he is #1 for DB's...and being the best doesnt mean thats their #1 guy, which is what I was saying about Seaver...Seaver is among the top 5 SP of all time but Doc was the face of the 80's Mets..I dunno lets see what Mets fans say...and I do look a the entire history of a franchise, which is way Cap Anson isnt in the top 10 for the Cubs. theres been 9 better players since he played.
I am not looking past the color of Jackies skin I have jackie in 2 of my 3 leagues I play and he will come in earlier than '47 in my historical league. He is 1 of my all time fav non chicago players, but Sandy Koufax was the face of the LA Dodgers and Duke Snider the face of the Brooklyn Dodgers.
You baffle me with your baseball thinking...u drinking too much Molson or something.

[actionjackson]

Originally Posted by Chicagofan76

Ok for some reason I didnt think or know that Randy Johnson played 8 yrs for Arizona dont know what I was doing 1999-2000, 2004...so yeah he is #1 for DB's...and being the best doesnt mean thats their #1 guy, which is what I was saying about Seaver...Seaver is among the top 5 SP of all time but Doc was the face of the 80's Mets..I dunno lets see what Mets fans say...and I do look a the entire history of a franchise, which is way Cap Anson isnt in the top 10 for the Cubs. theres been 9 better players since he played.
I am not looking past the color of Jackies skin I have jackie in 2 of my 3 leagues I play and he will come in earlier than '47 in my historical league. He is 1 of my all time fav non chicago players, but Sandy Koufax was the face of the LA Dodgers and Duke Snider the face of the Brooklyn Dodgers.
You baffle me with your baseball thinking...u drinking too much Molson or something.

Molson is crap. Small batch craft beer is where it's at. If I still drank, that's what I'd be drinking along with rum from all over the world, but alas, sometimes sanity must prevail. Also, I think you'll find that Seaver will be near unanimous for the Mets. Isn't he still doing a little broadcasting for the Mets? He's been able to maintain his profile in the consciousness of Mets fans from stud rookie in 1967 right up to now, so I don't think it'll be all that close.

[1998 Yankees]

Originally Posted by 95Marinerschangedmylife

Its Junior with no doubt. He was the best thing to ever hit Seattle in sports in my opinion.

Well, you called it, 95M's, but then again, you should know!

JUNIOR IS MR. MARINER!

[jaxmagicman]

That one I knew.

[95Marinerschangedmylife]

I dont know if you guys have the same thing for your franchise but when Junior was at bat, everything stood still. People would stop what they were doing to watch even if we were losing by double digits. I cant think of another athlete in my lifetime that had that much star power for me.

[Chicagofan76]

Originally Posted by 95Marinerschangedmylife

I dont know if you guys have the same thing for your franchise but when Junior was at bat, everything stood still. People would stop what they were doing to watch even if we were losing by double digits. I cant think of another athlete in my lifetime that had that much star power for me.

Griffey was the same way on the Sox, even though most knew he was well past his prime..Frank Thomas early in his career was like that but not to the level Griffey was. Griffey and Ichiro r prob the 2 most exciting players to watch in the last 10 yrs, along with Bonds (b4 we all knew he was on steroids)

[bear]

Originally Posted by Jason Moyer

He wouldn't be #1 (I'd go with Aaron) but Eddie Mathews should be mentioned in there somewhere too. It's weird how such a great player basically has no legacy whatsoever.

Edit: Wtf, guess I can't read.

Aaron gets my vote. The problem with Mathews legacy is that when he played he had such talent and achievement at a young age that more was expected of him. He disappointed many of his contemporary fans by not producing more. He set the bar very high for expectations and let down vwcause he didn't meet them. I look at him as the # two third baseman I ever saw play just behind Schmidt. Aaron gets my vote as best I ever saw play.

Berger, Elliot, Crandall, Joe Torre, Duffy and the 1890's infielders are top 15 candidates.

An amusing Lew Burdette story popped into my mind. When Del Crandall was broadcasting Sox games he shared this with listeners. At the end of his career Burdette was an opposing pitcher and an argument about throwing spitters ensued. Lew denied ever throwing the pitch. Del's response was "Lew, I was your catcher. We had a sign for the pitch."

[bear]

Originally Posted by Chicagofan76

for the O's it will always be Iron Man Cal Ripken, as great as Eddie Murray is, it still has to be Cal, with Palmer or Brooks coming in at #2.

Hfield Ryno as Mr Cub? hmm ok. Ernie Banks nickname is Mr Cub.

I agree on your take on the Orioles. I mostly associate Frank Robinson with the Reds.

[bear]

Originally Posted by Chicagofan76

Jeter, as great as he is better not even be in the top 5 maybe not even in top 10 for All Time Yankees. Ruth, Dimaggio, Mantle, Gehrig, Berra, Ford r the top 6, heck I would even put Billy Martin & Casey Stengel in front of Jeter. Jeter at 9 and Mattingly at 10.

You need a top eight of tier one players. Bill Dickey and the dreaded closer the White Sox can't touch as my only contemporary pick . Jeter and about four score and seven other guys make it into the next tier. Lets See: Meusel, Combs, Lazzeri, Hoyt, Pennock, Heinrich, Keller, Gordon, Rizzuto, Bauer, Slowron, Boyer, Rolfe, McDougald, Maris, Howard, Jeter, Nettles, Munson, et, al.

[bear]

Frank Thomas, although the best player I ever saw in a White Sox uniform may not be the face of the franchise. There's my all time favorite Sox player, Minnie Minoso, who for decades has been an ambassador to fans.


Another anecdote. When Minnie embodied the Go Go White Sox of my childhood a reporter was asked who he thought would lead the AL in steals in the upcoming season, Minoso or Busby.
"Busby."
"Busby? But he'll be lucky to hit 230."
"Yeah, but Minoso doesn't stop at first base."

[bear]

Originally Posted by actionjackson

Also Nap Lajoie arrived in Cleveland in 1902, when the team was known as the Bronchos. In 1903 the team changed its name to the Cleveland Naps, and remained that way until he was purchased by the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1914-1915 offseason. When they name the team after you for all but one of the years you played for it, you're not only a franchise guy, you're a franchise icon.

The team currently known as the Cubs, was called the Orphans after Cap Anson retired. I still don't see anyone but Ernie as the face of the franchise. Anson's racism, on the other hand, makes him forgettable to me.

[BMD]

Originally Posted by 95Marinerschangedmylife

Its Junior with no doubt. He was the best thing to ever hit Seattle in sports in my opinion.

[actionjackson]

Originally Posted by bear

The team currently known as the Cubs, was called the Orphans after Cap Anson retired. I still don't see anyone but Ernie as the face of the franchise. Anson's racism, on the other hand, makes him forgettable to me.

That makes Anson stand out from his contemporaries how exactly? I'm not going to sit here and defend racism because it's indefensible to me as a person living in the 21st century, but Anson retired 50 years before Jackie Robinson broke the colour barrier, and it was another 15-20 years before Martin Luther King Jr. picked up steam with the civil rights movement. It was a different time altogether, and unfortunately Anson's views were kind of the norm at the time. He was a real stubborn, obstinate mule on the issue, but the people who say he deserves most of the blame for the colour barrier not having been broken sooner are as full of hot air as Cap was IMHO.

[Chicagofan76]

Originally Posted by bear

Frank Thomas, although the best player I ever saw in a White Sox uniform may not be the face of the franchise. There's my all time favorite Sox player, Minnie Minoso, who for decades has been an ambassador to fans.

My dad hates Minnie, he wasnt on the 59 team, and although he came back in 60, it came at the expense of losing Cash & Romano...which turned out to be 1 of many bad Veeck deals. As for myself I never saw him play in a Sox uniform otherwise he might be in my top 25. Frank was the best player I have seen in a Sox uniform but he is only my 4th all time fav player.