Who is your Franchise Guy?

[1998 Yankees]

OFFICIAL RECAP:

So far, according to the readers of USA Today, we have these Franchise Guys:

• Cubs - Ernie Banks
• Orioles - Cal Ripken, Jr.
• Expos/Nats - Andre Dawson
• Mariners - Ken Griffey, Jr.
• Astros - Nolan Ryan
• Indians - Bob Feller
• Padres - Tony Gwynn
• Blue Jays - Roberto Alomar
• Brewers - Robin Yount
• Royals - George Brett
• Rays - Carl Crawford
• Athletics - Rickey Henderson
• Diamondbacks - Randy Johnson

Now we have The Twin without an Equal (think about that, eh?): Mr. Harmon Killebrew!

[Chicagofan76]

Ok yeah Killebrew has far better stats then Puckett and yes Puckett probably wasnt the better person but i am shocked that Killebrew won easily and Puckett finished 3rd.
I forgot who said this, but it was something like "If Puckett played in NY they would have erected a statue to him in Times Square"

That may not be the exact quote but it was something to that effect.

[1998 Yankees]

Originally Posted by Chicagofan76

Ok yeah Killebrew has far better stats then Puckett and yes Puckett probably wasnt the better person but i am shocked that Killebrew won easily and Puckett finished 3rd.

Yes, that struck me too. When I have seen that kind of thing happen in this series, it raises my respect for whoever is voting because it shows that the most recent star is not always the automatic choice. The star from yesteryear is not forgotten.

Originally Posted by Chicagofan76

I forgot who said this, but it was something like "If Puckett played in NY they would have erected a statue to him in Times Square"

That may not be the exact quote but it was something to that effect.

It's in the game (no pun intended, and no plug for EA Sports, either):

"If he were playing in New York, there'd be a 5'8 statue of him in Times Square." (Andy MacPhail, on Kirby Puckett)

[1998 Yankees]

OFFICIAL RECAP:

So far, according to the readers of USA Today, we have these Franchise Guys:

• Cubs - Ernie Banks
• Orioles - Cal Ripken, Jr.
• Expos/Nats - Andre Dawson
• Mariners - Ken Griffey, Jr.
• Astros - Nolan Ryan
• Indians - Bob Feller
• Padres - Tony Gwynn
• Blue Jays - Roberto Alomar
• Brewers - Robin Yount
• Royals - George Brett
• Rays - Carl Crawford
• Athletics - Rickey Henderson
• Diamondbacks - Randy Johnson
• Twins - Harmon Killebrew

I feel good about this next one . . .

The Pirate of all Time is not named Kidd (Captain, not Jason), Morgan (Henry, not Joe), or Teach (Edward, not Your Children Well).

It's Roberto Clemente! (With all due respect to The Flying Dutchman and the other standout guys on this list.)

[Chicagofan76]

While I would have loved to see "The Greatest SS of All Time" win I was just watching a thing on Clemente the other day. If I grew up in the 70's I probably would have been a Pirates fan. Can't complain with him winning.

[Jpotapoff]

Originally Posted by Chicagofan76

While I would have loved to see "The Greatest SS of All Time" win I was just watching a thing on Clemente the other day. If I grew up in the 70's I probably would have been a Pirates fan. Can't complain with him winning.

I think I would go with Honus. As great of a person Clemente was he wasn't the dominate player during his time that Honus was. Honus is also arguably the best player ever at his position while there are a lot of other Outfielders that are ahead of Clemente.

[1998 Yankees]

Originally Posted by Jpotapoff

I think I would go with Honus. As great of a person Clemente was he wasn't the dominate player during his time that Honus was. Honus is also arguably the best player ever at his position while there are a lot of other Outfielders that are ahead of Clemente.

Honus did not die in his prime while on a humanitarian mission and with exactly 3,000 hits. Like Elvis, the circumstances of Clemente's untimely death just add to his mythical aura.

[Jpotapoff]

Originally Posted by 1998 Yankees

Honus did not die in his prime while on a humanitarian mission and with exactly 3,000 hits. Like Elvis, the circumstances of Clemente's untimely death just add to his mythical aura.

That's the perception behind Clemente that he died in his prime and his career was shortened because of his death. But I would like to point out that Clemente was 38 when he died and both him and Wagner played 18 seasons with the Pirates. So was Clemente really cut down during the prime of his baseball career?

[rudel.dietrich]

I would have to go with Wagner too. He was the greatest player of the first 50 years of the game, the best player of the dead ball era, the greatest SS of all time and the greatest 'old' player of all time.
Bill James rated him as the 2nd best player of all time. That was 10 years ago but besides perhaps Bonds I don't think he has been surpassed.
You could still call him the greatest National League player of all time.

Clemente was a fantastic player who gets a halo aura because of the circumstances of his death.

Wagner on the other hand played his final game almost 90 years ago.

There is really no question who the greatest Pirate is.

[1998 Yankees]

Originally Posted by Jpotapoff

That's the perception behind Clemente that he died in his prime and his career was shortened because of his death. But I would like to point out that Clemente was 38 when he died and both him and Wagner played 18 seasons with the Pirates. So was Clemente really cut down during the prime of his baseball career?

Granted. I should have said "in the prime of his life." That much is certainly true.

[bear]

Maz as one of the top 5?

Arky Vaughn is rolling over in his grave. Pie Traynor was considered to be the ATG 3rd sacker when I was a kid.

[1998 Yankees]

Originally Posted by bear

Maz as one of the top 5?

In Baseball, one swing of a bat can mean immortality. What a great game.

[1998 Yankees]

It's been quite a while - I thought maybe they had stopped this series of articles altogether.

Well, no, because today we honor the Greatest White Socker of All Time:
THE "BIG HURT," MR. FRANK THOMAS:

[1998 Yankees]

OFFICIAL RECAP:

So far, according to the readers of USA Today, we have these Franchise Guys:

• Cubs - Ernie Banks
• Orioles - Cal Ripken, Jr.
• Expos/Nats - Andre Dawson
• Mariners - Ken Griffey, Jr.
• Astros - Nolan Ryan
• Indians - Bob Feller
• Padres - Tony Gwynn
• Blue Jays - Roberto Alomar
• Brewers - Robin Yount
• Royals - George Brett
• Rays - Carl Crawford
• Athletics - Rickey Henderson
• Diamondbacks - Randy Johnson
• Twins - Harmon Killebrew
• Pirates - Roberto Clemente
• White Sox - Frank Thomas

[Chicagofan76]

I dont agree with anyone behind Frank Thomas.
While Ol' Aches & Pains is the only player to have played 20 seasons for the Sox, there are 4 other deserving players to finish 2-5. Baines #2, Aparicio #3 #2 for many, Billy Pierce #4 & I would have to put Buehrle & Konerko tied at #5 they are the current Sox favorites/stars. Other notables for #5 Fisk, Shoeless Joe & Eddie Collins.

[jaxmagicman]

Wow, they got one right. Or should say I did.

[Chicagofan76]

Originally Posted by jaxmagicman

Wow, they got one right. Or should say I did.

This was the easiest along with the Cubs.

[1998 Yankees]

Originally Posted by Chicagofan76

I dont agree with anyone behind Frank Thomas.
While Ol' Aches & Pains is the only player to have played 20 seasons for the Sox, there are 4 other deserving players to finish 2-5. Baines #2, Aparicio #3 #2 for many, Billy Pierce #4 & I would have to put Buehrle & Konerko tied at #5 they are the current Sox favorites/stars. Other notables for #5 Fisk, Shoeless Joe & Eddie Collins.

Interesting that you said this. If you noticed in the article, 7% voted for somebody else besides the players who were "nominated." That's a relatively high percentage of "other" votes in this series, IIRC.

[Chicagofan76]

Originally Posted by 1998 Yankees

Interesting that you said this. If you noticed in the article, 7% voted for somebody else besides the players who were "nominated." That's a relatively high percentage of "other" votes in this series, IIRC.

I didn't notice that.

[1998 Yankees]

This one may not be as easy as you think. For example, I know there are quite a few Joe Morgan fans here! ()