Favorite Players [Merged Threads]

[timconnelly]

I was 8 years old and Mickey Mantle was my favorite player. My parents got me a book called the Quality of Courage by Mickey that I just loved. (I have no idea how much Mickey really contributed to that book but at the time it never occurred to me that someone else might have written it) Mantle walked on water to me. I remember reading Ball Four and not understanding what the big deal was: This is Mickey Mantle; no need for him to be perfect dudes!

Mantle retired in 1968 and I needed a new idol. Tom Seaver became my main man. I used to listen to Mets games on the radio when he pitched. I looked at all the boxscores and figured up his ERA after evey game. Somewhere during the Seaver era, I stopped following baseball. But I never stopped following Seaver.

After Seaver, I moved on to Wade Boggs. I followed Wade with the commitment of a big Red Sox fan. But I never was a Red Sox fan. I looked at the boxscores, watched him every time he was on television, and rooted for him to win yet another batting title.

Why these 3 players? Why such loyalty to them over a period of so many years? In football, it was Dan Marino: I've basically stopped following football since his retirement.

I was wondering about your favorite player. What led you to liking that player so much? Can you have several favorite players at the same time? Do you stay loyal when he stops performing well?

[Xanadu Dragon]

Wow, in my mind, I could swear we had this thread once - - and nyy26wc took Reggie, ChrisCary took Mattingly, and I think Buzz took Keith Hernandez - - - but, I can't find it. Maybe I just put all that togther in my head from other threads?

I think you can have several favs - - in some order, if not at the same time - - but, you'll always have just one first fav.

Tim - - not many baseball fans can say they went from Yanks to Mets to Red Sox on their favs. :) Thanks like someone saying they went from Wendys to McDonalds to Burker King.

[TGwynn19]

Tim,

for the first time in my life I have to 'find' a new fave player. When I became a baseball fan in ernest I liked the Padres and obviously Tony Gwynn. It is going to be wierd to see Pads games without number 19 out there. I honestly don't know who, as an individual, I will cheer for. I suspect it may end up being a Twin or Red Sox player as I plan to attend quite a few spring training games in March.

[sweaver]

Johnny Bench, all the way. I never really picked another favorite after he retired, just kind of followed everyone. But J.B. will always be my fave.

[Yogi#8Fan]

Seaver, Donnie Baseball, Doc Gooden, Roger Clemens, Willie Stargell, Hammerin' Hank, Say Hey (introduced to him by his Saturday AM cartoon, "Willie Mays and the Say Hey Kid").

After this, I figured out Mantle, Joe D, Babe Gehrig, but I'll admit I knew much more about his "luckiest man alive" speech and ALCS long before I'd known he was one of the finest 1B-men ever and, after the Babe (according to Yankee fans on another site going back 50+ years), the greatest Yankee ever.

Like sweaver, I've heard the motto that "Johnny Bench has never met a man he couldn't throw out trying to steal").

[timconnelly]

Originally posted by TGwynn19
Tim,

for the first time in my life I have to 'find' a new fave player. When I became a baseball fan in ernest I liked the Padres and obviously Tony Gwynn. It is going to be wierd to see Pads games without number 19 out there. I honestly don't know who, as an individual, I will cheer for. I suspect it may end up being a Twin or Red Sox player as I plan to attend quite a few spring training games in March.

It is going to be tough replacing Tony! The guy was a great hitter for sure, but he was also such a great ambassador for the game. I was a Boggs fan and found it hard to like Gwynn at first. There styles had enough similarities for me to resent him as a pretender to Boggs's throne as the best high percentage hitter in the game. But I think history will see Tony as the better of the 2 players. Boggs may have been better early on but I think Tony's prime lasted longer.

Just listening to him talk and seeing how much respect he had for the game, I started liking him despite myself.

I"ll bet you that nobody ever replaces him for you. The players that we first love just impact us deepest.

[Xanadu Dragon]

Originally posted by TGwynn19
for the first time in my life I have to 'find' a new fave player.

You'll probably do it - - - I had a fav in the late '70's - - - big time fan. When his career was over, I didn't pick a fav right away - - - I really wasn't following the game as close as I did then and now for a while - - I was in my early 20's in the early 80's and my main focus was along the lines of girls and music.

Then, in the late 80's, I started to get back into the full time baseball bug and started becoming a Ripken fan - - first, just because he was (at that time) a freak - - a big man playing SS (who could play SS) and who could hit - - - later, because of the character of the man and his work ethic. (I love people who work hard.)

Now that Ripken is retired, I can honestly say that I have no one on the horizon. A few years back, I could have thought that perhaps it would have been Bernie Williams - - but, he does too many things now that piss me off. Many players, I admire for their talent/greatness - like Bonds - but, I can't say he's my fav player.

I've always been an AL guy - - if not, I could see a guy like Bagwell rising to the top of my list. O'Neill was my fav current Yankee - - - but, now he's gone.

Anyone have someone they want to suggest?

[Yogi#8Fan]

Skip, to your last post, I guess you may be asking for the next Michael Jordan of baseball. That's a pretty tough criteria, especially if you can't think of anybody. I suppose guys like Vlad and others may renew people's interest in the sport, though I can't guarantee the next Mickey Mantle.

As to timconnelly's picking of a Met, Yank and Sox, I also chose Seaver, Doc Gooden and Roger Clemens so he's not totally unique.

[TGwynn19]

I think that what happens in the next 6 months to 1 year will determine if I become so attached to a singular player. If the powers that be stop baseball again I may not have the strong love for the game that i currently have. I will always follow baseball, but if the owners and the union have a strike/ lockout I may just be a casual observer rather than the baseball freak that i am.

[Yogi#8Fan]

Originally posted by TGwynn19
I think that what happens in the next 6 months to 1 year will determine if I become so attached to a singular player. If the powers that be stop baseball again I may not have the strong love for the game that i currently have. I will always follow baseball, but if the owners and the union have a strike/ lockout I may just be a casual observer rather than the baseball freak that i am. Interesting but sad part of it all is that Cal, who'd revitalized baseball w/his never taking a day off after 1994 fiasco, isn't there anymore. No one to take his place so unless Bud, Pohlan and all the rest intend to hide out in the deep boonies somewhere, they'd better keep themselves in check.

[BBapplepie]

What you guys are saying is so true, the fact is the player
today think they are bigger than the game and it history.
There many players today don't know of the rich history and
past immortals of this game or care. For myself, I have my
today baseball favorites right here on the Shrine and still have
my favorites from yesteryears. What I'm trying to say is that
we all share the goal and that is.
THE LOVE FOR THE GAME
Stars or no superstars, still the greatest game between the lines.

[nyy26wc]

Originally posted by Xanadu Dragon
Wow, in my mind, I could swear we had this thread once - - and nyy26wc took Reggie

I did take Reggie and I'm sticking with my childhood favorite as my all time favorite.

I will add that when Reggie left the scene, Mattingly was my favorite among active players and now Bernie Williams holds the title.

[Duque]

I have to admit I'm biased towards pitchers - maybe it comes from the few times I "pitched" in my High School days. So I have to say guys like Trevor Hoffman, Mike Mussina, and Mariano Rivera as my favorites.

All-time, I'm a huge Goose Gossage fan.

[Yogi#8Fan]

Originally posted by BBapplepie
What you guys are saying is so true, the fact is the player
today think they are bigger than the game and it history.
There many players today don't know of the rich history and
past immortals of this game or care. For myself, I have my
today baseball favorites right here on the Shrine and still have
my favorites from yesteryears. What I'm trying to say is that
we all share the goal and that is.
THE LOVE FOR THE GAME
Stars or no superstars, still the greatest game between the lines. When I heard that Phillies' Scott Rolen told his team not to even offer a new contract since he wants to test the FA market, I was thinking UGH, what is this game coming to? I still remember Babe's line that he got paid better than the President of the United States since he'd done a better job. Now all I hear is pay me, pay me, the sky's the limit.

I hope that the players today at least do love the game they're all paid handsomely to do. If not, what much fun is it anymore? Mom, baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, take me out to the balllllllllll gammmmmmmmmme..................

[Skip]

Right idea sweaver.

Except I couldnt choose between Bench and Rose back then. My most treasured artifact is a baseball I got them both to sign at a charity basketball(!) game (Reds against UC). I was very caught up in the Rose as hometown boy thing back then.

[Yogi#8Fan]

OK, so for all the Johnny Bench fans, what was there about him that you absolutely loved? I'm a big fan of his also but just wanted to hear it from the heart and soul.

[sweaver]

Originally posted by Yogi#8Fan
OK, so for all the Johnny Bench fans, what was there about him that you absolutely loved? I'm a big fan of his also but just wanted to hear it from the heart and soul.

Oh, part of it was the power hitter thing. That's always big for a kid. Then there was the folksy charm, and the holding eight baseballs in one hand. He just seemed like a nice guy, and a catcher/cleanup hitter is a pretty rare thing, even today.

[Xanadu Dragon]

Originally posted by sweaver
the holding eight baseballs in one hand.

:D Gotta admit, even as (then) a NYer, I thought this was way cool - - and, to this day, still try and hold as much as I can in one hand (say, like a lunch tray, bottle of soda, bag of chips, as I return to my desk at work) - - just to see what I can do.

[Skip]

Originally posted by Yogi#8Fan
OK, so for all the Johnny Bench fans, what was there about him that you absolutely loved? I'm a big fan of his also but just wanted to hear it from the heart and soul.

Yeah, the power hitting was a lot of it. Then the whole "spot on the lung" drama and surgery provided the perfect amount of pathos for a teenage soul.

[Yogi#8Fan]

Originally posted by sweaver
Oh, part of it was the power hitter thing. That's always big for a kid. Then there was the folksy charm, and the holding eight baseballs in one hand. He just seemed like a nice guy, and a catcher/cleanup hitter is a pretty rare thing, even today. His .262 lifetime BA isn't the greatest among catchers but 389 dingers? That's gotta still be the most at C (Piazza has 314), though I'm unsure how many came when he actually caught.

I remember just love saying "Johnny Bench!" when I was a kid. More his slugging then his inability to be stolen on. BTW, does anyone know how we can find his ratio of guys who SB off him, vs those CS? It would be an interesting read.

I was never a Reads fan, just a Bench fan. I even remember his TV ad (playing Bob Vila here) of Johnny Bench's bench, like Joe D's Mr. Coffee.

[Skip]

Originally posted by Yogi#8Fan
His .262 lifetime BA isn't the greatest among catchers but 389 dingers? That's gotta still be the most at C (Piazza has 314), though I'm unsure how many came when he actually caught.

I remember just love saying "Johnny Bench!" when I was a kid. More his slugging then his inability to be stolen on. BTW, does anyone know how we can find his ratio of guys who SB off him, vs those CS? It would be an interesting read.

I was never a Reads fan, just a Bench fan. I even remember his TV ad (playing Bob Vila here) of Johnny Bench's bench, like Joe D's Mr. Coffee.

Was "Johnny Bench's bench" the same ad as the one I remember for Rustoleum? He's also done more recent ones for a regional bank. Much as I hate to say it, the first ad should have been for a deck sealant, as "wooden" is the appropriate description for his screen presence. :)

[Skip]

Someone should start a new thread for least favorite players. Perhaps we need to have an ineligibility list for the most common or most likely choices.

I dont have a great candidate to start it off, or we'd go on into it now. Anyone feeling negative??

[Yogi#8Fan]

Originally posted by Skip
Was "Johnny Bench's bench" the same ad as the one I remember for Rustoleum? He's also done more recent ones for a regional bank. Much as I hate to say it, the first ad should have been for a deck sealant, as "wooden" is the appropriate description for his screen presence. :) Nope, Johnny Bench's "bench" was some kind of workbench I think (commercial was about 1975-80, so give me some slack). Nothing unique, since Tom Seaver has done his share of ad "pitching". :D

As to least favorite players, your wish is granted.

[sweaver]

Originally posted by Yogi#8Fan
Nope, Johnny Bench's "bench" was some kind of workbench I think (commercial was about 1975-80, so give me some slack). Nothing unique, since Tom Seaver has done his share of ad "pitching". :D


"No runs, no drips, no errors." Ring any bells?

For awhile, Bench ran about 50-50 on SB/CS. Don't know what the final figures were.

[Skip]

Originally posted by sweaver


"No runs, no drips, no errors." Ring any bells?

For awhile, Bench ran about 50-50 on SB/CS. Don't know what the final figures were.

That's the quote I remember - thought it was for Rustoleum.

[Yogi#8Fan]

Originally posted by sweaver
"No runs, no drips, no errors." Ring any bells?

For awhile, Bench ran about 50-50 on SB/CS. Don't know what the final figures were. I know for a fact I know that commercial. Couldn't be for a workbench. It sounded like Rosie for Bounty commercials way back in the days like the early 80s. Either that or Joltin' Joe DiMaggio (God, I love to say/sing that) and his Mr. Coffee commercials. I'm 66-2/3:33-1/3 in favor of Rosie, though I could be wrong.

[Xanadu Dragon]

Originally posted by Skip
That's the quote I remember - thought it was for Rustoleum.

You're right and wrong. Right on the spot - wrong for relying on Yog. ;)

[sweaver]

Johnny did a few of those spots, with that same tag line.

[Yogi#8Fan]

Originally posted by Xanadu Dragon
You're right and wrong. Right on the spot - wrong for relying on Yog. ;) Ahhhhhhh, offering good advice to the new members, I see. ;)

[Skip]

Originally posted by Xanadu Dragon


You're right and wrong. Right on the spot - wrong for relying on Yog. ;)

I'll be sure to keep that in mind for the future.

[nightal]

Bob Gibson was the first athlete in any sport that I literally, loved.
His unbelievable competitive spirit and the cool way he fell off the mound when he pitched, were what me and my buds practiced on all the time in the backyard.
To take another view at favorite players, what was it that could make anyone "love" Reggie or Hank Aaron?? I just never got either of those two guys for different reasons.

[Yogi#8Fan]

Originally posted by nightal
To take another view at favorite players, what was it that could make anyone "love" Reggie or Hank Aaron?? I just never got either of those two guys for different reasons. Reggie was like the class clown, the showman. I've nicknamed him Sir Whiff-A-Lot (after that rapper Sir Mix-A-Lot), but you can't deny his energy. After getting a candy bar in his name from hitting 3 first-pitch dingers, he's gone onto celebrity.

Hank is a very different person. He's a very serious person who's always been guarded from the interviews and specials I see of him. Even those two kids who broke through security on his 715th, and cheered him from 2B to 3B, he seemed cautious about. He later remarked after seeing the video of them that had they tried anything, they wouldn't have gotten very far.

He'd hit #713 to end the 1973 season and lots of rednecks and any other "Capt. America" type trying to enhance their own comfort level were after him like there was a price on his head that offseason, hoping he'd remain one short and forever in second place. Death threats galore, people trying to run him over in their cars, letters saying no (n-word) will ever be good enough to defeat a white man, especially the most beloved man in all of sports at the time. I'd seen so many hateful and threatening letters addressed to Hammerin' Hank that I wondered if they were all for Santa Claus or the Beatles, if not for the content.

Adding insult to injury, he'd felt very slighted by Bowie Kuhn upon his 715th and several NY sports pages (and I'm sure other cities) just had a "who cares, ho-hum" attitude about his accomplishment of topping what's probably the most honored & revered MLB record of all, which certainly doesn't get broken after 3 years.

I remember seeing a TV special on Hank and he'd recalled when he first broke into MLB, when he couldn't get any decent food from the "coloreds only" places on the road, there was a light-skinned black player or friend who would buy sandwiches and food f/the black ballplayers. He had the strongest southern black accent which would've given him away, so they stuck an oversized hat on his head and he pretended to be "white", or at least pass for this, as well as deaf. Anywho, this friend would point to what he wanted, pay for everything, bring it back to the hotel and that's how the black ballplayers got good food. It's interesting and unfortunate that he'd had to go through this but that and the threats may explain his serious and cautious demeanor.

By contrast, Say Hey was the 1951 ROY and had the broadest smile like Magic Johnson or Satchmo Armstrong, and fans came from miles around just to see his infectious smile!

Every single person takes life differently but w/660 HRs, Willie never threatened the Babe's record. Who knows if the smile might've been wiped off his face had he done that?

[sweaver]

Originally posted by nightal
Bob Gibson was the first athlete in any sport that I literally, loved.
His unbelievable competitive spirit and the cool way he fell off the mound when he pitched, were what me and my buds practiced on all the time in the backyard.
To take another view at favorite players, what was it that could make anyone "love" Reggie or Hank Aaron?? I just never got either of those two guys for different reasons.

Actually, Hank was a lot like Gibby: cool, professional, did his work every day. Quieter than Gibson, but no less excellent at his job. Those are the guys I respect, rather than the Reggie Jackson/ Rickey Henderson, "How great I am" school.

[nightal]

I kinda see your Reggie comments, but for the life of me, I get so tired of Aaron's act. His "cautious" stuff needs to go. I cringe everytime I hear that an interviewer is going to talk to Hank Aaron because I know the same old stuff is coming.
Gibson was, I guess, sort of the same guy (I disagree), to some people, but at least he does talk about baseball and pitching instead of his bad experiences every time.

[sweaver]

A lot of men grow bitter in their old age. Hank appears to be one of them.

[nightal]

Well said Sweaver,
Aaron and J. Dimaggio have always been problems for me because I don't like them, but a great many people seem to.
On the other hand, I love Hornsby, have many books on him, but most people either hate him or have negative opinions.

[Yogi#8Fan]

Originally posted by nightal
Well said Sweaver,
Aaron and J. Dimaggio have always been problems for me because I don't like them, but a great many people seem to.
On the other hand, I love Hornsby, have many books on him, but most people either hate him or have negative opinions. What was there about Joe D people didn't like? His never wanted to discuss Marilyn Monroe? His winning MVP in 1941 over Teddy? I was just curious, that's all.

[nightal]

For me, he just never did it for me. Just listening to some of his former teammates talk about him in interviews made me nauseous with their reverence.
Then he died and these same people (some, not all), bashed him.
I bought his book and the more I learn about him, the more I didn't like him or his "aura".
Different strokes for, well you know the rest.

[Yogi#8Fan]

nightal, I've heard the same things mentioned about Joe D. One very old-school sports columnist, cartoonist & portraitist, NY Daily News' Bill Gallo (http://www.nydailynews.com/manual/sports/gallo/people14.htm) (click on "Previous" at the bottom of link f/another portrait of Joe), who's had Joe personally request originals of his work, said that he always warned younger reporters against mentioning Marilyn. I've seen other non-membership boards where just mentioning his name would immediately bring comments like "bitter", "too full of himself" and all, so I figured I'd get an honest view. I guess like Barry Bonds, even extreme talents have ways of rubbing people the wrong way.

According to many Yankee fans I know, the top 5 in order are The Babe, Iron Horse, Joe, Mick and Whitey. BTW, what's the name of that book you read? My first NYY book, "Now Pitching for the Yankees" just arrived so I'm going to get comfy with it.

[Xanadu Dragon]

I truly believe that DiMaggio was a prick. I know two people that worked with him at times and they both confirmed (via some good stories) that the guy was a prick - - - this was way before Richard Cramer's book on him - - which also depicted him as a prick.

[Yogi#8Fan]

Originally posted by Xanadu Dragon
I truly believe that DiMaggio was a prick. I know two people that worked with him at times and they both confirmed (via some good stories) that the guy was a prick - - - this was way before Richard Cramer's book on him - - which also depicted him as a prick.You mean "Joe DiMaggio: The Hero's Life"? I'd seen this on Amazon.com. If you can offer a small summary of one of those stories that don't get your sources in trouble, can you please do so?

BTW, I'm wondering if we're talking about favorite or least favorite players. :o

[sweaver]

Originally posted by Xanadu Dragon
I truly believe that DiMaggio was a prick. I know two people that worked with him at times and they both confirmed (via some good stories) that the guy was a prick - - - this was way before Richard Cramer's book on him - - which also depicted him as a prick.

And the winner of the award for most times using a five-letter somewhat-offensive word in a one-paragraph post is.............

[Skip]

Hank has always come across as bitter to me. That's too bad, but he doesnt seem to impose it on people unless they ask him about it.

Joe D has come off as a self-indulgent, arrogant, jerk. I'm too young to have known him, or of him, in his prime, but I haven't heard anything in the past 20 years to make me think he was anything but selfish. Not that this would make him unique, but .... Am I wrong or subject to too much revisionist history?? I'd really like to know, since he is the one baseball icon who seems to be most at odds with his public persona/veneration.

I suppose this Joe D thing could become a thread of its own; I'll leave that up to the fearless leadership.

[letsplay2]

My favorite player is former cubbies second basemen Ryne Sandberg. He never complained and always was gracious when he received praise. I also love kirby for the same reasons.

[Xanadu Dragon]

Originally posted by sweaver
And the winner of the award for most times using a five-letter somewhat-offensive word in a one-paragraph post is.............

:loud: Just saw that. Funny.

LP2 - - two good ones. I agree.

[CubFan7125]

Originally posted by letsplay2
My favorite player is former cubbies second basemen Ryne Sandberg. He never complained and always was gracious when he received praise. I also love kirby for the same reasons. A person after my own heart. Kirby is my favorite Twin, followed closely by Herbie. Sandberg & Grace are my 2 favorite Cubs. Your from Fargo, what about Roger?

[letsplay2]

Originally posted by CubFan7125
A person after my own heart. Kirby is my favorite Twin, followed closely by Herbie. Sandberg & Grace are my 2 favorite Cubs. Your from Fargo, what about Roger?
Roger Maris is also a favorite of mine. It's hard not to when I would go to baseball practice at our American Legion baseball field there is a section of the park devoted to him. My parents also told me a story or two about him. My mom remembers school almost stopping and letting out here in fargo when Roger hit number 61.

[MurcerMan]

Originally posted by timconnelly


I was wondering about your favorite player. What led you to liking that player so much? Can you have several favorite players at the same time? Do you stay loyal when he stops performing well? [/B]

My Dad would start every sentance he uttered concerning baseball with the phrase "Now, when DiMaggio played..." and usually ended it with why everyone since DiMaggio was a slug. I started following the Yanks when I was 7 years old in 1965 (great timing, huh?), and Mickey Mantle WAS a god! He was also falling apart, so I didn't exactly get to see The Mick at his peak.

When he retired, I read about "The Next Mickey Mantle," a pip-squeak third baseman named Bobby Murcer. Well, I ran home from school on opening day in time to see Bobby Ray launch one against the Senators in Washington and then watched him tear the league up for over a month. I was hooked...

The following year, my Dad took my brother and I to a double-header at the Stadium against Cleveland. Murcer crushed a homer late in the opening game loss, prompting my Dad to state, "Yeah, Mr. Clutch hits one when the game is over. He's a bum."

In the nightcap, Murcer belts one his first time up and my Dad says "He's a lucky stiff...but still a stiff."

A few innings later, Bobby Ray crushes another one and my Dad doesn't say a word.

Then, in his final at-bat, the Yanks down by a run, Murcer belts another homer to tie the game! The centerfield scoreboard lists Murcer as the third Yankee to ever hit 4 consectutive homers behind Gehrig, Mantle and Blanchard. I turn to my Dad and said, "Hey Dad, back when DiMaggio played, I guess Yankees didn't hit 4 consectutive homers, did they?" He just laughed.

I'll NEVER stop following the Yanks, but I'll NEVER have another favorite player.

[Skip]

Great Story MurcerMan. Welcome to NDF.

[timconnelly]

Bobby Murcer! I remember thinking that Murcer was going to develop into a really special ballplayer. He had the one exceptional year in '71 and a nice run of solid seasons (8 straight years of at least 88 RBI). For his career, he hit 252 home runs and is recognized by NetShrine as an Icon of his Era!

I just read MurcerMan's story about seeing him hit 4 straight home runs and how he will always be his favorite player and was reminded that a ballplayer can be very special even if his numbers aren't glorious.

Thanks for sharing and welcome to the forum!

[Hitman23]

I was wondering who you guys favorite player(s) are and the reason they are your favorites.

My person favorite is Don Mattingly. I loved his fielding,I loved his hitting. I just all together loved to watch the man play.

[pwdennis]

Carl Yastrzemski is my first and always favorite player, with Brooks Robinson as my #2 favorite. I was also a fan of Bill Monbouquette (a pretty good pitcher on some pretty bad Bosox teams), Henry Aaron and Harmon Killebrew.

After the Yaz era my favorites have been have been Jim Rice, Dwight Evans, Wade Boggs and Nomar (the Great) Garciaparra.

I also liked Tony Gwynn, who was a class act. The notion that he was as great a player as Boggs;however, is an illusion created by the error the Red Sox made in leaving Boggs in the minors for at least two seasons too many (similar to the illusion that Lefty Grove was "only" a 300 game winner after being stranded in the high minors for about four too many seasons)

Ted Williams retired during the season in which I started following the game. For that reason, I didn't have the rooting interest in him that I had in Yaz but I was a fan anyway, but on a more intellectual level.

[OaktownTribeFan]

Luis Tiant would have to be at the top of my list. "Looie" was fun to watch, as he spun around, looked at CF, and fired the ball towards the plate. I saw him pitch a 3 hit shutout in '68 when I was 15, and he won me over right there.

Bill Lee and Peter Gammons have both written about what a great guy he was in the clubhouse. And just about as funny as they come, too.

I liked Gwynn too--a real class act as a person. I'm sure he'll be a great teacher for college players.

[Jim Rice]

I was seven years old in 1975, the year Lynn and Rice arrived, and even though I was a left-handed white kid, it was Rice, not Lynn, who became my favorite. I can't really explain why, except to say that Lynn just seemed more ordinary. Heck, if I could run into walls in the outfield, what made him so special? Rice, on the other hand, hit balls further than anyone could remember and snapped bats on his checked swings. He broke his wrist being hit by a pitch and didn't even wince or rub it - he just pointed at it as he walked toward the trainer. Then, a few years later, he climbed into the stands on national TV to help a kid who had been skulled by a foul ball and was bleeding all over the place. The fact that he hated the Boston media only made him cooler because I hated the Boston media too. Even as a kid I noticed that they had this aura of negativity around them - everything they wrote about my Sox seemed to be negative. If they hated Rice, that spoke well of him.

Anyway, Rice is gone now (except for the Hall ballot, any of you BBWAA voters out there), and Nomar's my favorite. For a while, in the early '90s - after Rice but before Nomar arrived - it was Jim Eisenreich, who could have been a really good regular ballplayer, a Mark Grace-type only in left or right field, if life hadn't dealt him a couple of crappy cards in his hand. And a really good guy too.