Yesterday, I wrote a blog about who would come to mind as the "face of the franchise" for the NFL. It sparked up some good comments, so I am going to try one for MLB. This isn't about current players-it's all time. These may not always be the best player-just the one that embodies their team the most.
Very interesting. Although for the Cubs I'd have Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks, as the face of the Cubs. For the Rays, Evan Longoria will be the face of the franchise before his career is over.
Good post and other than Ernie Banks I don't have a problem given the criteria, but if you're going to have the Big Unit on Arizona (a current player), then I want Carl Crawford on the Rays since he is the longest tenured player and not too shabby either!
I agree with Ernie Banks for the Cubs, and the White Sox should have Frank Thomas. Harold Baines was hardly an all-time great, and Frank Thomas is the greatest player in Sox history.
Jon, Dwindy is right! God, I don't believe I wrote that outloud. Crawford is the face of the Rays. McGriff was in the beginning and he does a great local sports show here in the Tampa Bay area but Crawford is the guy. Kazmir gets close and Longoria is the future.
I disagree with your Dodger pick. For me it would be Tommy Lasorda as the face. If it had to be a player it woukd be Drysdale
I also have a problem with your Mariners pick. Junior has been gone for sometime now. I would think Ichiro or Edgar martinez would be a better fit in this position.
Unfortunately, the Marlins never keep anyone long enough to have a face of the franchise. Last year it could have been D-Train or Cabrera. Now?? Maybe Uggla...
I'll agree with you-I missed the boat on Ernie Banks. Sandberg would definitely be second though. As for Carl Crawford-I almost put him down. As for Seattle, I think Ichiro is a close second, but Junior made that franchise what it is today. Edgar Martinez was a great player, but outside of Seattle only real knowledgable fans knew about Edgar. I thought I was going to get killed on a couple of these-like Johnny Bench and Larry Walker.
People didn't know about Edgar... right... he was only you know the constant 3-4-5 hitter most of his career and led the league in batting a couple of times and maybe the only legitimate DH to go into the hall (unlikely, stupid writers) but we'll go with The Kid...right...Gar-Gar is the only face of the Mariner's anybody who watched late 80's through 2001 should know that.
Unfortunately for the Giants, I think that the face of that organization is Barry Bonds.
As for the Dbacks, it almost seems you have to go with the Randy Johnson/Curt Schilling duo. But if it has to be one or the other, Johnson is probably the choice.
i like your pics, there are some arguments that could be made such as, for the reds i would go with Pete Rose, even though he is banned which is a shame, and for the tigers since it is all time i would go with Ty Cobb.
I'm not quite sure but where is the argument for Luis Gonzalez (sp?) for the diamond backs wasn't he everyday force and basically the guy that got them their title?
Ted Williams doesn't just embody the Red Sox the most, but he embodies all of baseball the most. What an injustice when he was not named MVP after batting .406. Added to his baseball accomplishments is the Charitable Work he did for the JIMMY FUND and the multiple occasions when he served in the Armed Forces, he does indeed "embody" all of baseball!
2 that are definitely not are the Chicago teams.
Cubs - Ernie Banks, no question.
White Sox - Carlton Fisk, Frank Thomas, Luis Aparicio, and Minnie Minoso are 4 that I would put above Harold Baines. I love Harold, but wouldnt call him the all-time face of the franchise.
Others that are questionable:
Reds - Pete Rose. Talk amongst yourselves...
Devil Rays/Rays - Carl Crawford is a possibility because McGriff was a traveler
Angels and Astros - Nolan Ryan's name can be tossed into the equation there also.
I agree with Ernie Banks for the Cubs, Pujols will soon be the new face of the Cardinals, And is it just me or Im I the only one who thinks of Tommy Lasorda when I think of the Dodgers???
Pretty good, I must disagree on several of these
1. Reggie Jackson should have been the face of the A's
2. I think Kirby Puckett best represents the Twins
3. They don't call Ernie Banks is Mr. Cub for nothing!
4. The Big Hurt should be the face of the White Sox
5. How could Ty Cobb not be the face of the Tigers?
I agree with Johnny Bench best representing the Reds, but an argument could be made for Pete Rose.
As controversial as he has become, with the gambling, lifetime-ban, he received...I would still like to say, that Pete Rose is the face of the Cincinnati Reds, and in a positive way too, not negative in which some may view that as. All-time hit leader, and the best characteristic of all...his overall hustle.
I think the Diamondbacks one should be Luis Gonzalez. Rockies should be Helton. The Astro's is a toss up between Biggio and Bagwell. White Sox should be Frank Thomas. Two other thoughts, I agree with Babe Ruth and Mike Schmidt, but I could also see Yogi Berra and Richie Ashburn.
nice to see i got picked. ernie banks is without doubt the face of the cubs...he's freakin "mr. cub" for christ sake. and for my money when i think orioles i think frank robinson. cal ripken..never bought into his "aww shucks" phoney baloney stuff.
Frank Thomas is the face of the White Sox by far. If you want to go back in time you could look at Nellie Fox or Luis Aparicio. Or if you really want to go back in time (I mean really), you can point out guys like Eddie Collins (who is considered one of the best 2B of all-time). But if you're looking at this from a recent stand point, the guy to choose is obviously Big Frank. Baines was a great player, but Frank is a one of the best right handed hitters of all time.
Frank Thomas is the face of the franchise when I think or it. Harold Baines doesn't come to mind. I would have even put Ozzie Guillen before Baines. Other than that, I pretty much agree.
i know Randy and Curt got us our title but as for face of the franchise its hands down Gonzo. no player in Az baseball history is hands down Louis Gonzalez.
Johnny Bench is most definitely not the face of the Reds franchise. Neither is Pete Rose, but I'd choose him before Bench. The face of the Reds is the ol' lefthander, Joe Nuxhall. Ask anyone in Cincinnati to choose between the three, and Nuxy would get about 99% of the vote.
I think most people in AZ would say Gonzo is the face of the franchise but honestly as a DBacks fan I wouldn't. Other than in 2001 he really wasn't that good. He hit more cans of corn than anything else by far. I would say right now that Randy and Curt would be becuase they were the Co MVPs of the world series but in ten years it's probably going to be Brandon Webb. He's the home grown Ace of the pitching staff with already a Cy Young award (before he learned his change up) and he's doing better this year than he ever has. I really think that once this new crop of DBacks proves themselves a lot of people in AZ will be asking "Luis Who?"
If i had to pick a face of the franchise for the Mets id have to pick Ralph Kiner. HE's been with the mets since they began. He was there announcer for many years and had one of the most popular sports programs in NY w/ Kiner's Corner. And to this day he still is involved with the Mets.
I think the Nats should defintely be Frank Howard. He's on the back of all the hats and when the Nat's played at RFK they had the seats painted white where he hit home runs.
He's a big star. I am his big fan. I saw him dating on a FREE & HOT celebrity millionaire dating site called RichMatchMaking.com. Seems he is hooking up with a hottie. The girl is from California. Very soft and sexy.
The Babe would be the popular choice as for the Yanks. But Mantle or Dimaggio would be a very close 2nd. As for the modern era Yanks, I would have to say Jeter.. Clemente without question for Pirates and Reggie for the A's in my book. Oh! and dont forget about Joe Morgan and the Red Machine... I think that an argument can be made on his behalf..
I'm going to have to agree with Griffey being the face of the Mariners. Although there were always some fans who didn't like him (usually grumpy old men)it was Griffey who put Seattle on the baseball map. And although I know it was Edgar's hit that drove him in, when I think of the Mariner's my first thought is of Griffey rounding 3rd base and coming in to score to beat the Yankees in the '95 playoffs.
For the White Sox how about Shoeless Joe, Haha. :P
