The "face" of the franchise

[Victory Faust]

Question: if you had to pick one player as the "face" of each franchise, who would it be?

For instance, while Babe Ruth is certainly the best player the Yankees ever had, I'm not sure he's the first guy most people think of when you think of the New York Yankees. DiMaggio, Gehrig or Mantle would get equal consideration, I think.

Ripkin or Brooks? That's probably tougher than even the Yankees. Who represents the Baltimore Orioles more: Cal Ripkin or Brooks Robinson? Remember, you can only pick one.

Detroit: Cobb or Kaline?

Braves: Aaron? Spahn? Smoltz?

They're not all so tough:

Cubs: Ernie Banks.

Red Sox: Ted Williams

Who are your nominations for the "face of the franchise"?


p.s. I'm sorry if this is a repeat post...I thought I posted this the other day, but I can't find it. Maybe I didn't hit the "send" button.

[KCGHOST]

Here in KC, it's an easy choice: George Brett.

[RuthMayBond]

Cincinnati - Bench?
Houston - Bagwell?
Dodgers - Lasorda?
Philly - Schmidt
St. Louis - Musial
San Diego - Gwynn
White Sox - Thomas?
KC - Brett
Minnesota - no longer Puckett?
Seattle - Griffey Jr?

[Brian McKenna]

in baltimore i think it's brooks - better to look at times the club actually won

i don't think anyone eclipses ruth

schmidt is the easy choice in philly but i tend to think of pete alexander

houston - i think of bob watson

mets - tom seaver

[dgarza]

Cincinnati - Bench?

Rose for sure

Dodgers - Lasorda?

Nice call

[dgarza]

houston - i think of bob watson

for some reason, this is true for the Astros. Watson or someone of his ilk, someone not too famous or HOF worthy, just another face in the crowd. Maybe Kevin Bass also.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Cleveland is Bob Feller.

[RuthMayBond]

for some reason, this is true for the Astros. Watson or someone of his ilk, someone not too famous or HOF worthy, just another face in the crowd. Maybe Kevin Bass also.

Maybe Jose Cruz?

[baseballPAP]

Wow can I see a bunch of arguments over this thread

I'd have to agree with Rose for my Reds......

I'd say if this was in another area the answers would be totally different when confronted by a bunch of youngish fans.

A few.....
Astros-Biggio or Bagwell
BoSox-Yaz
Indians-Feller is good
A's-I still think McGwire...maybe Billy Beane at this point?
Cardinal-Musial
Giants-Mays
Dodgers-LaSorda is good...very good
Pirates-Clemente or Stargell
White Sox-Nellie Fox or the Big Hurt
Yanks-no baseball face more famous that Ruth
Tigers-Cobb probably, Trammell gets some suport
Cubs-still Ernie Banks

[oscargamblesfro]

Angels- i would guess Nolan Ryan..Rangers- a very tough one as nobody's had a really long career there. Pudge Rodriguez by default? Mets- Seaver would be my choice. Brewers- it's kinda hard to choose between Yount and Molitor, I'd go with Yount though, since all of his career was spent there. Blue Jays is another tough one,no idea... Expos not including the recent move to the capital- probably Carter, though possibly Raines, and then Dawson.

[Blackout]

Astros - Bagwell
Mets - Piazza
Orioles - Ripken jr

[baseballPAP]

Angels- i would guess Nolan Ryan..Rangers- a very tough one as nobody's had a really long career there. Pudge Rodriguez by default? Mets- Seaver would be my choice. Brewers- it's kinda hard to choose between Yount and Molitor, I'd go with Yount though, since all of his career was spent there. Blue Jays is another tough one,no idea... Expos not including the recent move to the capital- probably Carter, though possibly Raines, and then Dawson.

Angels-I see Brian Downing...maybe Erstad?
Rangers-Toby Harrah?
Mets-Seaver over Piazza
Expos-"uncle" Gary Carter or the Rock

Um does Elroy get special mention for the Pirates?

[west coast orange and black]

when i think astros i think j.r. richard and jimmy wynn.

[Victory Faust]

i don't think anyone eclipses ruth

I agree -- but I still think of either DiMaggio or Mantle when I think "Yankees." I'm not a big DiMaggio fan personally, but I think he exemplifies the spirit of the Yankees more than the Babe.

As far as the Giants are concerned...the first guy I think of is John McGraw.

[west coast orange and black]

i gotta go for a ride on rmb's coattails on these... minus the question marks.

cincinnati - bench
los angeles - lasorda
philadelphia - schmidt
st. louis - musial
san diego - gwynn
chicago white sox - thomas
kansas city - brett
minnesota - puckett
seattle - griffey jr

no doubt that he will pick mays for san francisco and ride mine.