I was inspired by a question posed on one of the baseball pages yesterday, thinking about how most, if not all MLB teams that have Hall of Famers that represented their organizations likely have that one player that is their all time player. Teams like the Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, Tigers, Giants and others can say that there were more than one player that can be spoken about as their all time player. There are many ways this can be done. Should I include pitchers or just position players? I think it will create a better debate if we include pitchers on this list as well. I will first mention every existing franchise right now, including the Braves when they were in Boston and Milwaukee, the Athletics when they were in Philadelphia, the Orioles when they were in St Louis, the Twins when they were in Washington, the Rangers when they were in Washington and the Nationals when they were in Montreal. This will lead for a great debate and remember, only one player can represent each franchise.
Atlanta Braves: The Braves have had their share of Hall of Famers, including Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine, who will be enshrined this season. Eddie Matthews was dominant and Chipper Jones should be in on the first ballot. It is a close race between Hank Aaron and Warren Spahn. Spahn was the greatest left handed pitcher to ever pitch in the game. But he ranks behind many of the other top pitchers and was not an immortal. Aaron was an immortal. Not just because of his 755 HRs, but because of where he ranks in all the other offensive categories. Aaron is in the discussion of the top ten offensive players to ever play in the history of the game. Atlanta Braves: Hank Aaron
Washington Nationals (Montreal Expos): This comes down to the two players who made the Hall after starring with the Expos. Andre Dawson had some very good seasons, but there were several outfielders who were as good. Few catchers were in the same as Gary Carter. The answer to the question of why Carter went into the Hall as an Expo is because he was the greatest player they ever had. The same could not be said about the Mets. It also helped that he played with the Expos longer. Washington Nationals (Montreal Expos): Gary Carter
New York Mets: Not much of a debate here. Many Hall of Fame players played for the Mets, but few were known as Mets. Gary Carter would be the second choice, but Seaver is called "the franchise" for a reason. New York Mets: Tom Seaver
Philadelphia Phillies: Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton would get the nod if we were talking about the top Phillies HOF player after 1950 though Robin Roberts and Richie Ashburn would get some consideration. But in my opinion, I think it is a no brainer to choose from the list of Chuck Klein, Pete Alexander and Ed Delahanty. Klein had five of the most dominant consecutive seasons to start a career ever. Alexander managed to win 190 games in his first 8 big league seasons. But to me, Delahanty gets the nod. Some may dispute the fact that his career started in the late 1880s, but he hit .347 for his career. He hit over .400 three times. And based on the grey ink test, he was a top player in the entire National League. Philadelphia Phillies: Ed Delahanty
Miami Marlins (Florida Marlins): Andre Dawson missed out in a close race in Montreal (Washington). He gets the nod in Miami because of default. He is the only Hall of Fame player to put on a Marlins uniform. Miami Marlins (Florida Marlins): Andre Dawson
St Louis Cardinals: Many players made the Hall of Fame after starring for the Cardinals. None stand out like Rogers Hornsby and Stan Musial. The Cardinals fans would choose Musial by a landslide, as he spent his entire 22 year career with the team. Hornsby was dominant in the 1920s and was the first National League star. Hornsby hit .358 for his career, .359 in a Cardinals uniform. While I was leaning towards Hornsby, Musial did hit .331, finished with 3630 career hits, the highest total in NL history until 1985. He also hit 475 HRs, won 3 NL MVPs and 3 World Series titles. St Louis Cardinals: Stan Musial
Milwaukee Brewers (Seattle Pilots): One guy stands out in the history of the Brewers and that is Robin Yount. Paul Molitor had a great career, but spent his last several seasons with other organizations. I don't think this one is close. Milwaukee Brewers (Seattle Pilots): Robin Yount
Cincinnati Reds: This is an interesting choice because players like Frank Robinson, Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan and Ernie Lombardi could all make a case to be the one. Bench, based on power numbers, is the greatest offensive catcher in the Hall of Fame today. Morgan is one of the top second basemen to ever play the game. Should I go with Bench because of his longevity? Morgan gets consideration even though he only played 8 seasons with the Reds, as those were by far the best he had in his career. I am going with Robinson based on his ten seasons with the Reds. Only once in those 10 seasons did he hit less than 29 HR and drive in less than 83 runs. He won a ROY and MVP, three times leading the NL in OPS. He was the start of the Big Red Machine. Cincinnati Reds: Frank Robinson
Chicago Cubs: While Billy Williams, Ferguson Jenkins (guest on Passed Ball Show) and others have their place in the team's history, there is only one "Mr. Cub." Chicago Cubs: Ernie Banks
Pittsburgh Pirates: The Pirates are an interesting choice. Guys like Willie Stargell, Paul Waner and even Pie Traynor and Arky Vaughan deserve consideration. To me, it comes down to Roberto Clemente and Honus Wagner. While Wagner played, he was considered the best player in the entire league. Clemente was one of the most special players to ever play in this game. This is a very close race, but in the end, I go with Wagner based on where he ranked in the entire game. In the dead ball era, there were few better players in the game. Pittsburgh Pirates: Honus Wagner
Los Angeles Dodgers (Brooklyn Dodgers): The Dodgers, in my opinion, have the biggest debate among their Hall of Famers. They have had several great players, but no all timers. I think a case can be made that Jackie Robinson could hold the title, but he only played 10 seasons. The same applies to Sandy Koufax. Dazzy Vance pitched 18 seasons for Brooklyn and was the 1924 NL MVP. But Don Sutton won 233 games for the team. While Robinson was the most popular and remembered player for the Dodgers during his time, Duke Snider was among the best in the entire sport. Snider wins by the narrowest of margins. Los Angeles Dodgers (Brooklyn Dodgers): Duke Snider
San Francisco Giants (New York Giants): It is a two horse race. Christi Mathewson and Willie Mays. Barry Bonds has immortal numbers, but may not get into the Hall. Willie McCovey was a terrific hitter. I thought it was a no brainer to take Mays, until I broke down Mathewson's career. He won 372 of his 373 games wearing a Giants uniform. I cannot ignore his numbers, which include an ERA of 2.13 for his career. Those who say it was because of the dead ball era are right except he led the league in ERA 5 times, WHIP 4 times, K/BB ratio 9 times, completed 465 games and threw 78 shutouts. I take Mathewson in an upset of public opinion. San Francisco Giants (New York Giants): Christy Mathewson
Colorado Rockies: The Rockies are the only current team in MLB to have never had a future Hall of Fame player play for them. Todd Helton is an interesting candidate as he becomes eligible in five years. Larry Walker is a solid candidate, but is having difficulty gaining traction from the BBWAA. Colorado Rockies: none
Arizona Diamondbacks: Roberto Alomar becomes the second player to have the honor of being the Hall of Famer for two different teams (Nolan Ryan). He gets the technicality for being the only Hall of Famer to put on a Diamondbacks uniform. That should change next season when Randy Johnson is expected to be in inducted. Oddly enough, Johnson will actually take the honor for both the Diamondbacks and the Seattle Mariners. Arizona Diamondbacks: Roberto Alomar
San Diego Padres: Not much to say here, but the best player to ever put on a San Diego Padres uniform takes an easy win in this one. San Diego Padres: Tony Gwynn
Atlanta Braves: The Braves have had their share of Hall of Famers, including Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine, who will be enshrined this season. Eddie Matthews was dominant and Chipper Jones should be in on the first ballot. It is a close race between Hank Aaron and Warren Spahn. Spahn was the greatest left handed pitcher to ever pitch in the game. But he ranks behind many of the other top pitchers and was not an immortal. Aaron was an immortal. Not just because of his 755 HRs, but because of where he ranks in all the other offensive categories. Aaron is in the discussion of the top ten offensive players to ever play in the history of the game. Atlanta Braves: Hank Aaron
Washington Nationals (Montreal Expos): This comes down to the two players who made the Hall after starring with the Expos. Andre Dawson had some very good seasons, but there were several outfielders who were as good. Few catchers were in the same as Gary Carter. The answer to the question of why Carter went into the Hall as an Expo is because he was the greatest player they ever had. The same could not be said about the Mets. It also helped that he played with the Expos longer. Washington Nationals (Montreal Expos): Gary Carter
New York Mets: Not much of a debate here. Many Hall of Fame players played for the Mets, but few were known as Mets. Gary Carter would be the second choice, but Seaver is called "the franchise" for a reason. New York Mets: Tom Seaver
Philadelphia Phillies: Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton would get the nod if we were talking about the top Phillies HOF player after 1950 though Robin Roberts and Richie Ashburn would get some consideration. But in my opinion, I think it is a no brainer to choose from the list of Chuck Klein, Pete Alexander and Ed Delahanty. Klein had five of the most dominant consecutive seasons to start a career ever. Alexander managed to win 190 games in his first 8 big league seasons. But to me, Delahanty gets the nod. Some may dispute the fact that his career started in the late 1880s, but he hit .347 for his career. He hit over .400 three times. And based on the grey ink test, he was a top player in the entire National League. Philadelphia Phillies: Ed Delahanty
Miami Marlins (Florida Marlins): Andre Dawson missed out in a close race in Montreal (Washington). He gets the nod in Miami because of default. He is the only Hall of Fame player to put on a Marlins uniform. Miami Marlins (Florida Marlins): Andre Dawson
St Louis Cardinals: Many players made the Hall of Fame after starring for the Cardinals. None stand out like Rogers Hornsby and Stan Musial. The Cardinals fans would choose Musial by a landslide, as he spent his entire 22 year career with the team. Hornsby was dominant in the 1920s and was the first National League star. Hornsby hit .358 for his career, .359 in a Cardinals uniform. While I was leaning towards Hornsby, Musial did hit .331, finished with 3630 career hits, the highest total in NL history until 1985. He also hit 475 HRs, won 3 NL MVPs and 3 World Series titles. St Louis Cardinals: Stan Musial
Milwaukee Brewers (Seattle Pilots): One guy stands out in the history of the Brewers and that is Robin Yount. Paul Molitor had a great career, but spent his last several seasons with other organizations. I don't think this one is close. Milwaukee Brewers (Seattle Pilots): Robin Yount
Cincinnati Reds: This is an interesting choice because players like Frank Robinson, Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan and Ernie Lombardi could all make a case to be the one. Bench, based on power numbers, is the greatest offensive catcher in the Hall of Fame today. Morgan is one of the top second basemen to ever play the game. Should I go with Bench because of his longevity? Morgan gets consideration even though he only played 8 seasons with the Reds, as those were by far the best he had in his career. I am going with Robinson based on his ten seasons with the Reds. Only once in those 10 seasons did he hit less than 29 HR and drive in less than 83 runs. He won a ROY and MVP, three times leading the NL in OPS. He was the start of the Big Red Machine. Cincinnati Reds: Frank Robinson
Chicago Cubs: While Billy Williams, Ferguson Jenkins (guest on Passed Ball Show) and others have their place in the team's history, there is only one "Mr. Cub." Chicago Cubs: Ernie Banks
Pittsburgh Pirates: The Pirates are an interesting choice. Guys like Willie Stargell, Paul Waner and even Pie Traynor and Arky Vaughan deserve consideration. To me, it comes down to Roberto Clemente and Honus Wagner. While Wagner played, he was considered the best player in the entire league. Clemente was one of the most special players to ever play in this game. This is a very close race, but in the end, I go with Wagner based on where he ranked in the entire game. In the dead ball era, there were few better players in the game. Pittsburgh Pirates: Honus Wagner
Los Angeles Dodgers (Brooklyn Dodgers): The Dodgers, in my opinion, have the biggest debate among their Hall of Famers. They have had several great players, but no all timers. I think a case can be made that Jackie Robinson could hold the title, but he only played 10 seasons. The same applies to Sandy Koufax. Dazzy Vance pitched 18 seasons for Brooklyn and was the 1924 NL MVP. But Don Sutton won 233 games for the team. While Robinson was the most popular and remembered player for the Dodgers during his time, Duke Snider was among the best in the entire sport. Snider wins by the narrowest of margins. Los Angeles Dodgers (Brooklyn Dodgers): Duke Snider
San Francisco Giants (New York Giants): It is a two horse race. Christi Mathewson and Willie Mays. Barry Bonds has immortal numbers, but may not get into the Hall. Willie McCovey was a terrific hitter. I thought it was a no brainer to take Mays, until I broke down Mathewson's career. He won 372 of his 373 games wearing a Giants uniform. I cannot ignore his numbers, which include an ERA of 2.13 for his career. Those who say it was because of the dead ball era are right except he led the league in ERA 5 times, WHIP 4 times, K/BB ratio 9 times, completed 465 games and threw 78 shutouts. I take Mathewson in an upset of public opinion. San Francisco Giants (New York Giants): Christy Mathewson
Colorado Rockies: The Rockies are the only current team in MLB to have never had a future Hall of Fame player play for them. Todd Helton is an interesting candidate as he becomes eligible in five years. Larry Walker is a solid candidate, but is having difficulty gaining traction from the BBWAA. Colorado Rockies: none
Arizona Diamondbacks: Roberto Alomar becomes the second player to have the honor of being the Hall of Famer for two different teams (Nolan Ryan). He gets the technicality for being the only Hall of Famer to put on a Diamondbacks uniform. That should change next season when Randy Johnson is expected to be in inducted. Oddly enough, Johnson will actually take the honor for both the Diamondbacks and the Seattle Mariners. Arizona Diamondbacks: Roberto Alomar
San Diego Padres: Not much to say here, but the best player to ever put on a San Diego Padres uniform takes an easy win in this one. San Diego Padres: Tony Gwynn
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