Who Was Your Favorite Player(s) from Childhood?

[baseball junkie]

I think it is safe to assume that just about everybody on this message board has loved and or played the game of baseball since childhood. I started playing at age 6 and just kept playing for years and years and years. Most of us probably share that kind of experience with the game.

With that in mind, think back to your childhood and remember who your favorite player(s) were and why. Choose pitchers or positional players, that doesn't matter for this purpose.

To put the question in its most simple form, "who was your favorite baseball player(s) when you were a kid and why?"

Mine was Eric Davis. No, I'm not a Reds' fan. But Davis was special. His combination of power and speed have rarely ever been matched in baseball's history. Davis also went full-steam-ahead on every play. Unfortunately for Davis and the Reds, this type of all-out play lead to many trips to the DL and the premature end of his productive career -- he was washed up by age 29 due to a serious injury he incurred in the World Series in 1990 -- while playing all out.

Coming in at a distant second is Ruben Sierra. He seemed like the next Roberto Clemente, that is until about 1991. Then on August 31, 1992 that awful swap between the Rangers and A's took place. Ruben Sierra, Bobby Witt, Jeff Russell and cash were sent to the A's for Jose Canseco. From there on out it seemed to be all downhill for Sierra. I still think that trade should go down as one of the worst in baseball history.

I also used to love watching Ron Darling and David Cone pitch.

So who were your favorites?

[Erik Bedard]

Erik Bedard.

[W_Marone]

When I was younger my two favorite players were Lenny Dykstra and John Kruk. Ahh yes the Phillies of yester year.

[markfnc]

Chet Lemon



Favorite child hood team. 1977 White Sox



http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/roster.php?y=1977&t=CHA

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1977_White_Sox

[bluejaysfan4ever]

Hank Aaron

[soberdennis]

Very simple-Mickey Mantle-Those of you who have read some of my posts since came abourd have an idea why.

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

Take a guess, I'm sure you won't get it :)

[Wade8813]

I've got a list of favorites

Griffey
A-Rod
Randy Johnson
Edgar Martinez
Jay Buhner
Greg Maddux
John Smoltz

Nolan Ryan
Sandy Koufax
Ted Williams
Walter Johnson
Lou Gehrig

The first few players were/are favorites for being with the Mariners or Braves (the Braves are my second favorite team, but I like the Mariners a lot more). I got pretty upset with Randy and A-Rod for the circumstances of their departure - Randy (appeared to) start losing on purpose, and A-Rod left for the money after saying it wasn't about the money AND being offered $18.5 million per year.

I liked Ryan and Koufax when I was in love with the big strikeout pitchers which has lost most of its appeal to me. I still like Koufax a lot (and still respect Ryan).

Walter Johnson and Lou Gehrig were arguably the best ever at their respective positions, while coming across as great people as well.

[Honus Wagner]

...in 10 years, some kid is going to say Melky Cabrera

my childhood favorite was Carlton Fisk...i used to check out his biography, "Fisk of Fenway" 3 or 4 times a schoolyear

my all-time favorites are ruth and foxx

[yankeefan61*]

I am still a kid but I am going to have to say Roger Maris. I never saw him play, but nobody thought he could break that record. everyone underestimated him and he held up under the pressure and hit 61 hr. in '61.

[CanadianKid]

Roger Clemens and Pedro Martinez

[Baseball Guru]

Dwight Gooden
Darryl Strawberry
Lenny Dykstra
Wally Backman
Ken Griffey
Bobby jones (dont ask me why...lol)

[Astro]

Jeff Bagwell
Craig Biggio
Shane Reynolds

Others, I'll think on it for a few hours then come back and add some more

[Red Sox Rule]

well considering i'm just technically finishing my child hood my favourite player would have to be a tie between Big Papi and Pedro Martinez.

[Da Penguin]

Ken Griffey jr. and Pudge

[1kysrt4]

I'm only 25 so it would be Ken Griffey Jr. and Frank Thomas.

[Francoeurstein]

Greg Maddux
John Smoltz
Tom Glavine
Kevin Millwood ( bold= their hitless rotation in '99 )
Chipper Jones
Andruw Jones
Rafeal Furcal
Randy Johnson

Last but definetly not least...

JEFF FRANCOEUR!!!!!!!

[AstrosFan]

Well, my favorite players were Bagwell, Biggio, Glenn Davis, Ken Caminiti, Terry Puhl, pretty much anyone who played for the Astros. But what if you had to choose from players who didn't play for your favorite team? In that case, I'd go with:

Will Clark

[Seattle1]

In somewhat chronological order:

Pete Rose
Reggie Jackson
Julio Cruz
Floyd Bannister
Alvin Davis
Mark Langston

[Da Penguin]

Ken Griffey jr. and Pudge


heck im only 13

[Francoeurstein]

heck im only 13


11 here....

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

Being a Jays fan, I gotta say Joe Carter...

[Jake Patterson]

Rico Petrocelli....

[SoxSon]

Potato farmer's son, Carl Yastrzemski.

[brewcrew82]

If I had to say one guy I'd say Rickey Henderson. My admiration for him has continued to rise as his skills have obviously diminshed. He is showing a passion for playing the game that few seem to have.

Others that get an honorable mention include Nolan Ryan, Robin Yount, Dave Stewart and George Brett. There are others but the list will become a little too long.

[steveironcity]

Mike LaValliere

[Brownie31]

Pete Ward 1960s White Sox (I'm 56 in October.)

Brownie31

[ivylover]

Slammin Sammy

[the pyromaniac]

Glenn Hubbard, Dale Murphy, and a no-name Double-A pitcher who the Braves picked up in the Doyle Alexander deal, by the name of John Smoltz

[JohnGelnarFan]

Del Unser of the Washington Senators

[starkeeper]

Roger Maris, Sandy Koufax, and Albert Pujols!!

[ichiro262]

gotta be Griffey

[Da Penguin]

Potato farmer's son, Carl Yastrzemski.

I like potatoes:clapping

[Food]

Winfield, Murphy, Kingman.

Bud Bulling, a mostly-AAA catcher who made it to the Mariners for part of '82 and '83.

[BaseballHistoryNut]

Well, I was born in 1953, 25 miles from San Francisco, and started following the Giants in 1958, their first year in S.F. So as you might suppose, my favorite player through my childhood and adolescence, by an enormous margin, was:


WILLIE MAYS

[rockin500]

Sandberg and Dawson. and Maddux on the mound.

[Chris from NY]

Take a guess, I'm sure you won't get it :)
Curtis Wilkerson? :laugh

For me it was Roberto Alomar, Shawn Green and John Olerud.

[Ghost_Of_Walter_Johnson]

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

Don Mattingly.

With the limited information I could get in the early eighties, I understood that he was a pretty good player.

[Mattingly]

Willie Mays (saw the tail end of a legend's career), Tom Seaver, Johnny Bench, Kirby Puckett, Nolan Ryan, Pete Rose, Ron Guidry, Thurman Munson, Reggie Jackson, Darryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden.

[Neilios]

My boyhood idol was Cal Ripken, Jr. The rest of my favorites were the Tigers of the early 90's:

Cecil Fielder
Mickey Tettleton
Travis Fryman
Tony Phillips
Alan Trammell
Lou Whitaker

[JohnGelnarFan]

From 1984-89' there weren't many better. He hit as high as .352 in 86' with 238 hits,53 doubles and scored 117 runs. He only struck out 35 times in 677 at bats! He hit .324 with 35 homers and 145 RBI's in 1985 and had only fanned 41 times. He hit .343 in 1984 and .327 in 1987. Injuries cut back his production after 1989 but he was still a very good hitter. He was great with the glove too.






Don Mattingly.

With the limited information I could get in the early eighties, I understood that he was a pretty good player.

[CanadianKid]

Cecil Fielder


Cecil Fielder was HUGE. I remember seeing video clips of when he was with the Jays and he would hit monster homeruns.

[hubkittel]

i'm sorry i couldn't find a decent picture of simba with long hair and smoking a cigarette.

[alanl]

JOEY JAY...I had his baseball card(58-60)...then he was
traded to my favorite team(REDS)...where he won 21
games and beat the hated Yankees in the WS...Ahhh.
..those were the days...

[Wade8813]

Cecil Fielder was HUGE. I remember seeing video clips of when he was with the Jays and he would hit monster homeruns. Heh. He was huge in more than one way... lol.

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

Cecil Fielder was HUGE. I remember seeing video clips of when he was with the Jays and he would hit monster homeruns.

I still don't understand why he had to go to Japan before signing and becoming popular with the Tigers. In other words: Why didn't he get a MLB contract?

[slaytanicsdmf]

I'm 17 and really got into baseball in '98. That's why the Yankees are my team. You may say that is ridiculous that I would pick them as my team just because they were great that year. But what is the point of having a favorite team or player if they suck? Plus I believe in sticking with the team that you started with. That's why I'm a diehard Raiders fan. If I would be picking based on greatness of my generation I certainly wouldn't be an Oakland fan. Sorry to get off topic just explaing myself.

No particular order other than 1 and 2.

1. Ken Griffey JR. - He was a god in my eyes during his days in Seattle.

2. Derek Jeter - I was a shortstop. He was a shortstop. But most importantly, he was the Yankees shortstop.

3. David Wells - I know I may be alone on this one but I really liked him and still do other than his current team. And his perfect game against the twins is still the only perfect game/no hitter I have actually watched on t.v. or otherwise.

4. Sammy Sosa - Remember, it was 1998. I always liked the cubs more than the cards so he was my favoite over Maguire.

5. Chipper Jones - I liked the socks.

6. Bernie Williams - Gold Glove CF and it seemed he homered everytime I saw hiim bat that year. I know now he was not that great but I still love him.

[wamby]

As a young kid, mine was Ray Fosse. After the Indians traded him, I didn't have a favorite until about 20 years later, Jim Thome.

[CanadianKid]

[QUOTE=slaytanicsdmf]
3. David Wells - I know I may be alone on this one but I really liked him and still do other than his current team. And his perfect game against the twins is still the only perfect game/no hitter I have actually watched on t.v. or otherwise.
[QUOTE]

Wasn't he hung over when he threw that perfect game?

[baseball junkie]

I don't think Wells was hung over. I think he was still drunk. Impressive in a twisted sort of way.

[SoxSon]

But what is the point of having a favorite team or player if they suck? Plus I believe in sticking with the team that you started with.


You don't see anything contradictory about this?

[Neilios]

My boyhood idol was Cal Ripken, Jr. The rest of my favorites were the Tigers of the early 90's:

Cecil Fielder
Mickey Tettleton
Travis Fryman
Tony Phillips
Alan Trammell
Lou Whitaker

Almost forgot Mr. Tiger: Bobby Higginson :laugh

[yankillaz]

Tony Gwynn

[Chris from NY]

I'm 17 and really got into baseball in '98. That's why the Yankees are my team. You may say that is ridiculous that I would pick them as my team just because they were great that year.
No, I think it's ridicoulous that anyone would like the Yankees for any reason. Unless, of cource, the only alternitive is the Mets. :laugh

[JohnGelnarFan]

In 4 years with Toronto,Fielder never had more than 175 at bats or 14 homeruns. He was making $125,000 and the Hanshin Tigers offered him $1,050,000 plus a chauffer and a full time Interpreter. He wanted to play every day and hit 38 homers for Hanshin,attracting the attention of the Detroit Tigers. After only one season in Japan,he signed with Detroit and hit 51 homers in his first year back. He followed that up with 44 and drove in more than 130 in each season.






I still don't understand why he had to go to Japan before signing and becoming popular with the Tigers. In other words: Why didn't he get a MLB contract?

[slaytanicsdmf]

You don't see anything contradictory about this?


Actually I do now that I think about it. But it hasn't really ever come up since the Yankees haven't been a losing team since I became a fan. I'm still a Cubs fan and god knows they blow.

[rkoch]

Paul Waner
Red Ruffing
Chuck Klein
Jimmy Foxx
Charlie Gehringer
Charlie Root
George Burns[Tioga]

[shoreyart]

Definitely Carl Yastrzemski- was at the game before his 3000th hit- so close.
Also loved watching Dewey Evans and Jim Rice, but another player that I admired that not many people know that often seemed to make amazing defensive plays: Jack Brohamer.

[BigRon]

When I was a kid growing up in the 50s, few games were on TV. In 1954, when I was 8, I started listening to Pirates games on the radio. The Pirates were playing the Dodgers. I asked my older sister if any of the good players were lefthanded (I was a lefty). Duke Snider was up- she said the Duke was one of the best players in baseball, he hit a home run, and I was hooked.

That's why a young kid growing up in Western Pa. became a Brooklyn Dodgers fan and Duke Snider's greatest fan in that area. Unfortunately, the Duke only had a few more great seasons before injuries did him in, but I never lost the faith.

[ol' aches and pains]

Eddie Mathews, HOF 3rd baseman of the Milwaukee Braves was my childhood hero. He was a good clutch hitter, a better fielder than people give him credit for today, and like me, he hit lefthanded (only he could actually hit).

Eddie was the only player to play for the Boston, Milwaukee, and Atlanta Braves, and he and Hank Aaron hit more home runs than any other pair of teammates in history. More than Ruth and Gehrig, more than Mays and McCovey, more than anybody. He was a hard-nosed player who would fight at the drop of a hat, and had some memorable on-field battles with Frank Robinson and Don Drysdale, among others. He had a lot of off-field battles too, mainly with himself, but I didn't learn about any of that until much later.

As of now, Eddie's my 3rd all-time favorite player, after Ted Williams and Jackie Robinson, who were before my time, but when I was a kid just getting into baseball, Mathews was the man.

[RyanExpress30]

Nolan Ryan

[RSAmetsfan]

For some inexplicable reason I liked Mel Hall as a youngster. As I got older, my favourite player was Steve Trachsel.

[Dalkowski110]

Before 1996: Strangely, I never really had one
1996-1998: Willie Mays
1998-2001: Mike Piazza
2001-present: Steve Dalkowski

[bravesfan6]

Hank Aaron

Hank Aaron as well.

[Zito75]

I became a huge baseball fan in the mid '80s when I was about 11 years old. My favorites then were Ryne Sandberg, Cal Ripken, Jose Canseco, etc. My favorite all time player was probably Mariner's CF John Moses. We got a chance to meet him during BP and from that point on, he had a huge fan club out in left field in the old King Dome.

My favorite players now are Ty Cobb, Ichiro and Mike Gallo.

[evers14]

Since I seem to be much older than most of you, and growing up in Detroit, my childhood favorite players were[and still are], AL KALINE and HOOT EVERS.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Since I seem to be much older than most of you, and growing up in Detroit, my childhood favorite players were[and still are], AL KALINE and HOOT EVERS.

I treasure the Al Kaline Day pins my father brought back from the game I was too young to attend.

[Jayme]

Don Mattingly and Ernie Whitt

[Tenorman]

Definitely Carl Yastrzemski- was at the game before his 3000th hit- so close.
Also loved watching Dewey Evans and Jim Rice, but another player that I admired that not many people know that often seemed to make amazing defensive plays: Jack Brohamer.

I agree 100%... Yaz all the way! I remember a friend and I playing simulated Red Sox games, as they pummelled the hated Yankees again and again. I even remember some of our usual starting lineup... Burleson, Doyle, Scott, Yastrzemski ... good memories! :D

[RangerFanInNE]

granted I'm 28 but here is how I rolled back in the day....

Nolan Ryan, Ruben Sierra, Mark Grace, Pudge Rodriguez, Darin Erstad, Will Clark, etc etc

[sonofkirby]

My favorite all-time player is George Brett, and since I followed the Royals as a kid alot of my other faves played in KC- Frank White, Bret Saberhagen, Bo Jackson. I also loved Robin Yount of the Brewers. And of course guys like Pete Rose, Reggie Jackson.

[MattD1972]

Greg Luzinski
Carlton Fisk
Lamarr Hoyt
Pete Vukovich
Wally Backman
Lenny Dykstra
Roger McDowell (I still have nightmares about 1989)

[RationalNYYfan]

david cone, jeff nelson, andy pettitte, scott brocius, paul o'neill, derek jeter

It's weird because I was just a little kid when the 90's dynasty was going on. So these guys are still out and about, some are still playing. But in reality, those dynasty days are waaaaay gone. It seems like I just turned my head away during the 1998 season, then looked back up and saw that it's 2009, A-Rod's at third, and Nick Swisher in right field. Time flies.

[Rockhound]

I my first phase of childhood, my favorite players growing up were Nolan Ryan, Cal Ripken Jr., Bo Jackson, Orel Hershiser, and Kirby Puckett. Now in my second phase of childhood, my favorites would be Dustin Pedroia, Ian Kinsler, Pedro Martinez, Alfonso Soriano, and Rick Ankiel.

[TonyK]

Ted Williams, Jimmy Pearsall, Bill Monboquette and Leo Kiely were some of them. Kiely was a lefty pitcher like me and an underdog and actually had one good season.

[MadHatter]

Yaz, Dwight Evans, Jim Rice, Rick Burleson and as I got into my teenage years... Spike Owen and Todd Benzinger

[commishbob]

For some inexplicable reason I liked Mel Hall as a youngster. As I got older, my favourite player was Steve Trachsel.

I saw Mel Hall playing independent ball in the Central League a few years ago. I believe he is a legal jam these days.

[commishbob]

My favorite player as a kid:

[RBi]

For me (a Cubs fan) I find it hard to go against the guy with the most hits in the 90's...

None other than Mark Eugene Grace...

Don't forget he went 3 for 4 in game 7 in the 2001 world series... oh.. and did I mention he led off the 9th with a single.. to start the madness. (not many people can say they were lifted for a SLOW pinch runner named David Dellucci... Mark Grace can.)

[ryors]

I idolized him and the 1969 Orioles.

[FrenchyLefebvre]

Rose; and Garry Maddox, Bob Dernier, Juan Samuel, M. Schmidt, Joe Lefebvre.

[The Real McCoy]

a PAL coach told me if I wanted to learn to play the game the right way to watch Jim Gilliam. I did just that and always thought he conducted himself like a professional in the field and at the plate and he became my favorite player.

years later I heard a story about the year the Dodgers moved West. prior to the season, they were in the midst of public appearances in and around Los Angeles and one day found themselves in front of a women's club. recognizing that the baseball knowledge of the audience was somewhat below average, Vin Sculley, presenting the players, kept the introductions very basic: Gil Hodges, right handed hitting first baseman; Carl Erskine right handed pitcher; Duke Snider left handed hitting outfielder. coming to No. 19, Sculley simply said, "Junior Gilliam, baseball player."

the PAL coach was right and as with some many things Dodger, Sculley put it perfectly.

[CPatt44]

I would have to say Mike Schmidt and George Brett were my two favorite to watch and follow. Also liked watching Nolan Ryan pitch, but who didn't.

[GoTribe]

I am kinda ashamed to confess that, but when I was younger I kinda had a crush on Jeff D'Amico. I didn't know anything about the game back then, I don't even remember what team he played for (brewers?) - I just thought he was cute. Boy. Embarrassing.

[Captain Cold Nose]

QUOTE=GoTribe;1524452]I am kinda ashamed to confess that, but when I was younger I kinda had a crush on Jeff D'Amico. I didn't know anything about the game back then, I don't even remember what team he played for (brewers?) - I just thought he was cute. Boy. Embarrassing.[/QUOTE]

It got you into baseball, didn't it? Everyone needs to start somewhere. :thumbsup:

[killebrewski]

From childhood - Mike Schmidt, Robin Yount, Ozzie Smith and Kirby Puckett.

All-time though are Ruth and Cobb.

[Mikie]

Interesting that several others share my favorite player as a kid...Brooks Robinson. The original reason was simple, I played 3rd base for the Orioles in Little League from 1969-1971, and his performance during the '70 WS awed me. The year before, I cried when the Mets beat the O's.

As I got older and came to realize that Brooks was not only an outstandiong player, but an outstanding and upstanding individual, my respect for him continued to grow.

A few years ago, he made an appearance to raise money for the Little League where I played in Albuquerque, NM, he's friends with one of the guys running it these days. I couldn't go (live in Houston), but my mom did. Made a donation and got to meet him, told him what a big fan of his I was, and he signed a ball, bat, and poster for her, the latter with "To Mike, Best Regards, Brooks Robinson, HOF '83". When they came in the mail for my birthday, well, let's just say I got a little dust in my eyes.

My other favorite all-time is Craig Biggio. I've lived in Houston and been an Astros fan since the late '70s, and from the day he showed up as a leadoff-hitting catcher I knew he was special. As he became a superstar and franchise icon, he also (like Brooks) demonstrated day in and day out not only how the game should be played but also how to be a family man and generous community figure. I've already got July 2013 blocked off on my calendar to go see him get inducted into Cooperstown.

[John Shoemaker]

Babe Ruth
Lou Gehrig
Jimmie Foxx
Mel Ott

[SABRSusan]

Andre Thornton.

I grew up watching the horrible Indians teams of the late 70s and the 80s. Thornton was always a class act and a team leader. He just came in, played his game, and hit home runs without any histrionics or off-field drama. Plus I played first base too (although that might be a chicken/egg question--did I play first because he did or did I like him because he was the first baseman? It's been too long to remember.)

[Roundin' third]

What's intresting is we can tell peoples ages by their picks.
For me it Reggie Jackson as a little kid. As I consider my teen years to still be part of my childhood it became Don Mattingly.

Honorable mentions go to Graig Nettles, Ron Guidry and Lee Mazzilli. Yes they are all New York based, but thats the area I live in, so it's who I grew up seeing. I should also point a teenage honorable mention to Rickey Henderson. Playing organized baseball as a kid, my best skill was stealing bases, so I gravitated to him.


I just thought he was cute. Boy. Embarrassing
Nothing wrong with that. There are many actresses who I would say I like, because they are attractive, and I never even seen them act in anything.

[Tadasimha]

Johnny Bench

I'm 41 and grew up near Cincinnati. The Big Red Machine was one of the best collections of players ever, but out of all of them I liked Johnny Bench the best. He was great both offensively and defensively and he managed the game and his pitchers excellently and I still havn't seen anyone throw them out at second like he could.

The family made a pilgrimage to the Red's Hall Of Fame down at the ballpark this past summer. My brothers' 14 year old son was with us and he had just about had enough hearing from my brother and I about how great the Machine was back in the day. In the area dedicated to the positions and the players, they have some video of Bench throwing out some runners and when he saw that, all my brothers' boy said was "whoa", real quietly but clearly impressed. That, as you can imagine, made the visit for me.

Oh, and I also really liked Sadaharu Oh - a real class act and the REAL home run king.

[Roundin' third]

In my earlier post I commented on how we can tell peoples ages by the players they pick. Therefore I'm just waiting for for someone to say Cap Anson. :crazy

[chazman]

Manny Sanguillen

[keystone]

I wasn't a kid by the time I became a baseball addict, but would you believe Jose Qquendo?!?

[kiluckzle]

When I first got into baseball, my favorites were Randy Wolf, David Bell and Barry Bonds, but Brad Lidge is probably at the top for me now. Yeah, I'm young.

[steveironcity]

Mike Lavalliere

[Francoeurstein]

Randy Johnson and Greg Maddux. I model my pitching style after old Randy.

[Second Base Coach]

For better or for worse, my favorite player:

[ItsOnlyGil]

Alvin Dark

[JoeDOYS]

hands down.

[joshfan]

reggie jackson, dick allen and fergie jenkins

[worldwideed]

Alvin Davis
Rickey Henderson

[9RoyHobbsRF]

Willie Mays, Juan Marichal, Willie McCovey, Jim Ray Hart, Bob Bolin, Jim Davenport

[abolishthedh]

In order of favorite status:

1. Nate Colbert. 1971-1974 Don't ask why, I still wonder how I settled on him.
2. Bobby Bonds. 1975 It became clear that he had a selfish side, and I was told many times as a child to be less selfish.
3. Dave Winfield. 1976-1980. This affair ended when he became a Yankee. This takes you up through the end of childhood anyway.:reporter:
4. George Brett. 1981-1983. My love of George continued, however, even after....
5. Tony Gwynn. 1984--- retirement. I haven't had a favorite player since. Or, maybe I have in Carlos Beltran. But the steroids era makes me too suspicious anymore for real hero worship.

I hope today's kids are not growing up jaded about their heroes. There is time enough in life for cynicism later.
:twocents:

[Richard]

Nolan Ryan and Pete Rose.

[Cubsfan97]

Never seen either of them play...ever, but Zane Smith and Dale Murphy. I think I had just about every card of both of theirs, and they both played on the Braves, so I thought it was the coolest thing. Actually, the very first TTM I sent out was to Zane Smith.

I also liked Sosa, McGwire and Griffey. I had a framed poster or McGwire and Griffey (seperate ones) that I had gotten from the "Tooth Fairy" and I wanted a Sosa one to go along wth them, though never did get them. Still got the posters, and I still don't have a Sosa poster! lol.

[epaddon]

From 77-81 Reggie Jackson was my favorite Yankee.

[stejay]

I had Ryne Sandberg and Greg Maddux. Man, they were everything to me

[st.lewis11]

Lou Brock
Bob Gibson
Ted Simmons

[Mr. Red]

I'm only 20, but some of my favorites from my early baseball-following years included:

Pedro Martinez
Ken Griffey Jr.
Randy Johnson
Barry Larkin
Frank Thomas
Greg Maddux
Manny Ramirez
Nomar Garciaparra
Mike Piazza

...more that I am surely forgetting.

[keystone]

Oooh -- Dave Stewart and that scowl! And then that high voice comes out of his mouth. Love that guy.

[Buntforahit]

Larry Bowa.

[Redman5006]

Dale Murphy without any doubt.

[Richard]

Nolan Ryan. Ron Guidry.

[luvJRoll]

Mike Schmidt, Pete Rose, Steve Carlton and Tug McGraw.

[Francoeurstein]

Jeff Francoeur, Greg Maddux, and Randy Johnson.

[Boston Boxer]

Fred Lynn and Dwight Evans

[Richard]

I always appreciated pitchers who were showmen like Mark Fidrych, Luis Tiant and Fernando Valenzuela. Anyone remember Pascual Perez? He didn't last long but he was entertaining.

[Van Greco]

I grew up in Vero Beach, FL so was a Dodgers fan before the Marlins started. As a kid my favorites were Steve Sax and Orel Hershiser.

[TommieAgeefan]

I started following baseball during the 1969 World Series, so my favorite player on the Mets was Tommie Agee (due to his heroics in that series, and why I am honoring him with my nickname on this board). But I'd have to say that my overall favorite major league baseball player was (still is, I guess) Reggie Jackson. And without going into details, as much for things he did off the field as on :)

[milladrive]

My favorite was easily -- and perhaps still is -- Willie Mays.

[tag0519]

Steve Carlton, Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver, Dale Murphy, Mike Schmidt and Johnny Bench