Baseball

 

 

 

 

1. Mickey Mantle---(at the end of his career, 1968, at one of the first games I ever went to---Twins v Yankees at old Metropolitan Stadium when I went with my Cub Scout troop. Will never forget it)

 

2. Bob Gibson---only saw him at the tail end of his career also, 74-75, but my all time favorite pitcher. First saw him pitch in the 1968 Series vs Detroit on TV.

 

3. Harmon Killebrew---my first favorite player that I got to see up close fairly regularly. Tremendous tape measure HRs without enhancement, whose HR totals are getting lost in the steroid era. The Killer was for real. Got his autograph years later at a show, nicest guy in the world.

 

4. Ozzie Smith--got to see his whole career with the Cardinals. Saw some incredible plays over the years in person. Was there in the 82 championship year, was there when he hit the "Go Crazy" home run off Neidenfeuer in 85, saw his 2000th hit, was there on Ozzie Smith day in 1996. Kicking myself for not going to the Hall of Fame induction---how many Hall of Fame players do you get to see their whole career in your home town?

 

5. Pete Rose---I don't care about the betting on baseball as a manager, as a player, this guy personified guts, hustle (of course) and determination. You hated him when you played against him, but I always appreciated him. What a competitor. The reason the NL dominated the AL in All Star games in the 60s and 70s was largely due to Pete Rose, who hated to lose.

 

6. Cal Ripken--I only got to see him play in a few games since I didn't live in an American League city when he played, but I will never forget seeing him play against the White Sox in Old Comiskey Park. The best part was, we hit the bars on Rush street afterwards, and we walk into Mother-in-Laws (?) and there is Fred Lynn, Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken sitting at a table, and I got to shake hands with him. What a player.

 

7. Ryne Sandberg---as a Cards fan, went to a whole LOT of great Cubs-Cards games in the 80s and 90s, both in St Louis and in Wrigley. Nothing better than a Cards-Cubs game at Wrigley on a sun splashed summer day on a Saturday afternoon, with 10,000 other Cardinal fans dressed in red taking over the Bleachers and Murphy's Bleachers (the pub) before and after the game. Don't let the Red Sox-yanks fans tell you otherwise.  Sandberg was the enemy, but always a class act and a great player.

 

8. Lou Brock--saw him play his last 4-5 years, one of the most exciting players ever, and still a good player till the very end of his career. Revered in St Louis.

 

9. George Brett--traveled just to see him play a few times in KC before he retired in the days before interleague play. Like Sandberg, personified what playing baseball was all about.

 

10. Tommy Herr-- Cards 2B in the 80s, always unsung and underrated, but played the game the way it should be played every day. One of those guys you are just glad are on your side. So many key moments, one of the best seeing him beat the Pond Scum Mets in 1987 with a 10th inning 3 run homer on seat cushion night----nothing like the sight of 50,000 seat cushions raining down on Old Busch Stadium after that dramatic home run.

 

Honorable mention---Al Kaline, Rod Carew, Tony Oliva, Billy Williams, Mike Schmidt, Nolan Ryan, Orel Hershiser, Steve Carlton, George Hendrick, Albert Pujols