If you've been here more than once you know I have a few BIG loves: Comic Books, their characters and tv or movies based on said characters, fantasy and sci-fi books, tv and film and the only "real life" thing I'm interested in, baseball.
I started this article in April of Covid Year II, a few games into what turned out to be a full season of the only sport I watch. I did a first draft but never got around to the final product until now, with the 2021 season in the rear view.
I don't watch baseball, I LOVE baseball. Not a team, not a player or players, but the sport of baseball. It's chess, poker, Olympic level athleticism, the drama and comedy of theatre all played before the beautiful backdrop of pristine fields, superb architecture and screaming, swearing, sobbing crowds of fans. LOVE it.
As a Canadian it's natural that I tend to root for the Blue Jays and hope against hope for a second Canadian franchise to fill the hole left by the dearly departed Expos, but I'm a fan of the game, even if I am a bit biased when the Jays are involved.
And when I say "fan of the game", I mean it. I'll watch two out of contention teams play in a game in late September and enjoy it (almost) as much as seeing the Jays get another half game closer to the playoffs after beating the Yankees. I watch classic games in the winter just to have the sport's sights and sounds in the house. It's a passion.
Watching a game between the Mets and Marlins at the start of the season, I got to thinking about that love of the sport over love of a franchise or player(s) and what that means as a fan. Then I saw a couple of people wearing jerseys bearing the name of a beloved player on their favourite team.
So.
If I am a fan of the game, not just a team or player, I should be able to pick at least one player to put on a jersey for EVERY current team. I've gone with players, managers and even a couple of broadcasters who I look at and think, "There's someone who (to me) exemplifies why I love this game." They aren't necessarily the best player at their position, on their team or in history, but rather someone whose talent, personality and career makes them worthy of admiration, from a baseball standpoint at least.
A couple of the men (and the one woman) I've chosen are people who could easily crack the top tiers of lists of greatest people of all time, at least in my opinion.
So, can I pick a jersey from every team in the modern major leagues of baseball?
No sweat.
First, the American (terrible name for the only league with a Canadian entry, by the way) League:
East:
Toronto Blue Jays - I grew up with the Jays, saw them play live back in the Exhibition Stadium days and lived and died with them in the early 90s when they won back to back World Series titles. I would happily wear the names and numbers of a dozen or more Jays from every era of their history, but when forced to pick only one, there's only one guy to pick. #29 Joe Carter. Among the MANY things he did to cement himself as THE Blue Jay, he caught the final out of their first World Series title win and hit the home run that won their second. Plus, he was my Mom's favourite player, bar none. Touch 'em all Joe!
New York Yankees - The damned Yankees. While I do love watching any game between any two teams at any point of the year, I'm an "Anyone BUT the Yankees" type fan. They could be playing a game that their winning would help the Blue Jays get to the playoffs and I'm STILL rooting for the other side. That said, they've had some of the greatest players in the history of the game in those bloody pinstripes and I can easily admire a bunch of the individuals while still despising the team. I think a Yankees jersey would hang forever unworn in my closet, but maybe, just maybe if it represented #8 Yogi Berra, I might bust it out once in a blue moon. "When you come to a fork in the road, take it."
Baltimore Orioles - I wasn't always as big a fan of the game as I am these days. I loved playing baseball as a kid and as I said earlier, I lived and died with the Jays in the early 90s but like most folks I was a fan of "my" team and pretty much ignored the rest of the league unless they were playing Toronto. Then there was the 1994 strike and like many fans I almost walked away for good. If not for the world beating achievement of Cal Ripken Jr. surpassing the unbreakable consecutive game record then held by Lou Gehrig, I would not be a fan today. I honestly and without reservation credit Ripken with single-handedly saving the entire game of baseball as a professional level sport. If he wasn't where he was at that moment in 1995, if he wasn't the humble, perfectly poised ambassador for the game that he was and still is, it's not a stretch to imagine a 21st Century where the MLB doesn't exist. #8 Cal Ripken Jr. One of those "greatest people of all time" I mentioned above and the second easiest pick of all the jerseys I am listing.
Boston Red Sox - One of the most storied franchises in MLB history and unlike the Yankees, one that I have always admired. Maybe it was that pre-2004 underdog thing, maybe it was their old school stadium (still LOVE games played in Fenway, every time) or their colourful history. Whatever the case, they have a whole host of players in pretty much every era that I'd be happy to sport on a jersey. That said, gotta go with the late, great Jerry Remy. In tribute to Remy who passed just a week or so after his Red Sox were eliminated from the playoffs this year, Joe Buck said something like "If Red Sox Nation had an Emperor, it was Jerry Remy." So very true.
Tampa Bay Rays - Younger franchises naturally don't have deep benches when it comes to picking their greatest player or personality. For a team as young as the Rays it's pretty much a given that a player like #3 Evan Longoria, the face of the franchise for a decade or so, is the obvious pick. Great player, fun to watch.
Central:
Detroit Tigers - In the days when I only watched and cheered on the Jays, the Detroit Tigers were a huge rival both by geography and talent. While they had tons and tons of talent in those days, there's really only one Tiger I'd wear on a jersey. The Georgia Peach, Ty Cobb. Possibly the greatest natural talent ever to play the game, Cobb could hit, field, run, bunt, steal and scare the shit out of the opposition. For all that incredible talent, he's definitely NOT on anyone's top ten people of all time lists.
Minnesota Twins - If I was managing a World Series Game 7, tied in the bottom of the 9th and I could bring up any hitter in history to try and get a man across the plate from third, Rod Carew is the guy. I still remember desperately wanting my parents to buy me his K-Tel Batting Trainer that he plugged on tv.
Cleveland Indians - And if I was the opposing manager and needed that last out in the 9th inning of Game 7 of the World Series, #29 Satchel Paige would be the guy I'd want on the mound. Of course, unlike today, he'd have been there since the first inning, now having throw 120+ pitches and still getting batters out with style.
Chicago White Sox - If there's a guy that even non-baseball fans know (other than Babe Ruth) and who has a name that means "baseball player" to them, it's "Shoeless" Joe Jackson. He was probably baseball's most tragic hero, banished from the game he loved for going along with a scheme that he probably didn't really understand. There are those who argue that he may have been as bad a cheat as the rest of the Black Sox, despite pretty stellar numbers in that ill-fated World Series. I choose to remember his legend rather than worry about what may or may not have been his true character.
Kansas City Royals - While the current every day catcher, Salvador Perez is a font of talent and personality, when you have to pick a single Royals jersey to wear, there's just George Brett. The pine tar home run is STILL one of the greatest televised sports highlights of all time.
West:
Oakland Athletics - The other great rivalry back in my days of Blue Jays only baseball fandom was the Oakland Athletics. The Jays and the O's matched up pretty well but if we hit the 9th inning without a lead, Dennis Eckersly's 'stache and flowing locks pretty much signalled that you could mark one in the loss column that night. Eck almost single handedly created the modern day 9th inning closer and he has rarely been equalled since. These days, Eck is much more enjoyable as the colour guy for the Boston Red Sox, alongside the late, great Jerry Remy.
Seattle Mariners - While I never got to see Ty Cobb play, I did get to see his (the racist ass that was Cobb would HATE this, so I love it) modern day baseball equivalent, Ichiro Suzuki. Slap a ball the other way for a base hit? Sure. Drive one in the gap for an easy, loping double? Sure. Make an impossible outfield catch look easy? Sure. Oh and if he felt like it, the "little" guy could hit it out of the park with ease. Cobb may have been the greatest natural talent to ever play the game but Ichiro is in that conversation, every time, for all time. Plus, not an asshole.
Los Angeles Angels - Who else? A lot of people call him the Greatest Of All Time, Mike Trout. Is he the greatest? Maybe. Is he the greatest player who has never been to the World Series? Pretty much. Hard not to hope he gets a chance at the big stage before its too late.
Texas Rangers - Catcher is a totally unique position in sports. It's the only defensive position in any sport that faces the opposite direction from the rest of the defensive team. The greatest catchers are often not the greatest on the other side of the ball, coming up short in the offensive categories but invaluable behind the plate. The Hall of Fame catchers find a way to contribute on both sides and few have been as effective both ways as #7 Ivan Rodriguez. Rodriguez was a terror on the diamond both to opposing pitchers and anyone hoping to steal second.
Houston Astros - Speaking of terror on the diamond... While the recent Astros sign stealing scandal makes it unlikely I'll wear an Astros jersey any time soon, if you slap #34 Nolan Ryan on it, I might be willing. If I was in Houston. A hundred years from now, if baseball is still talked about, Nolan Ryan will be named in the same breath with Ruth, Mantle, Cobb, Ripken and a few others. Truly one of the all time greats.
And the Senior Circuit, The National League:
East:
Philadelphia Phillies - I always love the underdog. I really love the underdog if he's kinda brash, kinda rough around the edges and prefers a steak and a beer over food and wine that I can't pronounce. While he's not the greatest first baseman in history, #29 John Kruk is SO jersey worthy. "I ain't an athlete, lady. I'm a professional baseball player." Class. Back of the class, making fart noises when the teacher is at the blackboard kinda class.
New York Mets - Another one of those catchers that make the opposing pitcher as nervous as they made opposing base runners. Plus, that 'stache! Mike Piazza.
Atlanta Braves - Chipper Jones, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Bobby Cox and the list goes on. The Braves franchise has a ton of terrific jersey worthy names. After this season, Freddy Freeman goes on my back. Just about the closest thing the MLB has to a comic book hero. The smile, the talent, the personality and the leadership.
Washington Nationals - He's over in L.A. these days but Mad Max will always be a National to me. #13 Max Scherzer. Still about the most intense competitor in the game.
Montreal Expos - Special mention here, even though they're gone a roaming to Washington, I'd wear a Montreal Expos jersey with Gary Carter's name on the back, all day every day. Catchers, man. A special, special breed and Carter was one of the best.
Miami Marlins - Finally, a woman on the list and someone who deserves to have her name of the back of a jersey, even if she's never played in the MLB. Kim Ng was installed as General Manager of the Miami Marlins for the 2021 season and with 25+ years of baseball front office experience, she's someone who is long overdue in the sport. Glass ceilings are there to be broken and I hope this is the start of a new era of inclusion and diversity in the sport. All we need now is that first female player I keep hoping to see. She's out there, right now, floating the knuckleball for a strike, somewhere...
Cincinnati Reds - I wasn't a baseball fan in the era of Pete Rose but even with the whole gambling thing hanging over his head, when I think "Cincinnati Reds" I see a still photo in my mind of Pete Rose mid-air in a Superman slide. Most hits all time. Seriously, it's time to put an "Asterisk" section in Cooperstown and bring him, Barry Bonds and the rest of the scandal squad into the Hall of Fame.
St. Louis Cardinals - My current favourite is easily Yadier Molina but as much as I love him, I gotta go with Dizzy Dean on my Cardinals jersey. While it's over the top and hokey, if you get the chance, check out "The Pride of St. Louis" to get a bit of Hollywood tinted backstory on the most colourful Cardinal in history.
Chicago Cubs - Well, it's not like you can put a goat on the back of jersey. Dozens upon dozens of great Cubs in their long, long history but if you want one name, one voice for the franchise, Harry Caray is the one and ONLY. He's been dead for YEARS and he still leads "Take me out to the ball game" at the seventh inning stretch several times a year.
Milwaukee Brewers - Not as many great players in its franchise history but another team that is totally, completely embodied by their most famous announcer, even if his most famous quote comes from him announcing a game for another team in a movie. Bob Uecker. Juuuust a bit outside.
Pittsburgh Pirates - One of those "Top Ten People of All Time" candidates. Roberto Clemente was not only the greatest Pirate of them all, he was such a great man they named a philanthropic award for the entire MLB after him.
Los Angeles Dodgers - The absolute easiest pick of them all. Undeniably a great player, #42 Jackie Robinson is not a candidate for "Top Ten People of All Time". He's a finalist. I don't have a lot of heroes but Robinson makes that shortlist.
San Diego Padres - A bit of a cheat here. I can't honestly say I ever saw #31 Dave Winfield play for the Padres, but he was instrumental in leading the 1992 Blue Jays to victory over the Atlanta Braves in the World Series. I'd give this one to Fernando Tatis Jr., but come on, Winfield Wants Noise!
San Fransico Giants - This one's easy. Another one of those special catchers who excels both ways on the field and has three World Series rings and a sparkling personality to his credit. Buster Posey might be about to retire but he'll be a manager in no time.
Colorado Rockies - Probably the greatest Canadian born player of all time, Larry Walker. Canucks can hit for power, too!
Arizona Diamondbacks - Probably the most terrifying pitcher in the modern age. Watching Larry Walker reverse his batting helmet and hit from the other side after Randy Johnson threw it in high and tight in the All-Star Game is one of my all time favourite baseball moments. And that poor bird!
The best thing about this idea is that I just gave y'all 31 great ideas to send me for Christmas...;0)
Triple XL if you please. I like room to grow...
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