View Full Version : Who are the best players that you have seen live in a game?
frankbmd
06-19-2019, 04:38 PM
Copy and Paste the grid below into you response. There are eight blanks to fill in. You need not fill them all in. The first column asks for the best player that you saw in the first game of that sport that you attended in person. The second column is for the best player of that sport that you ever saw in a game that you attended in person. Professional or collegiate athletes are acceptable.
Sport First Game Any Game
Baseball ______________ ________________
Football ______________ ________________
Basketball ______________ ________________
Hockey ______________ ________________
Sport --- First Game --- Any Game
Baseball : Roy Campanella , Nolan Ryan
Football : Jim Brown/Bart Starr , Aaron Rodgers
Basketball : Dolph Schayes , Magic Johnson
Hockey : Stan Mikita , Wayne Gretzky
Copying and Pasting the template doesn't work very well, so just name the sport and the two names in a single row per sport, similar to my choices.
If two posts are identical, you may have found your lost brother.:D
Remembering your first game may be a problem,
Stampsfan
06-19-2019, 04:43 PM
OK Frank, I'll start.
Sport First Game Any Game
Baseball: Tom Seaver, Hank Aaron/ Willie Mays
Football: Walter Payton, Walter Payton
Basketball: Scottie Pippen, Steve Nash
Hockey: Jean Beliveau, Bobby Orr
CMIZ5290
06-19-2019, 05:11 PM
Best ever in Basketball......Michael Jordan, Pete Maravich, and Dominique Wilkins.....
Baseball: Luis Aparicio, Willie Mays
Football: Archie Griffin (Ohio State vs. U of Minnesota), Walter Payton
Hockey: Bobby Hull, Bobby Hull (I've been to one pro hockey game)
Basketball: Connie Hawkins, Kareem Abdul Jabbar
Copa7
06-19-2019, 05:13 PM
Sport First Game Any Game
Baseball Cal Ripkin (Rochester)/Nolan Ryan
Football Pele (Santos)/Diego Maradona (Argentina) / George Best / Johan Cruyff
Basketball Harlem Globetrotters / Shaquill O'Neall
Hockey Wayne Gretzky / Sidney Crosby
CMIZ5290
06-19-2019, 05:14 PM
Best ever in Football..... Deion Sanders, Jerry Rice, Lawrence Taylor, Julio Jones....
commishbob
06-19-2019, 05:19 PM
Baseball Mickey Mantle Willie Mays
Football Keith Lincoln Johnny Unitas
Basketball Wilt Chamberlain Kareem Abdul Jabbar
Hockey Dave Keon Gordie Howe
Bonus Content:
Soccer Pele Pele
clydepepper
06-19-2019, 05:25 PM
Baseball: Hank Aaron ; Tim Hudson
Football: William Andrews (in HS)
Basketball: Connie Hawkins (w the Globetrotters)
Hockey: Several nameless local players.
toppcat
06-19-2019, 05:31 PM
Seaver, Lawrence Taylor, Dr. J, Mike Bossy
obcbobd
06-19-2019, 05:34 PM
Sport First Game Any Game
Baseball Carl Yastrzemski, Hank Aaron
Football Jim Nance Drew Bledsoe
Basketball Larry Bird, Michael Jordon
Hockey Bobby Orr, Bobby Orr
barrysloate
06-19-2019, 05:39 PM
I don't remember first games, but in baseball it was Mays, Aaron, and Clemente.
In basketball it was Chamberlain, Alcindor (pre-1971), and Julius Erving (with the Virginia Squires, as well as the Nets)
I rarely went to football or hockey games, so no real memories.
I do remember the first concert I went to, and it was the Beatles. That should count for something.
frankbmd
06-19-2019, 05:40 PM
I don't remember first games, but in baseball it was Mays, Aaron, and Clemente.
In basketball it was Chamberlain, Alcindor (pre-1971), and Julius Erving (with the Virginia Squires, as well as the Nets)
I rarely went to football or hockey games, so no real memories.
I do remember the first concert I went to, and it was the Beatles. That should count for something.
As long as you don’t want to hold my hand
Bocabirdman
06-19-2019, 05:45 PM
Baseball....Frank Robinson....Mickey Mantle
Basketball..... Wilt......Ditto
nolemmings
06-19-2019, 05:51 PM
Baseball: Mickey Mantle; Barry Bonds
Football: Johnny Unitas; Unitas/Alan Page
Basketball: Walter Davis (I don't remember which opponent I first saw the Suns play so I'll go with the home team); Michael Jordan
Hockey: Gordie Howe; Howe/Gretzky
CMIZ5290
06-19-2019, 05:52 PM
Best ever in baseball.... Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Barry Bonds, Greg Maddux, and Dale Murphy, yes, Dale Murphy.....Back to back MVP with crappy teams!
tedzan
06-19-2019, 05:55 PM
Baseball Mickey Mantle (1952 - 1973), Ted Williams (several times in the 1950's at Yankee Stadium)
Football Joe Namath, Johnny Unitas, John Riggins (1972 in Baltimore))
Basketball Wilt Chamberlain, Earl "the Pearl" Monroe (Madison Square Garden)
Hockey (haven't been to any games)
TED Z
T206 Reference (http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=237816)
.
mikemb
06-19-2019, 06:06 PM
Baseball: Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle
Football: Paul Warfield, Joe Namath
Basketball: James Bailey (Rutgers), Larry Bird (Indiana St.)
Hockey: john Vanbiesbrouck, Wayne Gretzky
Mike
Kenny Cole
06-19-2019, 06:06 PM
Baseball: Willy Mays, Barry Bonds
Football: O.J. Simpson, Adrian Peterson
Basketball: Wilt Chamberlain, Wilt Chamberlain
Hockey: Rogie Vachon, Wayne Gretzky
kcohen
06-19-2019, 06:39 PM
Sport First Game Any Game
Baseball _Mantle, Berra /- Mays, Williams, Aaron, Clemente
Football __Don't Remember 1st game / Brown, Unitas
Basketball _Russell, Baylor, West. & Cousy__/ Robertson
Hockey __Don't Remember 1st game / Gretzky, Lemieux, Ovechkin
wondo
06-19-2019, 06:43 PM
Sport First / Game Any Game
Baseball Al Kaline / Mike Schmidt
Football Johnny Unitas / Johnny Unitas
Basketball Manute Bol / Manute Bol only been to one sorry game (PHL/WAS)
Hockey Gordie Howe / Gordie Howe
TheBig6
06-19-2019, 06:45 PM
Baseball Ernie Banks - Stan Musial
Football George Blanda - Earl Campbell
Basketball Pete Maravich - Hakeem Olijawon
Hockey - Poul Popiel - Gordie Howe
ruth_rookie
06-19-2019, 06:53 PM
Sport First Game Any Game
Baseball Carl Yastrzemski, Hank Aaron
Football Jim Nance Drew Bledsoe
Basketball Larry Bird, Michael Jordon
Hockey Bobby Orr, Bobby Orr
I take it you haven’t been to any Patriot games since 2000? :D
whitey19thcentury
06-19-2019, 07:37 PM
Sport First Game Any Game
Baseball: Tim Raines, Barry Bonds
Football Rod Woodson, Troy Polamalu/Barry Sanders (tie) I could say Brady, but ugh
Basketball Michael Jordan/Michael Jordan
Hockey Mario, Mario
Jim65
06-19-2019, 07:52 PM
Baseball- Seaver, Pete Rose
Football- Dan Marino, Lawrence Taylor
Basketball- Never been to a game
Hockey- Mario Lemieux, Wayne Gretzky
guy3050
06-19-2019, 08:10 PM
Baseball: Can't remember who the visiting team was so I will go with home team player Rusty Staub Roberto Clemente
Football: Never been to a Game
Basketball: Never been to a Game
Hockey Guy LaFleur Mario Lemieux/Wayne Gretzky
realbigfatdog
06-19-2019, 08:20 PM
Sport First Game Any Game
Baseball- Don Martingly, Ken Griffey, Jr/ Mike Trout
Football- Lawrence Taylor, OBJ ("The Catch" game)
Basketball- Kevin Garnett
Hockey- Wayne Gretzky, Martin Brodeur
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
horzverti
06-19-2019, 10:21 PM
Baseball - Barry Bonds, Nolan Ryan, Greg Maddux, ARod and Robin Yount (many times).
Football - Brady v. Favre @ Lambeau, Reggie White
oldjudge
06-19-2019, 11:38 PM
Baseball—Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams
Football—Lawrence Taylor, Walter Payton
Basketball—Bill Russell, Michael Jordan
Hockey—Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky
Bob-The only soccer game I’ve ever been to was Santos of Brazil against Milan at Yankee Stadium, so for me the soccer answer would also be Pele/Pele
barrysloate
06-20-2019, 06:03 AM
Baseball—Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams
Football—Lawrence Taylor, Walter Payton
Basketball—Bill Russell, Michael Jordan
Hockey—Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky
Bob-The only soccer game I’ve ever been to was Santos of Brazil against Milan at Yankee Stadium, so for me the soccer answer would also be Pele/Pele
Jay- I saw Pele play in person, but it wasn't soccer.
Every summer on the East End of Long Island there is a charity event called the Artists-Writers softball game. It's mostly celebrities now with only a limited number of real artists and writers playing.
In the early 90's we used to go every year to see it, and one time Pele was there playing. I don't think soccer skills translate that well to softball, since he did nothing remarkable batting or fielding. But at one point he walked right past me, which I thought was very cool. So I guess I can say I saw Pele play too, just the wrong sport.
bobbyw8469
06-20-2019, 06:41 AM
Haven't seen many professional contests in person (only 2 - one NBA and one NHL), but I saw Allen Iverson come to town. He was AWESOME
AustinMike
06-20-2019, 07:08 AM
Remembering your first game may be a problem,
You know what they say, "You always remember your first." ;):D
Baseball:
First game - Mickey Mantle, although technically I didn't see him play. I saw him walk around in the dugout. It was a Sunday day game and he had the day off. :(:mad: So, actually playing-wise, I'd have to say Reggie Jackson. He even hit a homerun in the game (I don't remember him hitting it let alone playing, but I do have the box score from the game and it says he did) [ok, so maybe you don't remember everything about your first;)]. The most memorable play was Rocky Colavito throwing Campy Campaneris out at home plate with an incredible throw from left field. That I do remember and will take to the grave with me ... along with the fact that Mantle didn't play. :mad:
Any game - would have to be Ryan. I'd drive down to Houston and then up to Arlington to see him pitch.
Other sports:
Do they even matter??!? :D
Peter_Spaeth
06-20-2019, 07:38 AM
11 pitchers in that game, looks like one of today's games.
MVSNYC
06-20-2019, 07:45 AM
Ripken Jr, Griffey Jr, Jeter, ARod...come to mind.
darwinbulldog
06-20-2019, 08:10 AM
The first baseball game I went to was a high school game. It would have been Will Clark, but he had graduated a year or two earlier, so really nobody special there. I later saw Roger Clemens pitch, so he's certainly the best I've witnessed first-hand.
I think I saw Chris Jackson (later Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf) in the first basketball game I went to (LSU/Georgetown), so he would have been the best in that game. And I don't recall ever having gone to an NBA game, so I haven't seen any of the all-time greats. Best I've seen in person might be Mike Bibby, although as college players (how I saw them) I'd say Chris Jackson was a little better.
First football game I saw was probably one I played in as a seven-year-old or something like that. Best player I've seen since then was maybe Ricky Williams. I was at about half of his college games. Or Rickey Jackson for the Saints back in the late 80s/early 90s.
For hockey I've only been to semipro and don't recall any of the players' names. Whoever was the best New Mexico Scorpions player about 15 years ago I guess.
commishbob
06-20-2019, 08:15 AM
Baseball—Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams
Football—Lawrence Taylor, Walter Payton
Basketball—Bill Russell, Michael Jordan
Hockey—Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky
Bob-The only soccer game I’ve ever been to was Santos of Brazil against Milan at Yankee Stadium, so for me the soccer answer would also be Pele/Pele
That must have been a cool event. My Pele game was when he was with the Cosmos at the Meadowlands. So he wasn't 'vintage' Pele but it was still great. I've seen Messi in his prime but I still have to list Pele as the best I've ever seen in person.
darwinbulldog
06-20-2019, 08:21 AM
That must have been a cool event. My Pele game was when he was with the Cosmos at the Meadowlands. So he wasn't 'vintage' Pele but it was still great. I've seen Messi in his prime but I still have to list Pele as the best I've ever seen in person.
I think in a few decades the consensus will be that Messi was better than Pele. These things take some time.
VoodooChild
06-20-2019, 09:04 AM
Sport --- First Game --- Any Game
Baseball : Jason Thompson (My favorite Pirate player as a little kid) , Frank Thomas (Spring Training game against the Pirates and had tickets right behind the plate. Dude is huge and hit a bomb that was so loud off the bat. I never heard anything like that before at a game.)
Football : Dan Marino (1981 Pitt vs. Army, I think he threw for 4 TD's and around 300 yds.), Troy Polamalu
Basketball : Curly Neal (Globetrotters) , Allen Iverson
Hockey : Mario Lemieux, Mario Lemieux (This one is easy. He's the most dominate athlete that I've seen in person in any sport.)
triwak
06-20-2019, 09:25 AM
Baseball: Bob Gibson, Hank Aaron
Football: Len Dawson, Joe Montana
Basketball: Curley Neil & Meadowlark Lemon
MooseDog
06-20-2019, 09:54 AM
My answers are based on my feeling of the "best" player and how they performed in the game(s) I attended, not necessarily best in popular culture. For example I saw Michael Jordan once, but he didn't have a very good game. I saw Mickey Mantle in his last season, but he was a shadow of what he was supposed to be.
Baseball Frank Robinson - Ken Griffey Jr
Football Ken Stabler - Emmett Smith
Basketball Meadowlark Lemon - Kevin Durant
Hockey Bobby Orr Bobby Orr/Mario Lemieux
That last one is a tough call. I saw them completely dominate a hockey game almost single-handedly, which is very tough to do in hockey. Then again, those games were against very poor Seals/Sharks teams.
insidethewrapper
06-20-2019, 10:16 AM
Baseball: Kaline,Mantle, Bonds,Ryan
Basketball: Bird, Lew Alcindor
Hockey : Howe
Tripredacus
06-20-2019, 01:53 PM
It is a bit hard for me as I do not really remember what players were in games, and games tend to mix together. Typically I end up remembering weird players like Oleg Saprykin or Razor Shines.
Baseball: Jay Bell, Cliff Lee
Football: Thurman Thomas, Tom Brady
Hockey: ??? , Dominik Hasek
Baseball is hard as I say, being in a minor league town we end up having a bunch of... well... minor league guys. Then also some come in on rehab assignment... or some guy on the other team coming up that you don't know anything about until they make it in the majors later. I didn't even think of Cliff Lee at first, originally I would have had to say Brian Giles. But I have a keychain from a game, and I look up that game and he is the WP so...
Certainly I had seen some other good football players. I remember my first football game was Week 1 1990 Bills vs Colts, the Jeff George debut.
For hockey, I do not know what my first game was, but I doubt anyone I had seen would beat the any game best player. I did see Wayne Gretzky, but as a coach with Phoenix. Don't know if that counts.
glynparson
06-20-2019, 01:57 PM
Baseball: Schmidt, Bonds
Basketball: Jordan, Bird
Football: Emmitt, Reggie White
Hockey: Gretzky, Jagr
mattsey9
06-20-2019, 02:19 PM
Baseball Lou Brock, Barry Bonds
Football Walter Payton, Walter Payton
Basketball Larry Bird, Lebron James
Hockey Denis Savard, Mario Lemieux
bnorth
06-20-2019, 02:26 PM
Baseball: Every great that played from the mid/late 80's to mid 00's. I went to 100's of games in that time period even though the closest stadium was a 600 mile round trip.
Basketball: I bought Timberwolves season tickets for the 06-07 season so I could see all the greats of the game in person that season. It is the only time I ever went to basketball games.
Football: Troy Aikman, Emmit Smith, and John Elway
Hockey: What is Hockey?:confused:
Peter_Spaeth
06-20-2019, 02:32 PM
I had a chance to see Maradona when he was in Boston but passed, always regretted that. I think it was at a point where he was having lots of problems and wasn't at his top game, but nonetheless, my boss who went said the skill level was incredible to witness.
peterb69
06-20-2019, 02:55 PM
Baseball Yaz Brett
Football Bo Brady
commishbob
06-20-2019, 03:28 PM
I think in a few decades the consensus will be that Messi was better than Pele. These things take some time.
Could be. Of course 'best ever' is something we'll all see differently in every sport. That's part of the fun of these threads.
Peter_Spaeth
06-20-2019, 03:35 PM
I think in a few decades the consensus will be that Messi was better than Pele. These things take some time.
No World Cups. He won't eclipse Pele in my opinion. Plus Pele had more charisma, joie de vivre, flair, whatever you want to call it. Even if Messi technically is better, it won't matter.
tonyo
06-20-2019, 03:55 PM
Hockey: Mario Lemieux, although props to Marian Hossa when he played for the Thrashers (who?)
Football: Jerry Rice saw him score 5 td's vs atl in 1990
Basketball: Michael Jordan, runner up saw Dominique go for 50 once
Baseball: So many, but at my first game in Cincinnati pick'em : Joe Morgan was my fav, Pete Rose, Bench,
Soccer Miguel Almiron :)
joshuanip
06-20-2019, 04:16 PM
Sport First Game Any Game
Baseball: Nolan Ryan / Barry Bonds*
Football: Aaron Rodgers / Jerry Rice / All Day (in his prime)
Basketball: Michael Jordan
Hockey: Wayne Gretzky / Super Mario
Johnny630
06-20-2019, 04:38 PM
Barry Bonds
Ken Griffey Jr
Nolan Ryan
Randy Johnson
Ichiro
Football
Tom Brady,
Peyton Manning
Ray Lewis
Basketball
Jordan
Bird
Magic
Hockey
AO
71buc
06-20-2019, 05:17 PM
Sport First Game / 1970 @ Fenway Sox Angels Tony C dropped a bomb
Baseball Hank Aaron/ Roberto Clemente/ Nolan Ryan/Mike Trout/ Griffey Jr.
Football Jack Lambert/Joe Greene/ Barry Sanders
Basketball Dr J/Larry Bird
Bull Fighting Manuel Benitez "El Cordobes"
Bigdaddy
06-20-2019, 05:41 PM
Sport First Game Any Game
Baseball Mr. October/Ken Griffey Jr
Football Big Ben/Big Ben (only have seen one game IP)
Basketball Dr. J/Magic Johnson
Matt1150
06-20-2019, 05:44 PM
Baseball: my first MLB game was an exhibition game featuring Hank Aaron at the Albuquerque Dukes’ old park: 1976 Reds including Rose, Concepcion, Bench, etc. my grandparents took me to both games, great memories!
Football: Aikman, futbol is Messi, Di Maria, Sánchez, Vidal, Bravo in a Copa America game with my daughter.
Basketball: the Admiral played an exhibition game on the UT campus when I was a student. He was walking around campus before the game, he was HUGE.
bbcard1
06-20-2019, 05:59 PM
Sport First Game Any Game
Baseball Willie Mays (He was near the ent of his career) Lots of good players on the field that day...Rose, Bench, McCovey
Best player I have ever seen is most likely Trout.
Football Don't know...probably Bill Bergey Bengals vs. Jets...Namath wasn't playing.
Randy Moss
JollyElm
06-20-2019, 06:26 PM
Mark Gastineau lighting up the Bills at 'Welcome Home, O.J., Night' in Buffalo in the 80's.
Dominique Wilkins making the Knicks look like they were a grade school church league team.
Pierre Turgeon on the ice. Holy crap could that man stick handle.
mike c
06-20-2019, 06:57 PM
Sport First Game Any Game
Baseball __Joe DiMaggio____________ __Ted Williams______________
Football _Jim Brown_____________ _Tom Brady_______________
Basketball _Wilt Chamberlain_____________ Larry Bird________________
Hockey ______________ ________________
MarcosCards
06-20-2019, 08:19 PM
Baseball—Detroit’s Charlie “Paw Paw” Maxwell on a Sunday!
Basketball—Kareem Abdul Jabbar
Football—O.J. Simpson playing for USC
Hockey—A college game or two - but no memorable names
Exhibitman
06-21-2019, 10:38 AM
Baseball: Willie Mays, Willie Mays
Football: Fran Tarkenton, Terry Bradshaw
Basketball: Walt Frazier, Kareem Abdul Jabbar
Hockey: Eddie Giacomin, Wayne Gretzky
Boxing: Lennox Lewis, Lennox Lewis (I've only been to one fight, Lewis v. Klitschko)
56Horsehide
06-21-2019, 10:59 AM
Have only been to MLB pro sports. 1959: Luis Aparicio, Nellie Fox and Eddie Mathews, Hank Aaron, Williw Mays. More recently: Frank Thomas
Jim
jcc6252
06-21-2019, 11:31 AM
Sport First Game Any Game
Baseball Mickey Mantle (Bronx), Mickey Mantle (Bronx)
Football Scott Dierking (W. Lafayette), Joe Montana (W. Lafayette)
Basketball Bob Lanier (MSG), Magic Johnson (W. Lafayette)
Hockey Patrick Roy (Denver), Patrick Roy (Denver)
36GoudeyMan
06-21-2019, 01:47 PM
Sport First Game Any Game
Baseball -- Roberto Clemente; Willie Mays
Football -- Joe Namath; John Riggins
Basketball -- Walt Frazier; Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Hockey -- Ed Giacomin; Alex Ovechkin
Baseball: Duke Snider ( Ebbets Field), Mickey Mantle (old Yankee Stadium)
Football: Frank Gifford (Polo Grounds). Peter Dawkins (West Point)
Basketball: Jerry West (Madison Square Garden) , Bod Cousy (Boston Garden)
Hockey: For me n/a
rats60
06-22-2019, 12:51 PM
Sport First Game Any Game
Baseball Roberto Clemente / Roberto Clemente
Football Bill Fralic / Jerry Rice
Basketball Wilt Chamberlain / Chamberlain or Michael Jordan
Hockey Brett Hull / Brett Hull
PowderedH2O
08-17-2019, 02:30 PM
Sport / First Game / Any Game
Baseball Rod Carew or Reggie Jackson / Rickey Henderson
Football Walter Payton / Dan Marino, Drew Brees, or Payton
Basketball Pete Maravich / Maravich or Julius Erving
Hockey Ron Francis / Mario Lemieux of Dominick Hasek
I saw games as a kid that I just don't remember, so I didn't count those. I saw Tony Dorsett at Pittsburgh when he came to play Tulane. I saw a bunch of Saints games from 1969-1973, but I honestly don't remember who we saw and who played. I saw the New Orleans Jazz numerous times. I remember Bob Love was amazing, and I remember being excited to see Dr. J. I don't remember too much of the rest. I've seen hundreds of NHL games, mostly in Carolina. Hard to say the best.
Peter_Spaeth
08-17-2019, 02:49 PM
Just to mention basketball I think Kareem is still probably the best I've seen but the two that made the biggest impression, because they just seemed to be taking the game to a new level , were Magic as a sophomore in college and David Thompson as a freshman. I saw Johnson on what probably was an off-night but the sight of a 6 foot 9 kid playing point guard as skillfully as he did was a revelation, and Thompson not only was leaping out of the building but hitting jump shots from everywhere.
Seeing Erving live was really something too, his ability to defy gravity and make acrobatic moves had more of an impact in person than on TV.
7nohitter
08-17-2019, 07:28 PM
Baseball: Pedro Martinez/ Ken Griffey Jr.
Basketball: Larry Bird/Magic Johnson
Football: Tom Brady/ Reggie White
Hockey: Cam Neely/Jaromir Jagr
Mark70Z
08-18-2019, 09:38 AM
Baseball - Brooks and Frank Robinson
Many others, but had the opportunity to see the O’s a lot when I was younger.
Football - Mike “Mad Dog” Curtis, Lawrence Taylor, Alan Page
- saw Unitas at the end of career, but he was my dads favorite along with Raymond Berry
Basketball- Earl “the Pearl” Monroe, Dr. J
- saw some other big names as well like Wilt and Jabbar...there up there as well
Hockey - Bobby Orr, Gerry Cheevers
Soccer - Pele, Franz Beckenbauer
thatkidfromjerrymaguire
08-18-2019, 09:48 AM
Great Thread!
Baseball- First: George Brett. Best: George Brett/Nolan Ryan/Trout/Bonds/Griffey/Jeter
Football- First: Marcus Allen. Best: Joe Montana/Tom Brady/Patrick Mahomes 😀
Basketball (only college): First: Mitch Richmond. Best: Kevin Durant
Never been to a hockey game.
ksfarmboy
08-18-2019, 11:18 AM
Baseball: Yaz, Brett, and Ripken.
Basketball: Paul Pierce
Football: Nobody of note on either team.
David W
08-18-2019, 03:02 PM
I was at the 1981 All star game in Cleveland. So that covers a lot. We got there and watched batting practice. Reggie Jackson was shagging balls in the outfield. The Cleveland fans were giving him grief. Then he caught one, and the fans were begging him for the ball. He walks over to the stands and points at a fan, acts like he’s going to give it to him, then shakes his head no and throws it back to the infield with a big smile on his face. Funniest thing I ever saw. Then he really heard it from the fans.
Best player Pujols
Best pitcher Greg Maddux
wolf441
08-18-2019, 04:07 PM
Sport --- First Game --- Any Game
Baseball : Fred Lynn, Pedro Martinez
Football : Steve Largent, Tom Brady
Basketball : Larry Bird, Michael Jordan
Hockey : Ray Bourque, Wayne Gretzky
jerrys
08-18-2019, 06:38 PM
Sport First Game Any Game
Baseball: Stan Musial Enos Slaugther Pee Wee Reese Pete Reiser
RCMcKenzie
08-18-2019, 07:00 PM
Baseball Cliff Johnson, Dave Kingman
Football Dan Pastorini, Earl Campbell
Basketball Moses Malone, James Harden
Hockey Gordie Howe, Gordie Howe
Soccer Kyle Rote Jr., Brian Ching
Boxing Ron "Tequila" Collins
Golf Greg Norman, Tiger Woods
Auto Racing Niki Lauda, Geoff Brabham
I'm sure I think of some more sports, later.
HercDriver
08-18-2019, 07:09 PM
Baseball: Bake McBride (he signed my ball before the game and had a couple hits)/Mark Grace (best? maybe not. Favorite)
Football: Walter Payton/Walter Payton
Basketball: Lebron James/Lebron James
Hockey: Jari Kurri (Kings)/Patrick Kane
On second thought, Grace was the best. You couldn't ask for a more perfect baseball player or teammate.
Cheers,
Geno
Misunderestimated
08-18-2019, 10:33 PM
First Best
Baseball
Ron Santo/Jenkins Greg Maddux, Frank Thomas or Barry Bonds*
Football
Dick Butkus/Gale Sayers Walter Payton & Joe Montana
Basketball:
Chamberlain/West Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson or Lebron James
Hockey :
I don't really remember, once mid-70's Blackhawks: Tony Esposito maybe Stan Mikita was there, against the Canadians maybe Guy Lafluer. ..... Haven't been there much since....no one as good as those guys when I do go -- I missed Mario and Gretzky.
Soccer -- the Chicago Sting weren't very good and I don't remember who they played when I went ...It wasn't Cosmos who were loaded with big names.
I did see Tennis: McEnroe play Connors and Lendl also Serena and Venus
terjung
08-19-2019, 12:02 AM
Great thread idea!
Sport First Game Any Game
Baseball Kenny Lofton Ken Griffey, Jr.
Football Lynn Swann Drew Brees
Basketball Mark Price Glenn Robinson
Hockey Marty St. Louis Sidney Crosby
glynparson
08-19-2019, 07:14 AM
See Above i actually did it right the first time lol
Case12
08-19-2019, 08:49 AM
Baseball: Hank Aaron, Greg Maddux
Football: Herschel Walker
skil55voy
08-19-2019, 10:06 AM
Here are mine. The Baseball and Basketball games were the first games I ever went to. I have never been to an NHL game.
Sport First Game Any Game
Baseball Jim Bunning - First Game 1962
Football Ken Stabler - Oakland vs Detroit
Basketball Bill Russell - First Game vs. Detroit 1967
Hockey Marc St. Louis - Indianapolis
Russell was unreal. He only scored 3 points but, had 17 rebounds and 11 assists and at LEAST 10 blocked shots. (They didn't keep that stat) He ate Joe Strawder alive. Bunning gave up 12 hits in 7 2/3 and won 5-2. Stabler torched the Lions.
Sport First Game / Any Game
Baseball: Roberto Clemente / Willie Mays (Trout?)
Football: cannot recall
Basketball: Michael Jordan & Larry Bird / I've been to only one pro game
Hockey: Stan Mikita / Mario Lemieux
CurtisFlood
08-19-2019, 06:01 PM
Baseball: Willie Mays
Basketball: Marvin Barnes
Football: David Means.
Throttlesteer
08-19-2019, 10:43 PM
Baseball, Tony Gwynn, Barry Bonds
Football, Joe Montana, LaDanian Tomlinson
Basketball, Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins
Hockey, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux
NiceDocter
08-19-2019, 11:18 PM
When I was a kid the first game I ever went to was on Patrol Day at old DC stadium.... Don Lock hit 2 home runs and I went home thinking the guy is the next Babe Ruth!!
tachyonbb
08-20-2019, 06:17 AM
Baseball Bob Gibson, Bob Gibson
Football Gayle Sayers (In high school), Payton Manning
Basketball Paul Silas, Bill Russell
Hockey Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky
Harford20
08-20-2019, 10:11 AM
Sport ...... First Game ....... Any Game
Baseball: Cal Ripken Jr, ...... July 1, 1996 with Clemens/Canseco vs Rivera/Boggs/Jeter
Football: Floyd Little, ...... Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady
Basketball: David Thompson, ...... Michael Jordan
Hockey: Lanny McDonald, ...... Jaromir Jagr