Quick frivolous Friday poll
 

Who is the one person in baseball history you would pick to sit down and have a few beers with to what they were really like.

Mine is obviously Gehrig.

Cobb

Ruth

Mantle.

Much has been written, but to spend time with him would be priceless. Especially the stories that might be shared. Add Whitey Ford to the mix talking about he and Mantle out on the town, the girls, a drink.... In between the stories, probably get a nice glimpse of who Mantle was as a person.

That would be more meaningful to me than what is in print.

I am sure the printed word does a lot of these guys a serious injustice. Not everyone is cut out to be Steve Garvey or Curtis Granderson with the media. Particularly decades ago, a lot of these guys came off farms and talking to big city writers in a confident way was just way beyond their comfort zone. Doesn't make them bad guys at all, but if you don't play the game the right way with sports reporters you will not come off well at all. Saw this with many players who channeled through the Mets over the years. Give the media what they want and you are a great guy. Be aloof with the press and you will get cooked. Kevin McReynolds is a good example.

Moe Berg

It would be hard to pick just one to meet (not necessarily drink with), but the first to come to mind was King Kelly. Yet the next one was Billy Sunday.

Joe Jackson

Bob Feller.

With one of the longer lifespans for a ball player from his era, what didn't he see? He saw '20s and early '30s baseball, played in the mid-late '30s, fought in WWII, then played through the mid '50s. He died in 2010 at the age of 92, which means he saw and can probably share stories from 80+ years of baseball/American history.

Ted Williams for deceased players and Wade Boggs living. It would be amazing to listen to Ted explain hitting in person and Wade is may all-time favorite player.

Joe Jackson

Jackie Robinson

Cobb.

Marichal and Roseboro

Bill Veeck

Vin Scully

Well I would say Ruth but it might be hard to talk about stuff considering he won't know any current events . Well he might not know any events since his death let alone current. But he seems like a guy that a few beers would be fun to have with. Maybe ty Cobb just to see if he was a jerk or not .

Great question/thread, Steve.

Personally, I'd pick Cobb.
So much negative press about the guy being a racist, miserable, and a SOB that I'd like, despite it mostly being a known fact now he wasn't like that, to be able to sit down and find out who the guy really was.

There are others of course, but that is my choice, despite not owning any of his cards or memorabilia.

Ruth

Fleetwood Walker

I think Christy Mathewson would be my pick.

Moe Berg

Casey Stengel. I have a feeling I wouldn't get in two words...

Barry Bonds. I'll get drunk and trash-talk him and then he'll stab me with a syringe.

Bob Costas

Yogi Berra :D

Ruth

Babe Ruth

Mathewson

Grantland Rice

Hank Aaron


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Rogers Hornsby, both as a superb player and savvy manager.

DiMaggio. All class, super stardom. Find out a few things about Marilyn. I think that would be an interesting conversation.

Rube Waddell.

Known to occasionally miss a scheduled start because he was off fishing or playing marbles with street urchins, Waddell might disappear for days during spring training, only to be found leading a parade down the main street of Jacksonville, Florida, or wrestling an alligator in a nearby lagoon.

That is a guy to drink with...

John Ward. He was a great pitcher (threw second perfect game in mlb history), a great shortstop, and the man who organized the Players' League formation. Ward was one of the most influential people in 19th century baseball. If John was busy I would go with Albert Spaulding, Harry Wright or Henry Chadwick.
As for the people who said Mantle--I spent an evening with him in 1992, he was not that interesting.

Surprised no one said Satchell Paige. That guy would have some stories.

Have a good weekend all.

I'm go with Matty / Josh Gibson

Dizzy Dean

Mark Fidrych

As a high school ballplayer and Tiger fan of the mid / late 70s I, and much of the nation, was captivated by him. By all accounts he was a real down to earth guy. I would love to pound a few and shoot the shit with him.

Ty cobb

Cobb

When I was a kid I got to sit with him for an inning or two of a game while he explained what the pitchers were doing or trying to do. I didn't realize until much later just how cool that really was.

Lots of other interesting choices. It's also interesting how nobody seems to choose the less amazing players. I'd probably choose either someone I grew up watching, Rice, or maybe Evans. But as others have said, maybe one of the bigger names Cobb I think would be interesting, Ruth maybe more fun although I doubt I could keep up with him even if it was my mid 20's self.

Yeah, I know, I'm indecisive and didn't really answer the question.

Steve B

Jim Thorpe

I sat with Bob Feller on two separate occasions and talked baseball with him. Feller was sharp and shared some very interesting stories with me while we had the time.

As for the poll, I would want to talk with Cobb.

First thought ... Bill Lee.

Pete Rose...he doesn't drink and I bet he would say some good stuff.

Stan Musial

My first thought was Walter Johnson, but Veeck would be a lot of fun!

Or Leo Durocher!

Ty Cobb!!!