Iconic Player?

steve B · #1 06-13-2016, 07:12 PM

On a more serious note, I think it's mostly about someone who might immediately come to mind to a casual fan. Usually by being part of or better still the main player in one of an eras defining moments.

Too hard to compare Ruth to Mantle. I'll just say that in the 20's Ruth was the larger than life character that made people forget how crooked the game was before Landis. (And that's a debate for another thread entirely !)

I don't really see Mantle that way, but for a generation of NY fans he was THE player.
But then, I didn't see him play only getting interested in baseball in 73. So for me it was other players. Aaron especially.

And of course Reggie in the 70's for both Oakland and NY

A great example for the 80's would be Kirk Gibson. One amazing moment that really represents the best of 80's baseball.

Being press friendly doesn't hurt a bit of course.
Jim Rice was amazing for a number of years, but seldom got into the special games. And while he had reason to feel slighted by the press, his general unresponsiveness didn't help things.

I never really liked the hype, but yeah, Jeter has to be up there for the last couple decades. Didn't like the "best player ever" stuff, and he played for NY. but he was hard to really dislike even as a sox fan. I admired him all the more when I heard an interview where he was asked about the Fenway fans getting on him. Great response! Something like "I actually like it, Boston and NY have fans that really know baseball, and they don't get on the average guys like that. So it's sort of an honor, and one that pushes me to play harder against them." Gotta like that a whole lot.

Steve B

MCoxon · #2 06-14-2016, 04:55 PM

Iconic is a moving target. There was a time that if you made it to the cover of Life, you had transcended your vocation. But even those who made Life Magazine covers while playing don't necessarily remain popular forever.

Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, Nolan Ryan. Each seem to have fallen out of favor with baseball card collectors recently, but were extremely iconic in their time and place (ie, in Boston, and nationally in the late 80s/90s for Ryan). Williams and Yaz both were on the cover of Life.

Joe DiMaggio was probably more iconic in his time in terms of transcending sports into the national culture than several others mentioned in these posts. Two Life covers. Even after he finished playing, he was still in the national consciousness (married to Marilyn Monroe; Mr. Coffee commercials; being named in the song Mrs. Robinson; heck, on Seinfeld). But he doesn't have any topps cards (or goudey for that matter), so from a card collector's stand point not as much anymore

Bob Feller was a national phenomenon and icon. He pitched in MLB at 17 while still in high school. His high school graduation was broadcast by CBS. He was on the cover of Life. He was a top 3 MLB draw in the late 30's and 40's along with Williams and DiMaggio. But in a stats-obsessed age, 266 wins (less 4 years of 25 wins each lost to WWII - which he signed up for first among ball players) doesn't cut it, and he's forgotten except in Cleveland.

More modern fan favorites weren't necessarily iconic until later, sometimes late in or even after their career.

Clemente became iconic after the 1971 World Series (when people finally paid attention) and of course after Dec 31, 1972; he was relatively unknown to the non-NL baseball fan, let alone to the broader national consciousness, before that. (he's my favorite player, I'm not dissing him)

7nohitter · #3 06-14-2016, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MCoxon

Iconic is a moving target. There was a time that if you made it to the cover of Life, you had transcended your vocation. But even those who made Life Magazine covers while playing don't necessarily remain popular forever.

Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, Nolan Ryan. Each seem to have fallen out of favor with baseball card collectors recently, but were extremely iconic in their time and place (ie, in Boston, and nationally in the late 80s/90s for Ryan). Williams and Yaz both were on the cover of Life.

Fallen out of favor??? What makes you say that?

Johnny630 · #4 06-14-2016, 07:12 PM

Cal Ripken Jr. Baltimore

MCoxon · #5 06-15-2016, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7nohitter

Fallen out of favor??? What makes you say that?

Just my sense

1) no one on the thread mentioned those 3.

2) Ryan. When I was younger in the 80s/90s Ryan was very iconic; several of his cards (except rookie) seem to be declining in value

3) Yaz. I wrote a thread earlier. In the late 80s just after he retired, per Contemporary Beckett guides, his card prices were on par with Koufax and Aaron, and his 1971 card was valued higher than all but 2-3. Now, his cards are worth relatively a lot less

4). Williams. I have bought several cards under SMR Lately. He doesn't have the cache, at least on these boards, relative to his heyday.

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