Franchise Four is now Three - Hank's place?

[Fred]

When the word "franchise" is used, does that imply a one team player?

[rats60]

None of those guys. My top 3 would be Mike Schmidt, George Brett and Rickey Henderson.

[perezfan]

Mike Schmidt tends to be overlooked a lot on these types of surveys. He was pretty much the greatest 3rd Baseman of all-time, and is still with us.

If not him, then I would say Pete Rose.

[Bigdaddy]

Originally Posted by perezfan

Mike Schmidt tends to be overlooked a lot on these types of surveys. He was pretty much the greatest 3rd Baseman of all-time, and is still with us.

If not him, then I would say Pete Rose.

With one more spot, Schmidt would have made my list. Considered by many (most?) as the greatest 3B ever, but doesn't usually make the cut when talking about the greatest ballplayers ever. IDK???

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by Bigdaddy

With one more spot, Schmidt would have made my list. Considered by many (most?) as the greatest 3B ever, but doesn't usually make the cut when talking about the greatest ballplayers ever. IDK???

Don't want to be confrontational... just a hearty and heathy disagreement. Mariano Rivera was on the list, and not Schmidt. Schmidt was a perenial Gold Glover and 500 Home Run Club member. He WAS the franchise and yes, one of the greatest players ever.

To have any relief pitcher listed there (nothing against Mariano) and not Schmidt is ridiculous, IMHO. I'd put Brett, Henderson, Ripken and Ryan ahead of Mariano as well.

[Bigdaddy]

Originally Posted by Fred

When the word "franchise" is used, does that imply a one team player?

No, just 'greatest living ballplayer'. At least on this poll.

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by Bigdaddy

No, just 'greatest living ballplayer'. At least on this poll.

Take Yaz or Brooks and you get both.

[Bigdaddy]

If you choose "Someone else", please do tell who that player is.

[yanksfan09]

Not sure who I would pick but some other guys worthy of consideration off the top of my head: Albert Pujols (maybe some suspect steroids but no evidence and all time great #s) , Ken Griffey Jr., Miguel Cabrera, Pedro Martinez, Greg Maddux, Derek Jeter, Mike Trout (lol), Alex Rodriguez (if considering steroid guys) I'm sure a few others I'm not thinking of at the moment...

[D. Bergin]

Assuming they would never give Bonds that honor, I would have to go with Rickey Henderson.

There's also a bunch of guys I wouldn't argue against if it came down to it.

[campyfan39]

Brooks

[D. Bergin]

My best bet on who they would actually pick, if they officially filled Hank's spot on that plaque, would be Griffey Jr..

[FrankWakefield]

Pujols and Maddux seem sensible choices.

Yaz and B Robinson seem to be more generally accepted as bigger stars, but I think that in 20 years and thereafter, both Pujols and Maddux will be considered as bigger stars.

I saw Mike Schmidt play. Several times in person, and a bunch of times on television; and probably listened to about 150 of his games on a radio. He deserves to be in the Hall of Fame in my opinion, and more so than some subsequent inductees. He was great in the field. He was respected, he had a strong arm and could hit a ball a long way. But his lifetime average was in the .260s, he lead the league in strikeouts 4 seasons. My recollection of his at bats was having the sense that something was about to happen. There were usually consequences to him being at the plate... a home run was realistically possible, no matter the pitcher. Hits and RBIs were possible. A walk was possible, he walked a lot. And he could srtike out and ground into double plays. With a winning or tying run at second base late in a game, I'd pick Yaz to hit over Schmidt every time, regardless the pitcher.

So...

1- a tie, Pujols or Maddux
3- Yaz
4- B Robinson