Franchise Four is now Three - Hank's place?

[Exhibitman]

Bonds. Head to head he is head and shoulders above the rest, considering play only.

[bmattioli]

Considering on field only, Pete Rose..

[MVSNYC]

The word Franchise was used because it was highlighting the 4 best living players who played their entire careers with one team (save for one or two throw a way seasons at the end of their careers).

I'll submit Derek Jeter and Cal Ripken Jr....Mike Trout will be there someday, needs more years with his team.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by MVSNYC

The word Franchise was used because it was highlighting the 4 best living players who played their entire careers with one team (save for one or two throw a way seasons at the end of their careers).

I'll submit Derek Jeter and Cal Ripken Jr....Mike Trout will be there someday, needs more years with his team.

I think the term franchise refers to players that you would want to start a franchise with. You have the greatest center fielder, the greatest left handed pitcher, the greatest catcher, adding the greatest third baseman fits the theme best.

[ClementeFanOh]

Rod Carew (certainly belongs in the conversation given many of the players
already mentioned)- Trent King

[Aaron Seefeldt]

Rickey or Albert

[MVSNYC]

Originally Posted by rats60

I think the term franchise refers to players that you would want to start a franchise with. You have the greatest center fielder, the greatest left handed pitcher, the greatest catcher, adding the greatest third baseman fits the theme best.

Actually, players were voted via teams, and which players represented each of the 30 "Franchise" the best. Then they created a "Mt. Rushmore" of the 4 best.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/...-teams-history

https://www.mlb.com/news/greatest-li...ed/c-136694204

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/...o105nu9pfsqpww

[7nohitter]

Griffey Jr.

[71buc]

Originally Posted by MVSNYC

The word Franchise was used because it was highlighting the 4 best living players who played their entire careers with one team (save for one or two throw a way seasons at the end of their careers).

I'll submit Derek Jeter and Cal Ripken Jr....Mike Trout will be there someday, needs more years with his team.

I felt crazy saying Trout in this conversation. I’m old school Roberto and Hank are my favorite all time players. I live in the NW and saw JR from the beginning to end of his career. My Dad is 80 and grew up at Municipal and Forbes. He saw DiMaggio, Williams, Mantle, Mays, Aaron, Clemente and their ilk. When I asked him who the best player he ever saw was he answered Mantle, Griffey, and Trout. I would say the best I ever saw were Griffey and Trout. After a decade of amazing feats, production, and accolades Trout most definitely belongs in this conversation.

[David W]

Willie Mays. Mic drop

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

In the spirit of the exercise let's replace the previous greatest living Brave with the current one Maddux.

[Fred]

My fab 4:

Mays - no reason necessary for this pick.

This one even surprises myself because I hate the Yankees, especially after watching game 4 of the 1998 WS from the stands and having to see the Yanks dog pile on my Padres infield - Jeter. Jeter is old school. He kept his mouth shut and let his skills do the talking.

Steve Carlton - how do you win 27 games on a team that only wins 59 games all year? 300 game winner, 4K K's. Yeah, Blyleven has more ShOuts lifetime, but lefty was a great pitcher. Tough to pick a pitcher out of the bunch that's on the living list. I just can't pick a reliever. If so, it'd have been Mariano, hands down. I'd probably have picked Koufax but his star burned bright for a short period of time. He also pitched at a time when ERAs were pretty low. Yup, baseball sacrilege. Koufax was INCREDIBLE for 6 years.

Pick 4 goes to Ricky Henderson. Very colorful and misunderstood but arguably the best lead-off hitter to play the game.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Bonds. Head to head he is head and shoulders above the rest, considering play only.

And what a head it was!

[sportscardpete]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Bonds. Head to head he is head and shoulders above the rest, considering play only.

I second this. It’s Bonds. He’ll be a HOFer when all is said and done.

[EGreenwood]

Rickey Henderson

[margoaepi]

None other than Rickey Henderson.

[ccre]

I would have to say Rickey Henderson as well.

[Fred]

If Frank Robinson were alive, he'd be in my top 4 list...

[Fred]

Originally Posted by sportscardpete

I second this. It’s Bonds. He’ll be a HOFer when all is said and done.

But he aint a Hall of Famer yet.

[Yastrzemski Sports]

The top all time living WAR leaders are Bonds, Mays, Clemens and A-Rod - followed by Henderson, Schmidt, Maddux, Randy Johnson and Pujols. All with a WAR over 100.

So if you just want to include HOF members then you are left with Mays, Henderson, Schmidt and Maddux. That's a pretty good list.

My picks would be Mays, Bonds, Johnson and Henderson.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Yastrzemski Sports

The top all time living WAR leaders are Bonds, Mays, Clemens and A-Rod - followed by Henderson, Schmidt, Maddux, Randy Johnson and Pujols. All with a WAR over 100.

So if you just want to include HOF members then you are left with Mays, Henderson, Schmidt and Maddux. That's a pretty good list.

My picks would be Mays, Bonds, Johnson and Henderson.

That's a pretty good list. I think an argument could be made for Nolan Ryan too if he had stayed longer with one team. I didn't take into account the franchise part on my vote.

.

[tedzan]

The new-speak term "WAR" is an ambiguous Stat at best; therefore, to base the a choice of ballplayer on that Stat alone is ridiculous. The overall picture of a BB player is what matters.

Furthermore, the stated qualifier is "FRANCHISE", and the five guys that immediately come to mind are Bench, Koufax, Mays, Schmidt, and Yastrzemski. I have seen all 5 of these guys
play through out their years. Most of the others players mentioned in this thread have played on various teams. And, here is my choice.....





Incidentally, I have been a NY Yankees fan since 1947....so, my choice here is a very open-minded decision.

TED Z

T206 Reference
.

[YazFenway08]

thank you, Ted