Who would you pick?

[71buc]

The 1971 Pirates, Clemente, Stargell, Doc Ellis, Al Oliver, Cash, Sanguillen, Blass, Guisti and crew. I'm definitely biased. I was 8 and fell in love with baseball that year because of that team. They were cool, ethnic, and had a swagger on the field that was captivating. They were a team of contrasting cultures, languages, and playing styles. I could related to them. I am bi-racial and grew up in a home where Spanish was spoken. The Pirates seemed to reflect what was going on in my house. My father was a quiet white guy with a crew cut who smoked cigars, listened to Miles Davis, and loved the Bucs. My Mexican Mother was outspoken, colorful and very opinionated. She also spoke five languages.

At that time my TV was black and white yet oddly enough I remember the Pirates in full color. During the 1971 Series Clemente literally seemed to leap from the TV. The pride I felt when he spoke my mother's language on TV was overwhelming. I know there have been better teams but this is the one that brought me to the dance. Forty years later I'm still loyal to them. Has it really been that long? MLB needs to retire the number 21.

[Oldtix]

I'd go with the Gashouse Gang...the 1934 Cardinals. You'd be hard pressed to find a more colorful group of ballplayers...Ripper, Pepper, Flash, Daffy, Dizzy, Ducky, Spud, Wild Bill, Tex, Dazzy, Gabby, Leo, etc....assembled by, of all people, general manager Branch Rickey while also building the best farm system in the majors. The dirty uniforms, the pre-game pepper drills, the Mudcat Band...in almost every way, these guys played like they had nothing to lose. They won 21 of 28 games in September to win the pennant on the last day of the season, then won the World Series in the seventh game. Their faces reflected how tough life was during the depths of the Depression...guys in their twenties looked like guys in their fifties. What a team...

[esd10]

for me it would have to be the 1869 cincinnati red stockings getting cabinet photos and autographs of every player would be a tremendous undertaking and a small fortune to complete if it could be done. i'm a life long reds fan and alway been interested in sports history and american history and this is the most significant team ever in american sports history.