The 25 Most Influential People in Baseball History

The game of baseball has been around a long time.


From the ball fields of Cooperstown,  New York, Elysian Fields in New Jersey, baseball's beginnings evolved some 180 years ago, a game derived, some say,  from the British game of  "Rounders."

Since the first formation of professional baseball,  by the 1869 Cincinnati Reds, fans have had their favorite ballplayers,  and that has led to many a discussion about who the very best of the best have been.

From Cap Anson and Albert Spalding of the 1880s to Miguel Cabrera and Mike Trout in 2014, baseball fans have listed their favorite players, managers, broadcasters, and writers.




How can we, as fans, look back on 145 years of organized professional baseball and truly know for certain who the best of best were, or are now.




Trying to figure out the top 25 most influential people in baseball history seems impossible,  and yet that didn't stop baseball fan extrodinare Graham Womack at Baseball Past and Present. 


Baseball's 25 Most Influential People in Baseball History

Graham asked baseball fans to vote for their own top 25, and calculated all votes received into his completed list. 



I was more than excited, I was honored, to be involved in the balloting.



There is, of course, no right or wrong choices,  its purely based on the fans knowledge and understanding of baseball history as they see it.

Below are my top 25...


Ty Cobb

Babe Ruth

Kennesaw Mountain Landis

Ban Johnson

Ken Burns

Curt Flood

Marvin Miller

Ernie Harwell

Henry Chadwick

Connie Mack

Albert Spalding

Jackie Robinson

Branch Rickey

John McGraw

Rube Foster

Cy Young

Bill Klemm

Dr. Frank Jobe

Roger Bresnahan

Ring Lardner

Ichiro Suzuki

John Thorn

J. G. Taylor Spink

Effa Maney

Alexander Cartwright



In choosing my ballot I tried to think on all aspects of the game, from its humble beginnings in post Civil War America,  through the formation of the National League in 1876, the American League in 1901, through men like Henry Chadwick, and women like Negro League owner Effa Maney.


I placed long time baseball announcer Ernie Harwell among the top 25, not because he's my favorite baseball play by play guy, or that he was once traded from announcing Atlanta Crackers games to the Brooklyn Dodgers radio team for catcher Cliff Dapper.



I chose Ernie to represent all the fabulous baseball announcers,  from Red Barber and Mel Allen, from Curt Gowdey, Vin Scully, and Joe Garagiola.

I voted for Dr. Frank Jobe,  an orthopedic surgeon who saved a left handed pitchers career, changing the way baseball looked at injured ballplayers...Tommy John surgery influenced baseball.


My list isn't perfect, I know.


My list doesn't include Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds, Ted Williams,  Lou Gehrig,  Joe Toree, Casey Stengal, or Elston Howard.


Any of those would have a reason to be included, but hey, I didn't vote for Bill Freehan either, abd that, I think, shows hiw much I cared about this project.

If you voted, thanks for your voice.


If you missed this time, fear not, because Graham is always asking fans for input in his research of our great game.



Make sure to clink on the link above and check out Graham's work.





Play Ball!

Meeting Mr.Tiger

This Throwback Thursday picture is from either 2007/08 in Lakeland, Florida.

Yes, I'm trying not to cry as I pose with Detroit Tigers Hall of Famer and 10 time Gold Glove Award winner Al Kaline.

Baseball Hall of Fame Induction July 27, 2014

Congratulations to the Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2014.

Happy Baseball Birthday...Baseball Hall of Fame

Today is the 75th Anniversary of the National Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

On June 6, 1939 the first four classes of ballplayers elected into the HOF, from 1936, 37, 38, 39, were inducted.

The first five players voted in by the Baseball Writers Association of America in 1936 were Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Bonus Wagner, Christy Matthewson, and Walter Johnson. 

Happy Baseball Birthday...Roger Bresnahan

Today's Happy Baseball Birthday! Is Hall of Fame player and manager Roger Bresnahan.

Roger Philip Bresnahan  was born in Toledo, Ohio, on June 11, 1879.

At the age of 16 Bresnahan played semi pro ball in Manistee, Michigan, and would make several minor league stops, including playing for his hometown Toledo Mudhens before getting to the big leagues.

Bresnahan made his debut in the big leagues on August 27, 1897 for the then Washington Senators of the National League.

In 17 big league baseball seasons Bresnahan played every position on the baseball diamond in 1,446 games, batting .276 in 4481 at bats.

In the 1905 World Series Bresnahan caught all give games for the champion Giants, including all three complete game shutouts by Christy Mathewson.

Brensnahan is most famous in baseball history not for any hit, throw, or play he made, but for what he popularized...catchers shin guards.

Brensnahan first wore shin guards in a ball game in 1907, and although several complaints were made, baseball allowed the equipment, and catchers all around baseball began using the protective guards.

Brensnahan also managed in the big leagues, as player/manager for both the St. Louis Cardinals (1909-12), and the Chicago Cubs (1913-15).

Brensnahan last big league appearance was a the Cubs player/manager, on October 3,1915.

Brensnahan stayed in baseball after his playing days, as a coach for the Giants and Detroit Tigers, before becoming the owner of the Toledo Mudhens.

Brensnahan passed away from a heart attack on December 4, 1944, in his hometown of Toledo, at the age of 65.

In 1945 the Veteran's Committee voted Roger Bresnahan into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Happy Baseball Birthday Roger Bresnahan!

PLAY BALL!

Ralph Kiner, 1922-2014

Hall of Fame big leaguer Ralph Kiner has passed away at age 91.

Jacksonville Braves...Henry Aaron

Today we have a  Happy Baseball Birthday to the baseball fans true Home Run King, Henry Aaron, who turns 80 today.

This picture is courtesy of the Jacksonville Suns (jaxsuns.com).

Hank Aaron played here in Jacksonville in 1952, for the Jacksonville Braves, who played their baseball games at old Durkee Field, now J.P. Small park, on Jacksonville's Northside.

http://www.jaxhistory.com/journal13.html

Hall of Fame thoughts

Just a few thoughts on this years balloting for the 2014 Hall of Fame induction into the hallowed grounds of Cooperstown,  New York, this summer.

● Three big leaguers, all first ballot players, Frank Thomas, Tom Glavine, and Greg Maddux were voted for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

As a member of the Baseball Bloggers Alliance,  I included Thomas, Glavine, and Maddux on my BBA ballot this year.

●As usual, controversy reared its usual madness as many former big leaguers didnt achieve the reqiured 75% of all ballots cast by voting members of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

For me, the HOF won't really be right until players like Buck Weaver,  Gil Hodges, Tim Raines, Dale Murphy, Jack Morris, Craig Biggio, Mike Piazza, Alan Trammell,  Lou Whittaker, Jim Kaat, Edgar Martinez, and Don Mattingly are given tbeir proper due and Inducted into the HOF.

●The Dan LeBatard/Deadspin vote.

I didn't participate in Deadspin's vote, never paid attention to anything having to do with the secret writer/ballot stuff, as it seemed just to silly.

That said, the LeBatard/ Deadspin ballot was a pretty darn solid ballot for the HOF.

The ballot contained 7 players that I voted for on my BBA ballot.

The three that I didn't have on my ballot were...Curt Schiilling, a solid pick, and two I will never vote for...steroid kings Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens.

I have stated in the past that Bonds, Clemens, Manny Ramirez, Sammy Sosa, Alex Rodriguez, will never have my support.

As for Schiiling...no until Morris, Kaat, pitchers better than Schilling, pitchers better than Mike Mussina, are chosen for HOF selection.

●Why would LeBatard, or any baseball writer, agree to such foolishness?

If LeBatard wanted to make the point that the BBWAA voting system is flawed...which it is, then why didn't he solicit possible selections for his HOF ballot through his TV show, radio show, or through social media like Twitter or Facebook?

Selling, or giving up your prized vote as a baseball HOF selector, means you really don't deserve a vote, nor do you want it, obviously.

●●●●Today the BBWAA stripped LeBatard from ever voting again for the HOF...probably what he wanted anyway, along with the publicity●●●●

●The 2014 HOF Class is a terrific group, Glavine, Maddux, Thomas, along with Veterans Committee selections, former big league players and Managers Joe Torre, Bobby Cox,  and Tony LaRussa.

This Tigers pitcher belongs in BaseballHall of Fame

The great Detroit Tigers right handed hurler, Billy Chapel, a first ballot Hall of Famer.

Happy Baseball Birthday...Hank Greenberg

Happy Birthday to two time  American League MVP, Hank Greenberg.

Hank Greenberg was born on January 1st, 1911, in New York, New York.

Hank was signed by the Detroit Tigers in 1929, and would spend 12 of his 13 years playing in the Motor City. 

331 home runs, 1,276 RBI, .331 lifetime batting average, in 13 years, missing 4 years serving in World War II.

Hank was Inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1956. 

Hank Greenberg died in Los Angeles, California, on September 4th, 1986, at age 75.

●●●●Did you know that Hank Greenberg was the very first big league ball player to win MVP Awards at two positions?●●●●Hank was the 1935 AL MVP as the Detroit Tigers first baseman, and again won the AL MVP as the Tigers left fielder in 1940.●●●●

Happy Baseball Birthday...Bill Terry

In early 1981 I had the opportunity to meet Bill Terry.

For a young baseball fan of just 21, the chance to go see and meet a big league baseball player...a ballplayer in the National Baseball Hall of Fame was just terrific.

Bill Terry made Jacksonville, Florida his home after playing baseball.

He bought the minor league Jacksonville Braves of the South Atlantic League in 1958.

Mr. Terry is well known here in Jacksonville for his car dealership, Bill Terry Buick, which he ran from 1949 until his passing in 1989 at the age of 90.

I started thinking about that visit today when I saw that it would've been  Mr. Terry's 115th Birthday.

He was a very nice man who talked baseball with me...man was I nervous...talking to a man...a big leaguer...in the Hall of Fame...WOW!

Nearly every baseball fan knows about Ted Williams hitting .406 in 1941, the last player to hit over .400 in a single regular season.

I've always found it strange that Bill Terry has almost been forgotten by baseball fans, who should know that in 1930 he hit .401, the last National League player to hit over the magic number of .400.

Mr. Terry was a terrific hitter, posting a lifetime batting average of .341, with 2,193 base hits and 1, 078 RBI.

He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1954.

Happy Baseball Birthday! Mr. Terry!


Play Ball!