A: Hank Aaron. It's so fitting that the Hammer is first on my list of favorite players. Hank was my childhood hero (as the several blogs I've written about him can attest). Now, as an adult, and realizing what a decent, humble and devout man he was, I admire him even more.
B: Ernie Banks. Who doesn't love Mr. Cub. Anyone who played his whole career for the hapless Cubbies and still be known for the motto, "Let's play two!" is a great ambassador for the game. I saw him once of celebrity Wheel of Fortune, and there may have never been a worse player. Who guesses "W" as your very first letter of a new word. It only made me more of a fan.
C: Bernie Carbo. This ws a no brainer, as I actually knew Bernie in the late 1990's. We met at a summer camp where we were both hired to be speakers. That fall, he and his wife, Tammy, spent a week with us at our home in Maine, and we had several speaking / performing engagements together. Distance and time has caused us to lose touch, but I know for a fact what a great guy Bernie Carbo is.
D: Dave Dravecky. Some things are bigger than sports. Dave Dravecky's story is one of those things. Diagnosed with cancer at the peak of his career, he was treated and pronounced well enough to get back on the field. In his first game back, his arm, weakened from the cancer, broke while pitching. This moment is one of the most heart wrenching in all of sports history. Yet, a devout Christian, Dravecky handled it all with such grace and hope.
E: Darrell Evans. Being a life long Atlanta fan, players from the Braves will be common on this list. As a kid, I met Darrell Evans as he arrived by taxi at Montreal's Jarry Park prior to a game. He pleasantly agreed to sign an autograph,, which I still have. He was also th efirst player to have 40 home run seasons in both leagues.
F: Dan Frisella. A hot / cold relief pitcher, Frisella was another Brave who signed an autograph for me as he got out of his taxi at Jarry Park. He died way to young in a dune buggy accident in 1977.
G: Ralph Garr. Ralph Garr has always been my second favorite player of all times, behind Henry Aaron himself. I loved his speed on the basepaths, and his consistent .300 + batting average. I saw him being interviewed during a broadcast that was honoring Hank Aaron, and Ralph was hysterical.
H: Tom House. Another 1970's era Brave who signed my scrapbook. He has gone down in history as the man who caught Hank Aaron's record breaking 715th home run. I'll never forget watching that game in 1974!
I: Rasiel Iglesias
J: Chipper Jones
K: Willie Keeler
L: Mark Lemke
M: Willie Mays / Greg Maddox (tie)
N: Phil Niekro
O: Rowland Office
P: Marty Perez
Q: Dan Quinsenberry
R: Babe Ruth / Jackie Robinson (tie)
S: Manny Sanguillen
T: Frank Tepidino
U: Cecil Upshaw
V: Zoilo Versalles
W: Billy Williams
X: Leovigildo Xiqués
Y: Cy Young
Z: Heinie Zimmerman