Unfortunately, most folks don't approach famous people in that fashion; choosing instead to engage in celebrity worship. And they wonder why the famous people are surly ...

I agree, if I were famous, I would get upset @ autograph hounds.

Come on! I am the only guy to vote for Brooks Robinson?????

Unfortunately, most folks don't approach famous people in that fashion; choosing instead to engage in celebrity worship. And they wonder why the famous people are surly ...

 

It's funny that you say that....My parents (when they lived here in the 'Ville) had a box at CD. Larry Legend's box was about 6 down from them....I used to take friends of mine to the track all the time....it got noticeably horrible for Larry and Co...the more I brought friends with me....I then made sure that no one ever went down to bother him....that man used to bet major duckets on races (I think he likely still does, but the box is gone for our family now).

 

Bench's numbers also would have been much better had he not had surgery to remove a tumor on his lung back in the early 70's. While not that big of a deal now he was sliced down the middle of his entire chest and his ribs spread for the surgery. Many think that it took him 3 to 4 years to truely recover.

 

If he played first or third base instead of catching...he puts up MONSTER numbers. Most likely hits 500+ home runs.

 

Now, granted you can't base a decision solely on "what ifs", but considering the surgery and the toll the position itself took out of him, JB faced a lot more adversity in compiling his numbers.

 

I'll even toss in another factor...late inning relievers. Hard to get "in the zone" when you get 4 at bats, and face 2 or 3 pitchers in the process.

 

No knock on Joe D, but gimme Bench to start my dream team.

Johnny Bench!

I know JB's rep, but I've met him and he was very pleasant!

 

Of course, I wasn't hounding him for an autograph, those are dumb, I just wanted to shake his hand and tell him he was my favorite ballplayer of all time, he seemed genuinely appreciative. He may not have been but he was not rude in the least.

 

Same here.

Johnny Bench

Its very close between Joe and Bench. But I got to stick with Cincy because Bench to catching to a whole new level I wish I was around to watch him play.

Tough call, but I'll go with the Fifth Third Man. He quite simply redefined the position of catching and took it to a level never before seen in baseball.

 

On the downside, I don't know if any of you have ever met the man, but he came off as kind of a jerk the two times I met him. :irked:

 

That's the knock on him. It makes you wonder how those Reds teams played so well together with egos like. Think about it, you had Rose, Morgan and Bench who all have huge egos. I will say though that my friends met Rose in Las Vegas (laugh here), and they said that he was very nice and had a great conversation with them.

Jason Kidd when he was with the nets.

Puljos will eventually be considered in this running, so that's why I voted for him

Surprised no basketball players with #5.

He's playing right now in St. Louis!!!

I always think of one of the funniest things I heard the comedian Gallagher say when I think of Joe Dimaggio.

 

"Did you every notice how Mr. Coffee got Joe D to pitch their coffee maker? What's with that? Well it's because he was married to Marilyn Monroe. So when he tells you that Mr. Coffee is the 'best he's ever tasted' you sit up and take notice and buy one of those things!" :lol:

 

For the Record I voted Johnny Bench.

Les Sebastion.