Another A-Z Challenge: Favorite Players

I love making lists. So I'm all in on this latest A-Z challenge of naming a favorite player for each letter of the alphabet. For my list, I tried to choose only players that have played in my lifetime so I would have an actual memory of them. There are some older greats, however, that I've been far more interested in learning about their achievements than in following contemporary players, so a few players on here finished their careers before I was born. For some of these players, I can't explain why they are favorites. Many are Cubs. Some just seem like good dudes or are easy to root for. Some I like the way the play, like contact hitters, consistent performers, or good baserunners. And there are a few that I just gained some kind of attachment to in my youth.

 

 

A: Jake Arrieta

 Two Cubs no-hitters.

B: Javier Baez

 

My current favorite player. 

C: Roberto Clemente

An all-time great and all-time great guy. I wish I could have seen him play. 

D: Andre Dawson

 

League MVP on a last-place Cubs team. 

E: Dennis Eckersley

I really liked the A's when I was a young kid in the late 80s and early 90s. Eck was a dominant pitcher at the time. 

F: Bob Feller

I've always been fascinated with Feller's career, military service, and fireball. Another I wish I could have seen. 

G: Mark Grace

 My favorite player ever. The 90s hit king.

H: Rickey Henderson

There were a few H's to choose from, but Rickey was one of my favorites as a kid. He was just cool. 

I: Ichiro

One of the best contact hitters any of us have ever seen. 

J: Randy Johnson

 His dominance and personality made him fun to watch.

K: Jason Kendall

Probably my favorite catcher. I loved that he could run (pre-ankle injury).

 

L: Derrek Lee

 

My favorite player through the aughts. 

M: Greg Maddux

I love how Maddux pitched. I don't love that he left Chicago after his first Cy Young and then proceeded to win the next 3 NL awards.

 

N: Otis Nixon

 Like many other bloggers have stated, "N" was hard. I liked Nixon's speed.

O: John Olerud

 

Good hitter and easy to root for.

P: Hunter Pence

Such goofy, fun personality. Hunter Pence signs and his reaction/interaction were my favorite.

Q: Jose Quintana

I don't hold the price the team paid in the trade against him because it wasn't his fault. There wasn't much choice for "Q," though.

R: Cal Ripken, Jr./Nolan Ryan

Probably my two favorite non-Cubs ever. It is impossible to choose between them and just unfortunate that both started with "R." 

S: Ryne Sandberg

One hundred twenty-three games without an error. And a slugger, too.

T: Mike Trout

Hands down the best player I have ever seen because he may be the best ever. 

U: Chase Utley

Behind two former Cubs (also on this list), the scrappy Utley is my favorite second baseman that I've seen play. 

V: Justin Verlander

I think appreciate how much Verlander helped franchises that had been not-so-great in my lifetime find success while he was on the team.

W: David Wright

 Because David Wright is Mr. Met. I appreciate his great play for one team throughout his career.

X:  I got nothing.

Y: Carl Yastrzemski

Triple Crown winner. I never saw him play, but he was my favorite historical figure for "Y."

Z: Ben Zobrist

 

World Series MVP for my 2016 Champions.

 

*All images taken from TCDB, but is a card I own in my collection.

So there you have it. These may not be the best to ever play, but they're the players I tend/tended to root for the most, for varying reasons. I may have to try this with other sports, too. I had fun doing it.