Post by Captain America on Jan 12, 2016 16:20:14 GMT -5
About 6 months ago during the real life 2015 MLB All-Star Game festivities, each team's "Franchise Four" was revealed before the All-Star Game itself. Earlier in the season, fans were asked to vote for the 4 best players in each team's franchise history out of 8 nominees. This inspired me and got me thinking...what would each BBSBL team's Franchise Four look like at this point?
Thus, I went through the site and CATO extensively to search through every team's history and see who their 4 best players were that had the biggest impact on the given team for a long period of time. I'll then show what they did for their team(s) to show what kind of impact they had. Players can be eligible for multiple teams as long as they played for 3 full seasons, but if they spent a significant portion of their careers with 1 team, I will try to not consider them as part of another team as well. Longevity with the same team will be valued quite a bit here. I'll also provide 4 additional players per team as honorable mention nominees to make it look like an 8-nominee fan ballot like it was in reality.
Last but not least, the NL Pacific teams!
Arizona Diamondbacks
SP Boof Bonser
- Diamondbacks career leader in wins, strikeouts, games started and complete games
- Spent 13 seasons with Diamondbacks and helped lead them to 3 NL West/Pacific division titles, including an NL pennant in 2012
- Was a 20-game winner in 2015
1B/3B Adrian Gonzalez
- 1st ever draft pick in team history
- Diamondbacks career leader in hits, runs, doubles, home runs, RBI and walks
- Was a 3-time All-Star
- Helped lead the Diamondbacks to 3 NL West/Pacific division titles, including an NL pennant in 2012
CF Matt Kemp
- Is among top 5 in Diamondbacks career OBP, slugging, OPS, hits, runs, doubles, home runs, RBI and walks
- Hit a career high 33 home runs with Diamondbacks in 2013, placing 5th in the NL
- Helped lead the Diamondbacks to an NL pennant in 2012
SP Jake Peavy
- Diamondbacks career leader in ERA and shutouts
- Among top 5 in Diamondbacks career wins, strikeouts, games started and complete games
- Was a 3-time All-Star with Diamondbacks between 2011-2013
- Led the Diamondbacks to 3 NL West/Pacific division titles, including an NL pennant in 2012
Honorable Mentions: Ruben Gotay, John Greene, Josh Hancock, Justin Morneau
Los Angeles Dodgers
LF Jason Bay
- Dodgers career leader in hits, runs, doubles, home runs, RBI and walks
- Represented Dodgers at 2004 All-Star Game
- Won 2 Gold Glove Awards in left field in 2002 and 2003
- Spent his entire career with the Dodgers
SP Francisco Cordova
- 2nd in Dodgers career ERA and 1st among starting pitchers
- Was an All-Star in 2004 with Dodgers
- Had his best season with Dodgers in 2004 (19 wins, 3.22 ERA and 215 strikeouts)
SP Ryan Mills
- Dodgers career leader in wins, strikeouts, games started, complete games and shutouts
- Is among top 5 in Dodgers career ERA
- Had his best season in 2007 (19 wins, 3.11 ERA)
3B Dean Palmer
- Is among top 5 in Dodgers career slugging percentage, OPS, hits, runs, doubles, home runs, RBI and walks
- Hit 30+ home runs twice with Dodgers in 1998 and 2001
- Put together his best season with the Dodgers in 1998 (.306/.361/.554, 34 2B, 37 HR, 107 RBI, 92 R)
Honorable Mentions: Rocco Baldelli, Chris Sabo, Ismael Valdez, Scott Winchester
San Francisco Giants
1B Lance Berkman
- Won NL In-Game MVP Award in 2008, hitting .356 with 208 hits, 59 doubles, 17 home runs, 110 RBI and a .974 OPS
- Giants career leader in walks and among top 5 in average, OBP, slugging percentage, OPS, hits, runs, doubles, home runs, RBI and stolen bases
- As a Giant, led NL in batting once, OBP 3 times, and walks twice
- Made 3 All-Star appearances with Giants in 2006, 2008 and 2012
- Helped lead the Giants to a World Series championship in 2013
- Already inducted into BBSBL Hall of Fame with Giants
RF Juan Gonzalez
- Won consecutive NL MVP Awards in 1999 and 2000 with Giants
- Giants career leader in slugging percentage and home runs; also among top 5 in average, OPS, hits, runs and RBI
- Led NL in 1999 with 146 RBI
- Represented Giants in 1999 All-Star Game
- Led Giants to consecutive World Series championships in 1998 and 1999
- - Already inducted into BBSBL Hall of Fame with Giants
3B/RF Aubrey Huff
- Giants career leader in hits, runs, doubles and RBI; also among top 5 in OBP, home runs, and walks
- Represented Giants at 2008 All-Star Game
- Helped lead Giants to World Series championship in 2013
SP Jim Pittsley
- Giants career leader in wins, strikeouts, games started, innings pitched, complete games and tied for lead in shutouts; also 3rd in ERA
- Made 2 All-Star teams with Giants in 2001 and 2008
- Helped lead Giants to a World Series championship in 2001
- Already inducted into BBSBL Hall of Fame with Giants
Honorable Mentions: Mark Grace, Mark Kotsay, Sergio Romo, William Workman
Seattle Mariners
CF Ken Griffey Jr.
- Won AL MVP Award in 1998, hitting .307 with 26 doubles, 48 home runs, 127 RBI, 102 walks, 129 runs and a 1.057 OPS
- Mariners career leader in slugging percentage and OPS; also top 5 in OBP, runs, home runs, RBI and walks
- Made 4 consecutive All-Star appearances with Mariners between 1996-1999
- Led Mariners to 3 consecutive AL West division titles from 1996-1998
- Already inducted into BBSBL Hall of Fame with Mariners
SP Jonathan Papelbon
- Mariners career leader in ERA; also top 5 in wins, strikeouts and shutouts
- Made 2 All-Star teams with Mariners in 2006 and 2009
- As a Mariner, led AL in ERA once and WHIP 3 times
- Helped lead Mariners to a World Series championship in 2007
SS Alex Rodriguez
- Mariners career leader in hits, runs, doubles, home runs, RBI, walks and stolen bases
- Led AL with 39 home runs in 2003
- Made 3 All-Star teams with Mariners in 1996, 2004 and 2006
- Won 2 AL Gold Glove Awards at shortstop with Mariners in 2001 and 2002
- Helped lead Mariners to a World Series championship in 2007
- Already inducted into BBSBL Hall of Fame with Mariners
SP Francisco Rodriguez
- Won 2003 AL Rookie of the Year Award, with 20 wins, a 3.76 ERA and 223 strikeouts
- Won 2009 AL Cy Young Award with 24 wins, a 2.46 ERA and 274 strikeouts
- Mariners career leader in strikeouts and tied for lead in shutouts; also among top 5 in Mariners career wins, ERA, games started and complete games
- Made 2 All-Star Games with Mariners in 2005 and 2007
- Helped lead Mariners to a World Series championship in 2007
Honorable Mentions: Keith Foulke, Rich Harden, David Ross, Joey Votto
I'll try to do this again about 10 seasons from now.
