Most respectable person in baseball history?

Question

Also, why, and best explanation= best answer

Answer, and star!

Answer 1

Lou Gehrig or Craig Biggio or Sean Casey or Cal Ripken jr.

I'm going to say Craig Biggio. He always came to the game and played 110%. He didn't care about winning or stats. He played not for the money. He played for the fans. He was a great guy and he will be missed. As is Gehrig, Ripken jr and Casey will in Detroit and I hope Pittsburgh.

Answer 2

The list for most respected player in history probably comes down to..

Christy Matthewson
Honus Wagner
Lou Gehrig
Stan Musial
Ernie Banks
Roberto Clemente
Cal Ripken Jr

with Honorable Mention to

Kirby Puckett
Tony Gwynn
Dale Murphy
Harmon Killebrew
Warren Spahn
Eddie Collins (one of only 2 regulars on the 1919 Black Sox to play it square)

Jackie Robinson was respected, but not until late in his career, and after...he was far from respected early in his career, he was hated. So though his life and accomplishments are worthy of respect and admiration, he was not respected much as a clean player, or as a person throughout much of his career.

Of this list a case could be made for each and every one...and it depends on what you value....some were philanthropic, some were great teachers, some had the patience and personality of a saint...they all had most of these qualities, and many others.

However, the one guy, in my opinion that stands out is Matthewson.....for 2 reasons that no one else on this list can claim.

1. Few realize this, but the 1919 Black Sox were the LAST of the problems. Betting on games, throwing games, cheating, grooving easy ones to a hitter for a few bucks, 3rd basemen letting bunts roll so some guy could get a hit...for a few bucks...this kind of stuff went on all the time going back to even before 1900. The Black Sox were the result of no one doing anything about this nonsense for years.

Matthewson, however, went to the league on several occasions to get these guys out of baseball, stiffen the penalties, and also testified at a hearing or 2 for the most nefarious...Hal Chase the most notable. He was, for all intents and purposes, the only guy in baseball that openly said what was going on. If baseball had listened...maybe the Black Sox would never had happened.

2. This is the clincher. In Matty's day, there was at most 2 umpires at a game, and usually only 1. And as stated before, the game was played by more cheaters, more dirty players, rougher players (players and mgrs would often beat up and gang up on an umpire...physically, as in a fight. Again the penalties were so soft as not to matter) than ever in it's history, before or since.

In this environment, it was impossible for 1 or 2 umpires to see everything, much less see it well enough to call it accurately.

Matthewson was so widely known and respected as an honorable guy, that umpires would often ask Matty for help on a play they didn't see well, knowing Matty's honor and integrity were more important than helping his own team....If a call hurt his team, and that's how he saw it, that's what he said. If it went against the other team, no one ever said he cheated, or lied because he was biased.

While it would be an exaggeration to say this happened all the time, it is not to say that it happened routinely.

So, given these 2 reasons, that can't, or don't apply to the other guys....my vote goes to The Great Christy Matthewson.

Answer 3

Stan Musial. He was known as Stan the Man. He was not only one of the best players of all time but was known as a great person and leader. A young umpire once called an obvious ball a strike. Most hall of fame caliber players would have ripped him a new one. Without looking back at the ump or sounding upset, Musial told him to take an extra second next time and make sure of what the call should be before making it. The ump appreciating his not overblowing the bad call, said later " I now knew why they called him Stan the man".

Answer 4

There are many ballplayers past and present who are well respected in the game of baseball. Now I know you will probably more then likely reward this answer to someone who says Lou Gehrig or anybody who is your hero and I respect that as they are respectable individuals. However my heart says both Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente as they both changed the landscape of the game. Jackie Robinson was the first black ballplayer in the game and he opened the door for black ballplayers. Roberto Clemente did the same but for Latin players. He also did a lot of good things off the field as well such as charities and going back and forth to his country to feed the needy and help out the homeless and if I'm not mistaking I believe that he was a Humanitarian as well. Oh and I might add as well that Roberto Clemente died a tragic death as well.

Answer 5

joe nuxhall youngest, most modest humbling 3 time all star left handed starter for the reds. 40 year announcer for the reds. ask any baseball pro and he is by far the most likeable, kind courteous man, not just in baseball in life. he never refused any autographs nor conversation with anyone, nor supporting any charitable organization. his time was well spent supporting those who needed support in the greater cincy area. born in hamilton ohio he never left the area 79 years old at death, and 63 years with the reds organization. joe often became spokesman for organizations with no payment warranted, he felt a smile on a face was reward enough. ask anyone and no one had anything bad to say about him. joe exended himself after being a player to be the announcer of the reds, to be personally involved with every player on the reds often even being present at the hospital for the birth of many of the players children. joe was such beloved person in cincy he was big enough to drive out an ego minded al micheals from the reds booth with his persistent cool behavior. joe never said any ill will of another man. even was respectful when the pete rose gambling issues came up and said he loved pete as a player but by all means if he did what they say then pete should never be allowed back, not ever"

who else could draw all of the athletes he did for his funeral, competitors, colleagues, players, former players, and 10,000 other people who were touched by the ol left hander rounding third and headed for eternity.

Answer 6

Lou Gehrig or David Eckstein.

I've read some biographies on Gehrig and he was really a great guy. After he had to retire from baseball due to ALS, he did a lot of work around the community and stuff. He never asked for a raise and just loved the game.

Answer 7

Wow?!? No answers for Tommy Lasorda??

His name is synonymous with Dodger baseball and he is recognized around the world as one of the sport’s most notable goodwill ambassadors.

As baseball’s ambassador, Lasorda was called upon by Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig to star in an ad campaign on behalf of Major League Baseball during the 2006 postseason. The campaign, entitled “Tommy’s Tough Love,” featured Lasorda in a tuxedo, motivating fans to continue to watch baseball even though their favorite team was not in postseason play.

Lasorda’s role in the globalization of the game of baseball is now more evident than ever before, as Commissioner Selig appointed him as the Official Ambassador of the inaugural World Baseball Classic. In that capacity, Lasorda has served as a spokesperson for the tournament and traveled around the globe to promote the event and the game of baseball.

In June 2005, Lasorda was asked by President George W. Bush to serve as a delegate to the U.S. National Day at the World Exposition in Aichi, Japan. This was one of several visits to Japan that he has taken in recent years, as he has also served as a key liaison between the Dodgers and the Orix Buffaloes in their “friendship” agreement over the past half decade.

The World Exposition was not the first time that President Bush called upon Lasorda for his assistance, as the Hall of Fame manager participated in the festivities surrounding the President’s inauguration in January 2005. Two months later, Lasorda accompanied Frank and Jamie McCourt, in addition to the family of Jackie Robinson, during a visit to the White House to represent the Dodgers in a ceremony that posthumously awarded Robinson with the Congressional Gold Medal.

Lasorda managed an underdog United States Olympic Baseball Team to the Gold Medal at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, just five days after celebrating his 73rd birthday. On Nov. 6, 2000, the Tom Lasorda Heart Institute officially opened at Centinela Hospital Medical Center in Inglewood, CA.

Answer 8

Roberto Clemente and Jackie Robinson.

Answer 9

Ernie Banks

Answer 10

Lou Gehrig of course. He's the Iron Horse, only a deadly disease could get him out of a game. When he was sick and dying he did'nt complain, he said he was the luckiest guy on Earth.