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It occured to me that it is pretty evident the MLB does not have a poster boy. One would think maybe with last season's emergence with Howard and Pujols and such, they would be getting more than the average player. So basketball is/was represented by Michael Jordan's greatness, and Wayne Gretzky for hockey, but who is it for baseball? Please don't tell me Babe Ruth or anybody that is over 70. As well, do you think the MLB needs someone like that to help gain attention in some of the smaller markets?

Discuss.

Like it or not, it's got to be... BONDS...

Its not Bonds. Everyone who plays basketball loves Jordan, he is by far and away considered the greatest ever. In hockey, Gretzky is idoloized by all. In baseball its different. I know all pitchers growing up like Clemens, hitters....there are plenty. There just isn't a clear best baseball player ever....its debatable

Griffey?

May not be the best player right now, but in his prime he was the ****. And everyone loved him.

I could go with Griffey. Its different for fans and players. Every player in the NBA and NHL idolized Jordan and Gretzky. A lot of young players idolized Jeter growing up, Griffey too, even Bonds. Its different for fans because they let the kool aid get in the way of recognizing greatness.

A-rod?

Jeter?

Albert Pujols

Gagne, a pretty darn good pitcher, seems to think along similar line as i do. Here he is quoted 3-21-07 in a SF Cronicle article.

"Now that he is in the American League, Gagne said he will miss his encounters with Bonds. Gagne also hopes Bonds breaks the all-time home-run record."
"Of course, definitely," Gagne said. "He's been so good for the game. There's a Wayne Gretzky, there's a Michael Jordan, there's a Barry."

Funny thing is i also hear many active players saying the same thing. If it isn't Bonds, You better tell them, cause they think it is.

I agree. If you are going to choose one, it has to be Bonds. Its not for the same reasons as it was for Jordan and Gretzky but if there is one face everyone inside and outside of baseball knows, its Barry Bonds. He may not be the golden poster boy but he is the most recognizable face. Before the steroid controversy he was idolized by many. Now, since the steroid controversy, he is still loved by a few but now he is hated by many. But throughout his career I think he has always been respected for his abilities on the field by his peers and most diehard baseball fans.

It is supposed to be A-Rod, but all this NY media crap is hurting his image as a poster boy. He is a 5-tool player. Pujols should be first because in Jordon/Gretsky terms, he can be the most dominant.

The only thing iffy about saying it's Bonds is that unlike Jordan, Brady or Gretzky, Bonds has never won anything. Obviously baseball is much, much harder for one person than basketball, hockey and even football, but those three all won multiple championships. For that reason I think it's close between Bonds and Jeter.

After last year Pujols is close, too.

Babe Ruth.

Jordan and Gretzky are bot retired and are arguably the transcendent players of their sport. Baseball's is Ruth. This thread seems to be more like who's baseball's Lebron or Kobe.

Posey H8er wrote:It is supposed to be A-Rod, but all this NY media crap is hurting his image as a poster boy. He is a 5-tool player. Pujols should be first because in Jordon/Gretsky terms, he can be the most dominant.

well although he gets a terrible rap from the NY media, Arod is a huge douchebag so he brings some of it on himself. i personally think he's fake which can turn people off.

and to the OP why cant we mention ruth is it to obvious b/c he is the most recognizable player in baseball, if we're talking current players its bonds, pujols jeter, Arod or griffey if this was brought up like 5 years ago.

its obviously babe ruth. Ken Griffey could of surpassed Babe, but he got injured.

I think the right answer is Eric Gagne.

Jasen777 wrote:Babe Ruth.

Jordan and Gretzky are bot retired and are arguably the transcendent players of their sport. Baseball's is Ruth. This thread seems to be more like who's baseball's Lebron or Kobe.

Man speaks the truth. The fact that the level of play that Jordan and Gretzky showed in their prime could be described as "Ruthian" shows you that Babe Ruth is the most transcendent star on the planet, of any sport, of any time. mahalo
~Chach~

Maybe not the greatest but I mean alot of people idolized Jackie Robinson for all the things he did that an african-american was not supposed too. He revolutionized the game as we know it in the sense of who plays.

Babe Ruth definitely stands out amongst them all.

I'd say Pujols.

Hank Aaron or Babe Ruth.