Favorite Non-Indian?

[sgm405]

I can tell there are a lot of fans here of MLB, not just the Indians. As we head to Spring Training, it had me curious...

1) Who is your favorite non-Indians of all-time?

2) Who is your current favorite non-Indian?


Here's mine:

#1:



Sweetest swing I've ever seen. Also the greatest player I've ever watched live. Junior was not only great, you could tell he really, truly enjoyed playing baseball and respected the game. Had he stayed healthy, he'd be the Home Run King.

#2:



Andrew McCutchen is just a joy to watch out there. Incredibly talented, fun to watch, respects the game, treats fans (and kids especially) wonderfully...just an outstanding player. It doesn't hurt his case that he helped me win my Fantasy Baseball League last year.

[SRStark20]

#1:



The Big Unit was one of the most dominating pitchers in history, and come on, he blew up a bird with his fastball. He was a force into his mid-40's as well.

#2:



Throw me on his bandwagon, I think Trout is going to be legendary.

[Rob]

All-time is definitely Ken Griffey, Jr for me as well.

Currently? Gotta go with either Robinson Cano or Brandon Phillips

[shoes22]

I don't like him, but I respect Ichiro's talent. One of the most prolific non-power hitters the league has ever seen.

I'm also intrigued by Stephen Strasburg, because I'm interested in phenoms in any sport.

[JiggleIt]

Manny was a non-Indian for longer than he was an Indian, but I assume he wouldn't count.

Rickey Henderson was my favorite non-Indian player as a kid. And that was BEFORE I discovered the way he talked, which then vaulted him into favorite athlete of all time territory. In honor of THE Rickey Henderson, I post these videos in order of greatness. But if you've never heard Rickey talk before, start with the bottom two and then go back to David Cross's imitation:

[cleveman]

Favorite all time - Chipper Jones
Favorite Current - Josh Hamilton

[JMcCurry08]

Fav all time non Indian: Barry Bonds
Fav current non Indian: Pujols

[macbdog]

Ricky Henderson, pick up the phone! It's me! You!

Favorite non-Indians player of all time:



First true legend of the game. A true innovator of the game, a guy who came up with several strategies that are dogma of the game today (the hit and run, catcher backing up 1B, the hook slide). Would do anything to win- berate and attack umpires, spike guys, etc. My favorite- back at that time, there was only one umpire on the field. If Kelly caught him not paying attention, he would go straight from 1st to 3rd. Cut straight across the diamond. World class drinker, too. The guy could run up a $200 tab in one night- this was before the turn of the century, not even sure how that is possible (pretty sure shots were a nickle then). Great story about him where the owner of his team, the Beaneaters, had hired professional investigators to track him because he thought he was drinking too much. The owner confronted Kelly, telling him that PIs had told him that they saw Kelly in the bar at 3am the night before a game drinking lemonade. He said there was no chance in hell he was drinking lemonade at that time of night, it was straight bourbon- what kind of pantywaste did he take him for? The guy popularized the autograph.

He was a member of the first union attempt, the Players League. He was offered a ridiculous sum to abandon the league and come back to the Beaneaters, but stuck to the effort out of loyalty to the other players. Another great story: back in that time, to be considered 'in play', all you had to do was make an announcement. One game, Kelly was seated on the bench when a ball was fouled towards the dug out. Kelly stood up, shouted: "Kelly now catching for Boston!', caught the ball, and it was recorded as an out. Things like this just can't happen anymore, and it is a shame.


Favorite current non-Indian:



The living embodiment of the Natural. Not since Mickey Mantle has their been a more talented player judged for what he isn't rather than for what he is. I remember back when he was drafted, hearing a scout I had met gush about how he was the best high school player he had ever seen. He took 4 years off from organized baseball, a time in which he sunk pretty much to the bottom of the barrel. Even before that, he had never played about A+ ball. He returns, gets picked in the Rule V, goes straight to the bigs after 4 years off.... and blossoms immediately into a star. The best Rule V pick since Clemente. He then gets dumped by the Reds for Edinson Volquez because they worry he is going to flame out again. Instead, he goes to the Rangers and becomes an MVP. Then the injuries start, and he is expected to break down. Yet, what happens? He keeps coming back, and keeps hitting. Leads the Rangers to the World Series. And how do they reward that? They let him go in FA to their rival. Then blame him because he didn't call back and offer them a chance to match. What great player gets treated like that?

I love the guy because he is honest to a fault. He slips, falls, gets back up, falls again and gets right back up. He is under a scrutiny that few players face. No other hitter of his caliber has hit FA and seen such disinterest. It blows my mind. And how long can he play? Not sure, but at this point, I'm not putting anything past him. I'll take the guy who faces adversity like he has (especially self-inflicted) yet continues to fight back. Great talent, great story, and who knows, maybe even one day the Hall.

[BimboColesHair]

All-Time: Ken Griffey Jr. If you grew up in 90s, Griffey was the man.
Right now: David Wright. Him and Jose Reyes a few years ago were fun to watch.

[jhard]

Vlad the Impaler is my all time favorite baseball player, Indian or not.

Right now...Andrew McCutchen. I go to about as many Pirates games each year, as I do Indians...Easily is him.

[Gimme Some Mo]

All time - Barry Bonds - Easily the best player I have ever seen. He was unbelievable... roids or not... I don't really care.

Currently - I don't really have one. Not sure why. I do really like Robinson Cano.

[Tecumseh]

Greg Maddux. He just knew how to pitch. Extremely fun to watch.

Derek Jeter. Just a class act. I hate him for what he does to us, but he has had a hell of a career.

[Lee]

So Ghandi is out?

I go with Mother Theresa.

[Day Man]

Chipper Jones and Clayton Kershaw.

[Scholar]

Greg Maddux. He just knew how to pitch. Extremely fun to watch.

I absolutely hate Greg Maddux. Absolutely detested him. I have never ever seen a pitcher get awarded a bigger strike zone then he did. At times, it was literally a whole foot outside the plate. You can think I am exaggerating, but, I remember the camera shots showing this. I can't give him credit for what he supposedly accomplished as a player with this going on. It was so absurd.