Some people may be wondering, "Who are Ryan's favorite players?", and today your question will be answered. I think that the easiest way to do this would be by position so I'll go numerically through the positions as if you were keeping score at a game (although I don't think anyone ever does that anymore besides me).
- Pitchers
- Sandy Koufax
- Signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers as an undrafted amatuer free-agent in 1955 draft out of Lafayett HS (Brooklyn, NY)...For 5 years Sandy was the most dominating left-handed pitcher the game has ever known...and then he walked away at the age of 30...He had horrific arthritis in his pitching elbow and decided that use of his arm later in life was worth all the fame and fortune...In his last two seasons he won 26 and 27 games, respectively, and had 27 complete games each year...5 No-hitters...1 Perfect game...Career World Series ERA of 0.95...from 1963-1966 his worst season ERA was 2.04...3 Cy-Young awards...1 MVP...6-time All-Star...1965 WS MVP (the Dodgers won that year)...382Ks in 1965 (second only to the next guy on this list)...Career 9.28 K/9IP (#5 All-time)...and now he's quitely living the life he wants to, away from all the media
- Nolan Ryan
- The New York Met's 12th round pick in the 1965 draft out of Alvin Community College...He's the All-time leader in K's...300 wins...7 no-hitters...#3 All-time in K/9IP (9.55)...8-time All-Star...Pitched for 27 season...had a post-season era lower than his career era (which was 3.17)...Never won a Cy-Young award??? That's crazy...K'ed 300 batters 6 times (w/ a record 383Ks in 1973)...oh, and we share a name
- Tim Hudson
- Oakland's 6th Round Pick in 1997 draft from Auburn University...He's pretty much a stud that came onto the scene with an 11-2 record his rookie year and has gone on to have a 70-20 career record (.778 winning %age)...I like Oakland, and he's my favorite player on the roster there right now...Also, my dad met him at the Smith Awards in '97.
- Mark Prior
- The Cubs #1 pick in 2001 (the #2 overall) from the University of Southern California...I was at his Major League Debut in Chicago (within 11 months of being drafted) during one of our crazy road trips (I'm planning on making a section of the site describing our journeys on our 2 HUGE trips)...He's 15 months older than I am, and he's doing things with a ball that 30 year-old men wish they could do...I think what amazes me the most with Mark is his demeanor on the mound...He doesn't let anything really get under his skin, but he's a tremendous competitor (remember when he hit Bonds and then talked smack to him as he walked down to first)...His control is excellent (2.93 BB/9IP in '02)...Each of his calves are the size of my waist...He was really cool when I met him at the 2001 Smith Awards...I've done a few columns on him (one with his career stats), so you can look at one that if you'd like...I really think that he's going to be the best pitcher of this new generation of pitchers that have been coming up over the last 3 years...
- Kerry Wood
- Cubs #1 pick in 1995 (#4 overall) out of Grand Prairie (TX) HS...Kerry is just one of those fire-ballin' kids from Texas...1998 Rookie of the Year...He is extremely emotional on the mound, and can throw gas...The emotions sometimes hurt his performances, but if that's what it takes to throw 96mph, then that's cool...he bounced back very strongly after Tommy John surgery following his rookie year in 1998...I've been following him since he was drafted and it's fun to see him grow as a pitcher
- Josh Beckett
- Florida's #1 pick in 1999 draft (#2 overall) from Spring HS in Spring, Texas...hey that's where I'm from...hey, Spring HS was our arch-rival...ahhhhhh...Yeah, Josh led Spring to very high national rankings his Jr. & Sr. years there, and we played him 4 times...I was on varsity his senior year (my jr. year), and we didn't do too badly against him...He gave up a regular-season high 6 hits and struck out a regular-season low 7 batters (I was not one of those)...I had my career highlight in that game, hitting a double off Josh and then stealing 3rd on their doufus catcher Steven Ghutzman...He, like Wood, is extremely emotional when he pitches...I'd say he was pretty good against the Cubs in the NLDS and against the Yankees in the 2003 World Series (I guess the people who voted for the Series MVP would agree)...
- Catchers
- I don't particularly follow any catchers
- First Base
- Jim Thome
- "Big Jim" as I like to refer to him...The Cleveland Indians in the 13th round of the 1989 draft out of Illinois Central College...He has tremendous power with one of the most wicked upper-cut swings in the Big Leagues...Led the league in walks 3 years...Averaged 50 Hrs over the last 2 year...Career OPS of .982...led his team to post-season play (including 2 World Series) 7 of the last 8 years...helping him to be the All-time Post-season HR leader (17)...He's always a fan favorite...He signed for about 10 minutes (the only Phillie that did), when Pat and I were in Philly...Just seems like a truly great guy
- Carlos Pena
- Texas Ranger's #1 pick (10th overall) in the 1998 draft...I originally started liking him in '01 when he was called up by Texas, and Peter Gammons mentioned him on Baseball Tonight, then I saw this card and really thought his signature was one of the coolest looking I've seen (Ken Caminiti is #1 coolest looking autograph, Pena is #2, & F.P. Santangelo is #3)
He then was traded to Oakland, and I was pumped but he struggled and has now found a home in Detroit (as part of the Weaver to Yankees trade) and we should start to see some legit All-Star appearances in the next few years
- Second Base
- Ryne Sandberg
- I know he's retired, but he's my 2nd favorite player ever...The Philadelphia Phillie's 21st round pick in the 1978 draft out of North Central HS (Spokane, Wa.)...He's arguably the greatest second baseman ever, but definitely greatest in the game from 1984-1992ish...1984 NL MVP...All-time HR leader at 2nd base...9 Gold Gloves (now, 2nd only to Robbie Alomar)...10-time All-Star (1984-93)...Career post-season average of .385...Basically, he was really good, and he is the reason I like the Cubs...Back in 1990-1991 I thought his name was spelled like mine, Ryan, and that's why I started to like him
- Craig Biggio
- Houston Astro's #1 pick (#22 overall) in the 1987 draft out of Seton Hall University...In my opinion, he’s the greatest Astro to ever play and since I grew up with the 'Stros and played 2b up until I got to HS, he was the player I wanted to play like...Tremendous competitor, ALWAYS dirty...he seems to be the 'ole veteran in the club house who calls all the rookies "Kid" and plays the way the game was played "back in the day"...In his prime, only Robbie Alomar was a better 2bman, but he was the best NL guy for about 5 years...7-time All-star...4 Gold Gloves (1994-1997)...I love him, but he's hanging around a bit too long; I don't want to remember the sight of him in CF, but more the way he played 2nd base...
- Third Base
- I don't particularly follow any third basemen
- Short Stop
- Nomar Garciaparra
- the Boston Red Sox's #1 pick (#12 overall) in the 1994 draft out of Georgia Tech...Pat (my roommate) is a huge Red Sox fan, and he's always liked Nomar, so basically it rubbed off on me...but what is there not to like...'97 Rookie of the Year...4-time All-Star...2 Batting Titles...A career .328 hitter...Rookie record for hits...Smart player...Understands New England's passion for their team...Oh yeah, and he can bomb
- Outfield
- Adam Dunn
- Cincinnati’s 2nd round pick in the 1998 draft out of New Caney HS (Texas), although he went to t.u., he didn't play baseball there, he was the 3rd string QB behind Chris Simms and Major Applewhite...19 jacks in his first 244 ABs...Career .493 slug%...Had a .400 OBP in '02 (.391 career)
- Brooks Kieschnick
- The Chicago Cubs #1 pick (#10 overall) in the 1993 draft...Yeah, I know, he's a marginal Major Leaguer and a t-sip, but I've followed him since he was drafted by the Cubs (yeah, I was in like 6th grade, but I was a dork then too)...He's had an interesting career, especially since he's a P/OF/1b now...He's really cool, I've probably met him 5 or 6 times, and he's really down to earth...He's my favorite player currently in the league (actually, #1 all-time)...I'm planning on doing a huge post on him one day when I don't have anything exciting to write about (it'll be a filler), so watch for that
- Luis Gonzalez
- The Houston Astro's 4th round pick in the 1988 draft out of the University of Southern Alabama...Truly one of the most genuine and nicest players the big leagues have ever produced...Has excelled ever since coming to Arizon in '99 hitting 142 of his 249 career Hrs there (12 full seasons)...Was Mr. Baseball in '01 hitting .325 with 57 Hrs, 142 RBI, 1.117 OPS, winning the All-Star Home Run Derby, and driving in the World Series ending run in G7 vs. the Yankees...I've met Gonzo about 10 times, and he's just the coolest guy in the world
- Rickey Henderson
- The Oakland A's 4th round pick in the 1976 draft out of Technical HS (Oakland, CA)...Rickey is known as the greatest lead-off hitters ever, but I think he's one of the greatest players ever...10-time All-star...Gold glove winner ('81)...1990 AL MVP...12-time SB leader...All-time SB leader (1403; Lou Brock in next with a measly 938)...Single season SB record 130 (this is contemporary, not 1800s crap)...Career .402 OBP...#1 all-time in Runs (2288), & Walks (2179)...He's also a very interesting person, very media "friendly", and he truly loves the game...
- Albert Pujols
- The St. Louis Cardinal's 13th round pick in the 1998 draft out of Maple Woods Community College...See here...Stud...Set just about every offensive rookie record in 2001 while playing 4+ positions, then followed it up with a second place finish in MVP voting in '02...Great articles in 6-30-03 issue of SI and 7-21-03 issue of Espn the Mag