HOMETOWN HEROES--THE MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER IN EACH CLUB'S HISTORY

My picks for nationwide contest to be shown soon on ESPN were fun to select. I divided my choices into the classics, multi-teams, inseparables, and had-tos. I added one more--the most outstanding player in baseball history.

In the had-to category, I chose Carl Crawford of Tampa, Rusty Staub of Washington, Dontrelle Willis of Florida, Todd Helton of Colorado, Luis Gonzalez of Arizona, Joe Carter of Toronto and George Brett of Kansas City.

In the inseparables, I simply couldn't choose one player. How does one distinguish between Robin Yount and Paul Molitor of Milwaukee? Also Nellie Fox and Frank Thomas of Chicago? Killebrew and Puckett of Minnesota? Finally, Johnny Bench and Tony Perez of Cincinnati? I couldn't do it.

In the mulit-teams category, I selected Ken Griffey, Jr. for Seattle/Reds; Rod Carew for Anaheim/Twins; Reggie Jackson for Oakland/Yankees; Tom Seaver for New York/Reds. But only one was listed for both teams--Nolan Ryan for Houston and Texas, and I picked him for both.

The classics were relatively easy. For New York and for the most outstanding player ever to take the field --Babe Ruth. For the Tigers--Ty Cobb. The Braves--Hank Aaron. The Dodgers--Jackie Robinson. The Pirates--Roberto Clemente. The Giants--Willie Mays. The Cardinals--Stan Musial. The Red Sox--Ted Williams. The Indians--Bob Feller. The Cubs--Ernie Banks. The Phillies--Mike Schmidt. The Orioles--Cal Ripken, Jr. The Padres--Tony Gwynn.

I will be fun to watch who the winners are. It was a good contest, open to speculation, judgments and disagreements. Kinda like the game itself.