# Name Your Favorite Team's Ten Greatest Players **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 8, 2009, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-teams-ten-greatest-players/488730 "2009-03-08T14:07:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-teams-ten-greatest-players/488730/21 "2009-03-08T19:32:55Z")
St.Louis Rams 1. Eric Dickerson 2. Norm Van Brocklin 3. Kurt Warner 4. Merlin Olsen 5. Isaac Bruce 6. Tory Holt 7. Elroy “Crazy Legs” Hirsch 8. Jackie Slater 9. Deacon Jones 10. Jack Youngblood ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-teams-ten-greatest-players/488730/22 "2009-03-08T19:48:29Z")
Calgary Flames: 1a. Al Macinnis 1b. Jarome Iginla 3-10 in no order: Joe Nieuwendyk Doug Gilmour Joe Mullen Mike Vernon Miikka Kiprusoff Lanny Macdonald Gary Suter Robin Regehr HM: Hakan Loob (had a few very productive years in Calgary but then went back to Europe), Joel Otto (face-offs), Dion Phaneuf (the future) Robin Regehr is a really underrated defenseman and has a few more years under his belt than Phaneuf, that was the last addition to my list. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-teams-ten-greatest-players/488730/23 "2009-03-08T20:08:44Z")
I’m going to show my dilettantism. So it goes. In no particular order: 1. Stan the Man (great player, great guy.) 2. Rogers Hornsby (damn that man could hit.) 3. Bob Gibson (1968. Just wow.) 4. Ozzie Smith (“Go crazy, folks!”) 5. Lou Brock (for 938 steals and lifetime service.) 6. Dizzy Dean (“It ain’t braggin’ if you can do it.”) 7. Red Schoendienst (Seven decades of wearing the Birds on the Bat.) 8. Joe Medwick (Gashouse spark; no one called him “Ducky” to his face.) 9. Stan the Man (yes, he makes the list again. ‘Cause, he’s Stan Freakin’ Musial.) 10. Albert Pujols (please, god, let him finish his career in St. Louis.) ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-teams-ten-greatest-players/488730/24 "2009-03-08T20:56:40Z")
I’ll just use **zamboniracer’s** and provide my critiques: Cleveland Browns Jim Brown RB Otto Graham QB Paul Warfield WR Marion Motley RB Len Ford DE Bill Willis, G, DL Mike McCormack T Frank Gatski C Ozzie Newsom TE Gene Hickerson G No complaints here, even though Leroy Kelly was a tough omission. It’s amazing that the Browns have never really had any big-time defensive players. Clay Matthews is the only Browns linebacker I can remember off the top of my head. Cleveland Indians Bob Feller P Tris Speaker CF Lou Boudreau SS Manny Ramierez OF Albert Belle OF Kenny Lofton OF Jim Thome 1b/3b Omar Vizquel SS Gaylord Perry P Nap Lajoie 2b I think I’d substitute Larry Doby for Manny. Manny’s last three seasons with the Indians were arguably his best individual seasons, but his postseason performance with the Indians was inconsistent. He sure didn’t do a damn thing in either World Series. Assuming he goes to the HOF I feel he’s likely going in wearing a Red Sox hat. Cleveland Cavs LeBron James F Brad Daughtery C Mark Price G Hot Rod Williams F Lenny Wilkens G Zydrunas Illgauskus C Ron Harper G Austin Carr G Larry Nance F Craig Ehlo G-F I’m desperately thinking of someone to replace Hot Rod Williams and not coming up with a clear alternative. Terrell Brandon? Carlos Boozer? World B. Free? I think Varejao is well on his way to making the list. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-teams-ten-greatest-players/488730/25 "2009-03-08T21:03:26Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > I’m going to show my dilettantism. So it goes. > > In no particular order: > > 1. Stan the Man (great player, great guy.) > 2. Rogers Hornsby (damn that man could hit.) > 3. Bob Gibson (1968. Just wow.) > 4. Ozzie Smith (“Go crazy, folks!”) > 5. Lou Brock (for 938 steals and lifetime service.) > 6. Dizzy Dean (“It ain’t braggin’ if you can do it.”) > 7. Red Schoendienst (Seven decades of wearing the Birds on the Bat.) > 8. Joe Medwick (Gashouse spark; no one called him “Ducky” to his face.) > 9. Stan the Man (yes, he makes the list again. ‘Cause, he’s Stan Freakin’ Musial.) > 10. Albert Pujols (please, god, let him finish his career in St. Louis.) No Mark McGwire? ---
**Author:** ![pricciar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-teams-ten-greatest-players/488730/26 "2009-03-08T21:04:38Z")
These lists are purely subjective. They include players I watched (mostly) and players I read about (If good enough. Or, just made interesting enough stories.) Philadelphia Phillies 1. Mike Schmidt 2. Steve Carlton 3. Chase Utley 4. Tug McGraw 5. Ryan Howard 6. Dick Allen 7. Richie Ashburn 8. Grover Cleveland Alexander 9. Robin Roberts 10. Garry Maddox Philadelphia Eagles 1. Randall Cunningham 2. Ron Jawsorski 3. Donovan McNabb 4. Mike Quick 5. Harold Carmichael 6. Brian Dawkins 7. Reggie White 8. Bill Bergey 9. Wilbert Montgomery 10. Brian Westbrook Philadelphia 76ers 1. Moses Malone 2. Wilt Chamberlain 3. Dr. J 4. Billy Cunningham 5. Allen Iverson 6. Andrew Toney 7. Maurice Cheeks 8. Hal Greer 9. Bobby Jones 10. Charles Barkley Philadelphia Flyers 1. Bobby Clarke 2. Pelle Lindbergh 3. Ron Hextall 4. Rick Tocchet 5. Bernie Parent 6. Tim Kerr 7. Eric Lindros 8. Bill Barber 9. John LeClair 10. Rod Brind’Amour 10.Bob Froese I guess a combination of the number of players on the teams, and the quality of the teams made it so that the Eagles choices were the easiest to come up with. I am sure I included a rotten player I remember as good, or didn’t include a top player. But, this is mostly off the top of my head, so that is ok. ---
**Author:** ![UTejas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UTejas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UTejas)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-teams-ten-greatest-players/488730/27 "2009-03-08T21:17:00Z")
Pittsburgh Steelers 1. Mean Joe Greene 2. Jack Lambert 3. Mel Blount 4. Rod Woodson 5. Jack Ham 6. Jerome Bettis 7. Hines Ward 8. Dermontti Dawson 9. Franco Harris 10. Mike Webster Pittsburgh Pirates 1. Roberto Clemente 2. Honus Wagner 3. Pie Traynor 4. Bill Mazeroski 5. The Cobra- Dave Parker 6. Barry Bonds 7. Andy Van Slyke 8. Willie Stargell 9. Vernon Law 10. Dick Groat Pittsburgh Penguins 1. Mario Lemieux 2. Jaromir Jagr 3. Jean Pronovost 4. Paul Coffey 5. Sidney Crosby 6. Evgeni Malkin 7. Sergei Gonchar 8. Tom Barasso 9. Larry Murphy 10. Ronnie Francis University of Pittsburgh Football 1. Larry Fitzgerald 2. Tony Dorsett 3. Dan Marino 4. Mark May 5. Hugh Green 6. Mike Ditka 7. Joe Schmidt 8. Curtis Martin 9. Ironhead Heyward 10. Jimbo Covert University of Pittsburgh Basketball 1. Charles Smith 2. Jerome Lane 3. Brandin Knight 4. Don Hennon 5. Carl Krauser 6. Levance Fields 7. Sam Young 8. Vonteego Cummings 9. Billy Knight 10. Sean Miller ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-teams-ten-greatest-players/488730/28 "2009-03-08T21:25:07Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > No Mark McGwire? Steriods or no steriods, he doesn’t make my list. A couple of mind-boggling seasons, a couple of injury-plagued seasons. Even if I’d never heard of PEDs, his service with the team is too short for my list. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-teams-ten-greatest-players/488730/29 "2009-03-08T21:31:12Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > Steriods or no steriods, he doesn’t make my list. A couple of mind-boggling seasons, a couple of injury-plagued seasons. Even if I’d never heard of PEDs, his service with the team is too short for my list. Fair enough. I’m working on a list for the A’s and I was debating if I should include him. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-teams-ten-greatest-players/488730/30 "2009-03-08T21:32:26Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > No Mark McGwire? I wouldn’t put McGwire on a top ten list of great Cardinals, either. He had three amazing seasons there, but that’s a team with a LOT of great, great players in its history. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2009, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-teams-ten-greatest-players/488730/31 "2009-03-09T01:24:28Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > Cleveland Browns > \ > > No complaints here, even though Leroy Kelly was a tough omission. It’s amazing that the Browns have never really had any big-time defensive players. Clay Matthews is the only Browns linebacker I can remember off the top of my head. I still wouldn’t put Leroy Kelly on the list, but DT Jerry Sherk is another honorable mention. > [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > Cleveland Indians > > \ > > I think I’d substitute Larry Doby for Manny. Manny’s last three seasons with the Indians were arguably his best individual seasons, but his postseason performance with the Indians was inconsistent. He sure didn’t do a damn thing in either World Series. Assuming he goes to the HOF I feel he’s likely going in wearing a Red Sox hat. You make a good argument, but I don’t think its fair to hold Manny wearing a Red Sox cap in the HOF against him as an Indian. Manny’s six straight years (1995-2000) with an OPS over.950 swayed me. Nothing against Doby of course, but Manny is a hitting machine. Ps Bob Lemon and Stan Coveleski were my honorable mentions. > [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > Cleveland Cavs > > \ > I’m desperately thinking of someone to replace Hot Rod Williams and not coming up with a clear alternative. Terrell Brandon? Carlos Boozer? World B. Free? I think Varejao is well on his way to making the list. World deserves to be on the list. I love Ehlo and Hot Rod, but you’re right, Free should be on instead of one of them. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2009, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-teams-ten-greatest-players/488730/32 "2009-03-09T01:31:33Z")
Upon further review, I would substitute Lemon for Gaylord Perry. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2009, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-teams-ten-greatest-players/488730/33 "2009-03-09T01:32:06Z")
New York Mets 1. Tom Seaver (of course) 2. Darryl Strawberry (more controversial) 3. Mike Piazza 4. Keith Hernandez 5. Dwight Gooden 6. David Wright 7. Jose Reyes 8. Jerry Koosman 9. Cleon Jones 10. Carlos Beltran 11. John Franco ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2009, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-teams-ten-greatest-players/488730/34 "2009-03-09T02:16:10Z")
Buffalo Bills 1. OJ Simpson 2. Tom Sestak 3. Joe DeLamielleure 4. Steve Tasker 5. Don Beebe 6. Bruce Smith 7. Phil Hansen 8. Steve Christie 9. Andre Reed 10. Thurman Thomas Yes, I know I didn’t put Jim Kelly on this list. I feel worse about leaving Billy Shaw off. Buffalo Sabres 1. Gilbert Perrault 2. Rick Martin 3. Rene Robert 4. Lindy Ruff 5. Dominik Hasek 6. Craig Ramsey 7. Dave Andreychuk 8. Alexander Mogilny 9. Maxin Afinogenov 10. Pat LaFontaine ---
**Author:** ![Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ian_D.Bergkamp)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2009, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-teams-ten-greatest-players/488730/35 "2009-03-09T02:31:32Z")
Arsenal: 1. Dennis Bergkamp 2. Thierry Henry 3. Tony Adams 4. David Seaman 5. Charlie George 6. Ian Wright 7. Lee Dixon 8. Patrick Vieira 9. Liam Brady 10. Ted Drake ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2009, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-teams-ten-greatest-players/488730/36 "2009-03-09T02:33:19Z")
The 10 Great Buccaneers, in no particular order: **Lee Roy Selmon:** never saw him play, but he’s the only guy we’ve got in the Hall- at least, the only one who went in as a Buc **Doug Williams:** didn’t do much as a Buc, but was around long enough to be among our greats as well as the Skins’ **Derrick Brooks:** _sings_ Who’s our favorite play-er? MISTER DERRICK BROOKS!\* **Warren Sapp:** _Defined_ the three-technique defensive tackle. Annoying? Sure. Great? Equally sure. **Warrick Dunn:** #19 on the all-time rushing list. He’ll never make the Hall of Fame, which is sad because he’s a great player and the nicest professional athlete I’ve ever met by a mile. **Ricky Bell:** Another surefire selection for the Hall of Very Good as a running back, and never quite lived up to his potential because of heart disease. **Vinny Testaverde:** Another guy who didn’t do squat as a Buccaneer, but was on the team for a long time. **Ronde Barber:** Not an ounce of flash in him, although he’s always had a nose for the endzone. Certainly the best tackler among all the cornerbacks of his era. **John Lynch:** Warren Sapp defined a new kind of player; John Lynch was the swansong of an old kind. One of the best of the 225-lb. “in the box” facemask-breakers at safety, and certainly the last one to enter the Hall of Fame, if he makes it. **Tony Dungy:** Yeah, he’s not a player (or at least wasn’t as a Buccaneer), and most of his career highlights happened after he was run out of town. Still, he took the ultimate doormat franchise and turned it into a perennial winner… and when the history books are written, Dungy, Dan Rooney and Denny Green will be remembered as the men who made it possible for black men to become NFL head coaches. \*FTR, my favorite Buccaneer is now-Lions safety/cornerback Dwight Smith. Brian Dawkins hits with Ed Reed hands and speed… just too inconsistent to be truly great. Yes, I intentionally left Mike Alstott off the list. He’s overrated. Great guy, and occasionally a great ballcarrier, but usually just a liability. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Superhero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Superhero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Superhero)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2009, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-teams-ten-greatest-players/488730/37 "2009-03-09T02:52:46Z")
Denver Broncos: John Elway Terrell Davis Shannon Sharpe Tom Jackson Randy Gradishar Louis Wright Floyd Little Gary Zimmerman Steve Atwater Karl Mecklenburg Colorado Buffaloes Football: Byron “Whizzer” White (How many college football programs have an alum who went on to be a Supreme Court justice?) Kordell Stewart Michael Westbrook Alfred Williams Rashaan Salaam Joe Romig Darian Hagan Dick Anderson Eric Bieniemy Daniel Graham ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2009, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-teams-ten-greatest-players/488730/38 "2009-03-09T03:16:54Z")
Notre Dame Football: Tim Brown Ross Browner George Gipp Leon Hart Paul Hornung Rocket Ismail Joe Montana Alan Page Brady Quinn Tony Rice ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_Clock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Shot\_Clock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_Clock)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2009, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-teams-ten-greatest-players/488730/39 "2009-03-09T03:37:15Z")
Ten Clippers, Some of Whom Were Great [ul] [li]Bob McAdoo (from the Buffalo Braves years)[/li][li]Adrian Dantley (ditto)[/li][li]Ernie DiGregorio (ditto)[/li][li]Randy Smith (ditto)[/li][li]Derek Smith[/li][li]Norm Nixon[/li][li]Elton Brand[/li][li]Marques Johnson[/li][li]Lamar Odom[/li][li]“Shithead” Walton[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2009, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-teams-ten-greatest-players/488730/40 "2009-03-09T04:45:13Z")
Well, obviously the Leafs. These aren’t the greatest Leafs ever necessarily, but the one’s who I’ve watched and appreciated over 4 decades. Wendel Clark Doug Gilmour Dave Keon Lanny McDonald Mike Palmateer Borje Salming Eddy Shack Darryl Sittler Mats Sundin Ian Turnbull [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-teams-ten-greatest-players/488730.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-favorite-teams-ten-greatest-players/488730.md?page=3)