Albert Pujols and the Most Popular Player in the History of Every MLB Team

Albert Pujols, The Most Popular Player In the History of the Cardinals?

Albert Pujols is the most popular player the recent history of the Cardinals.

But that certainly might change down the road if he chooses to leave St. Louis.

That has us thinking about the most popular players in the history of each MLB franchise.

Now just to be clear, “most popular” is a completely different category from “best.” Of course the better a player performed,  the more likely they were to endear themselves to the fan base.  A long tenure would also lead to a spike in their popularity.

And just so there’s no confusion, players who have since ruined their legacy with steroids or other scandals, still can qualify. We’re talking about the peak of their popularity.

So which players are the patron saints of their franchise? 

Philadelphia Phillies: Mike Schmidt

Tenure: 1972-89

Greatest Achievement: 1980 World Series MVP

Runner-Up: Ryan Howard

Honorable Mention: John Kruk

Michael Jack Schmidt began his career during the Phillies horrific 1972 season and as much as Steve Carlton was the spark that set about the Phillies late 1970s rebirth.

In a town like Philadelphia, so hard on their sports stars, it would take a remarkable resume like 548 homers and eight NL home run titles to spend 18 seasons with the Phillies and remain beloved until the end.

Since Howard has been the centerpiece of the club’s current mini-dynasty, he gets outdistances Kruk, whose stay in Philly was less than six seasons. 

Boston/Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves: Hank Aaron

Tenure: 1954-74

Greatest Achievement: 715^th Home Run

Runner-Up: Chipper Jones

Honorable Mention: John Smoltz

There are several worthy candidates for the runner-up spot: Chipper Jones is the only member of that 1990s Braves dynasty that spent his whole career with the Braves. Neither Smoltz, nor Greg Maddux, nor Tom Glavine can say that.

But there is no doubt about the supreme popularity of Henry Aaron. He gave the franchise a face when it moved to Atlanta and kept the team relevant in the early 1970s while he chased Babe Ruth’s home run mark.

The address of Turner Field, the club’s current home: 755 Hand Aaron Drive. And those guys who stormed the field to congratulate him (above photo) sure like him.....enough to go to jail. 

Florida Marlins: Jeff Conine

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MIAMI - OCTOBER 22: Left fielder Jeff Conine #18 of the Florida Marlins rounds the bases during game four of the Major League Baseball World Series against the New York Yankees on October 22, 2003 at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida. The Marlins won

Tenure: 1993-97, 2004-05

Greatest Achievement: 1997 World Champion

Runner-Up: Dontrelle Willis

Honorable Mention: Josh Beckett

Conine was the only original Marlin to be a part of the World Championship team. Not only that, he was the only player to survived the great purge of the late 1990s and remain for the 2003 World Championship team.

On that second World Series team, the 37-year-old recorded 11 hits and a .458 average in the team’s remarkable NLCS comeback. 

As important as Josh Beckett was to that 2003 club, winning the World Series MVP, he wasn’t as popular as that team’s big rookie, Dontrelle Willis. With his funky delivery, the D-Train had a great and memorable run with the club from 2003-06. 

New York Mets: Tom Seaver

Tenure: 1967-77

Greatest Achievement: 1969 World Series Championship

Runner-Up: Mike Piazza

Honorable Mention:  Darryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden

Strawberry and Gooden were the cornerstones of the great 1986 Championship team. But they weren’t quite as popular and beloved as Tom Terrific or Mike Piazza.

Seaver was the team’s first truly great player, winning the Cy Young the year that the Miracle Mets won the World Series, and subsequently winning two more. He still owns virtually every club pitching record.

Unlike Seaver, Straw, or Gooden, Piazza never brought a title to Queens. But he did bring them their only pennant in the past quarter century and was the club’s best antidote to Derek Jeter and the Yankee dynasty of the late 1990s, early 2000s. 

Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals: Gary Carter

Tenure: 1976-86

Greatest Achievement: 1981 NLCS

Runner-Up: Andre Dawson

Honorable Mention: Stephen Strasburg

The Hawk might be better remembered for his comparatively short stay with the Cubs. But he did go into the Hall of Fame as an Expos and was arguably the club’s first truly great player.

His only rival for that title would be Gary Carter and since “The Kid” was there first, earned more All Star appearances, played in more games, had two separate stints with the club, and was inducted into Cooperstown as an Expo, he gets the nod. 

And although Strasburg only pitched in 12 games last season before his arm injury, his debut was as hyped as any in recent memory. The reason: he was/is viewed as a savior who will revive the franchise. And he made the club relevant for the first time since moving to Washington. 

Cincinnati Reds: Johnny Bench

Tenure: 1967-1983

Greatest Achievement: 1976 World Series MVP

Runner-Up: Barry Larkin

Honorable Mention: Pete Rose

Baseball’s oldest franchise certainly has a lot to choose from.

But Bench spent each of his 17 seasons with the club, won two MVPs, and two World Series titles.

His home runs and the ease with which he threw out runners trying to steal bases made him a dual-threat unlike any other in the game at the time. That one-of-a-kind appeal made him a star in the Queen City.

And while Rose’s fiery temperament and longevity was special as well, Larkin’s 19-year stay with the club spanned the pre and post-betting scandal. While the All  Time hit king was being crucified, at least Reds fans had Larkin to rely on. 

St. Louis Cardinals: Stan Musial

Tenure: 1941-63

Greatest Achievement: 1946 MVP

Runner-Up: Ozzie Smith

Honorable Mention: Albert Pujols

One of the most toughest choices on this list. Musial, Smith, and Pujols were each the stars of three different generations of Cardinal teams that won multiple pennants and at least one World Series.

But because Musial has been the face of that organization for almost 70 years, he has to be rewarded with the top spot.

The Wizard vs. Fat Albert is another tough call. But as good as Pujols is and has been for a decade, his collection of home runs and .331 average is quite as special as Smith’s dazzling defensive efforts, arguably the greatest in history. However, if Pujols does come back for another run after 2011, he’ll certainly pass up Smith, and maybe even Stan The Man. 

Milwaukee Brewers: Robin Yount

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6 Apr 1993: A CANDID PORTRAIT OF MILWAUKEE BREWER''S ROBIN YOUNT ON THE FIELD BEFORE A GAME VERSUS THE ANGELS.

Tenure: 1974-93

Greatest Achievement: 1989 AL MVP

Runner-Up: Paul Molitar

Honorable Mention: Rollie Fingers

When you come to the big leagues as an 18-year-old kid and spend the next 20 years with the same club, endless popularity is a given.

With Yount as the league MVP, the Brewers crawled out of obscurity and won their only pennant in 1982: grabbing 12 hits in that narrow World Series loss helped make him a Milwaukee icon.

But winning the MVP in 1989, after moving from shortstop to the outfield, solidified his spot as the most popular player in club history.

Yount’s longtime teammate, Paul Molitar, was popular as well, but he wasn’t around as long and didn’t that sweet mustache so he takes a back seat.

On the other hand, Fingers’ mustache wasn’t powerful enough to overcome the fact that he spent just four years in Milwaukee. 

Houston Astros: Craig Biggio

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 9: Craig Biggio #7 of the Houston Astros reacts to striking out during their game against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium September 9, 2007 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Travis Lind

Tenure: 1988-2007

Greatest Achievement: 2005 NL Pennant

Runner-Up: Jeff Bagwell

Honorable Mention: Nolan Ryan

Bagwell and Ryan were certainly better major leaguers with impeccable Hall of Fame credentials. But there was just something about Biggio that made him so beloved in Houston.

His size (5’11”, 185) was part of it, as was his scrappy appeal. Being hit by pitches 285 times will do that. 

But he was also a home grown star, being selected by the club in 1987 draft and not leaving the franchise until his retirement 20 years later. And because he was so active in charity and community organizations, it’s not hard to understand why he was the most popular player in franchise history.

Chicago Cubs: Ernie Banks

Tenure: 1953-71

Greatest Achievement: 1959 NL MVP

Runner-Up: Ron Santo

Honorable Mention: Sammy Sosa

Given his later contributions as a broadcaster, Santo could make a run for the title.

But as long as Ernie Banks is known as “Mr. Cub” he will always be the most popular player in the franchise’s history.

His love for the game, “Let’s play two,” defied the Cubs woes of the 1950s and early 1960s. So did his ability to claim consecutive MVPs on a team that lost more than it won.

Before Sosa’s corked bat fiasco and later steroid presumptions, he was nearly as popular as both those earlier Cubs stars. But not for as long as either Santo or Banks.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Roberto Clemente

Tenure: 1955-72

Greatest Achievement: 1971 World Series MVP

Runner-Up: Willie Stargell

Honorable Mention: Jason Kendell

The Pirates are one of the easiest entries to declare on this list.

Stargell, aka “Pops” was extremely popular on the legendary “We Are Fam-a-lee” Pirates of 1979.

And Kendall was a fine and popular player on the Pirates teams that would become a laughing stock of the baseball world.

But Clemente, “The Great One,” was one of the most beloved players in league history. His arm, his unique running style, his clutch performances each made him as much a Pittsburgh hero as any of the Steelers or Penguins icons that would eventually follow. 

New York/San Francisco Giants: Willie Mays

Tenure: 1951-72

Greatest Achievement: 1954 World Series

Runner-Up: Christy Mathewson

Honorable Mention: Barry Bonds

The “Say Hey Kid” was a Giants hero on both coasts. He hit for power, average, had fantastic speed, was a great glove and possessed a brilliant arm.

What else is there to say, except for the fact that his personality was so infections and lovable.

Mathewson’s dominance during the dead ball era still somehow translate to today’s fan base, but his legacy as “The Christian Gentleman” only enhance his popularity.

And then there is the case of Barry Bonds. Even before BALCO, Bonds’ boorish attitude led most people outside of San Francisco to detest him. But many Giants fans, blinded by his great play, still loved him and endlessly defended him, especially when his play led them to the 2002 pennant and a few outs from their first World Series title. 

San Diego Padres: Trevor Hoffman

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ST. LOUIS - MAY 7: Trevor Hoffman #51 of the San Diego Padres delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals on May 7, 2005 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. The Padres defeated the Cardinals 5-4. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Tenure: 1993-2008

Greatest Achievement: All Time Saves Record

Runner-Up: Tony Gwynn

Honorable Mention: Goose Gossage

Gwynn may have been a better player, winning eight batting titles, finishing with a .338 average and appearing in both of the club’s World Series appearances.

But Trevor Hoffman had to be considered a bit more popular. When “Hell’s Bells” came on the PA system in the bottom of the ninth, Qualcomm Stadium was electric and all of the attention of the city was on him.

Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers

Tenure: 1947-56

Greatest Achievement: 1949 NL MVP

Runner-Up: Sandy Koufax

Honorable Mention: Fernando Valenzuela

Breaking the color barrier was only part of what made Robinson so beloved to Brooklyn Dodger fans.

He brought a style of play, mainly stealing bases, to major league baseball that hadn’t been seen in decades and was arguably the game’s most thrilling player.

In the club’s California history, it was two lefthanders who picked up where Robinson left off in terms of popularity. First Koufax captivated the city with his dominating pitching. A decade and a half later “Fernando-mania” swept through Southern California.

Colorado Rockies: Larry Walker

Tenure: 1995-2004

Greatest Achievement: 1997 NL MVP

Runner-Up: Todd Helton

Honorable Mention: Andres Galarraga

Less than two decades of history makes the choice in Colorado a bit more difficult.

Andres Galarraga, Dante Bichette and Todd Helton were each incredible power hitters who turned thousands of Rocky Mountain Staters into baseball fans.

But because Walker was such a character and was the catalyst to the team’s first postseason appearance, he stands out the most. 

Arizona Diamondbacks: Luis Gonzalez

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3 Nov 2001: Luis Gonzalez #20 of the Arizona Diamondbacks hits a homerun in the third inning of game six of the World Series against the New York Yankees at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks won 15-2 to force a game 7. DIGITAL IMAGE.

Tenure: 1999-2006

Greatest Achievement: 2001 World Series Winning RBI

Runner-Up: Mark Grace

Honorable Mention: Randy Johnson

Apart from delivering the state of Arizona it’s most memorable and important sports moment (the single off Mariano Rivera that won the 2001 World Series for the fourth-year Diamondbacks), Gonzo had a great career with the club.

He would become the first Diamondback’s player to have his number retired.

Gonzalez’s teammate, Mark Grace, only spent three seasons with the club, but since he was one of the game’s most popular players (and he just missed the cut for a spot on the Cubs entry) we had to select him over Randy Johnson. 

Tampa Bay Rays: Fred McGriff

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24 Feb 2001: First baseman Fred McGriff of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays works out at Raymond A. Naimoli Complex in St. Petersburg, Florida. DIGITAL IMAGE Mandatory Credit: Scott Halleran/ALLSPORT

Tenure: 1998-2001, 2004

Greatest Achievement: 1999 season

Runner-Up: Carl Crawford

Honorable Mention: Evan Longoria

The recent Rays stars, Crawford, Longoria, Scott Kazmir, Carlos Pena, certainly deserve mention for what they did in a short span: taking a franchise that was  long seen as a mistake and guiding them to the World Series and later an AL East title.

But before the Rays became a viable rival for the Red Sox and Yankees, Fred McGriff was the face of the team.

Whether it was his nickname, “The Crime Dog,” his hometown appeal (he was born and raised in Tampa), or his awesome Tom Emanski endorsment,  McGriff was extremely popular. 

New York Yankees: Mickey Mantle

Tenure: 1951-68

Greatest Achievement: 1956 Triple Crown

Runner-Up: Joe DiMaggio

Honorable Mention: Yogi Berra

Obviously the most dominant franchise in the history of American sports has a slew of eminently popular players.

And it’s pretty absurd to leave Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig off any all-time Yankee list. But we have to.

Mantle’s hard-living, colossal home run hitting, and that Oklahoma accent endeared him to Yankee fans throughout the 1950s and 1960s.

Berra’s “Yogi-isms” and his three MVPs in six years did the same.

And DiMaggio’s stoic exterior and flair for the dramatic  made the transition from the Gehrig/Ruth era seamless. 

Boston Red Sox: Ted Williams

Tenure: 1939-60

Greatest Achievement: .406 average in 1941

Runner-Up: Carl Yastrzemski

Honorable Mention: Nomar Garciaparra

The Yankees may have won 10 World Series titles in the 1940s, and 1950s, but, during that same stretch,  at least the Red Sox had the greatest pure hitter in baseball history.

Williams wasn’t terribly popular at times during his career, spitting and chucking balls at fans. But eventually he became as beloved a sports icon as Boston has ever had.

So it’s no wonder they were so thrilled to have a perfect, triple crown replacement fill his void in left field just a few years later. Yaz’s thrilling performance down the stretch of the 1967 season set the tone for the Red Sox rebirth during the 1970s.

And as popular as Pedro Martinez and Roger Clemens were when they took the mound, neither was quite as much of a local hero as Nomar Garciaparra. With Alex Rodriguez in Seattle and Derek Jeter in New York, Boston loved No-mah.

St. Louis Browns/Baltimore Orioles: Cal Ripken Jr.

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6 Sep 1995: Shortstop Cal Ripken of the Baltimore Orioles shakes hands with fans at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland to acknowledge congratulations for breaking Lou Gehrig''s record for consecutive games played. The game was against the California A

Tenure: 1981-2001

Greatest Achievement: 2,632 consecutive games streak

Runner-Up: Brooks Robinson

Honorable Mention: Boog Powell

Through good times (winning the 1983 World Series) and bad (their 0-21 start to the 1988 season) the Iron Man was there, leading the Orioles. Enough said.

The runner-up on this list is a bit more difficult to select. Brooks Robinson, aka the Human Vacuum Cleaner, was as exciting to watch as any player in the game because of his defense. For 23 seasons he dazzled the fans with his glove.

Robinson’s teammate Boog Powell wasn’t as great as a handful of other Orioles: Eddie Murray, Frank Robinson, Jim Palmer, Mike Mussina.

But he was a hit among Baltimore fans for 14 years.

Toronto Blue Jays: John Olerud

Tenure: 1989-96

Greatest Achievement: 1992 ALCS

Runner-Up: Kelly Gruber

Honorable Mention: Jimmy Key

A player who overcomes a brain aneurysm is automatically going to have tens of thousands of people rooting for him. But Olerud was a major contributor to the club’s back-to-back World Series wins as well.

Prior to a significant falling out with management and the fans, third baseman Kelly Gruber was an extremely popular figure in Toronto as well. 

Minnesota Twins: Kirby Puckett

Tenure: 1984-96

Greatest Achievement: 1991 Postseason

Runner-Up: Joe Mauer

Honorable Mention: Kent Hrbek

Even though Joe Mauer is a hometown legend (at baseball, football, and basketball) and the best catcher in baseball, he still has a long way to go in order to pass up Kirby Puckett as the franchise’s greatest treasure.

Puckett’s squat stature and fun-loving attitude brought fans to his camp. And with his thrilling performance in the 1991 ALCS and World Series, he solidified an undeniable place in the Twin Cities Sports history, beside Fran Tarkenton and George Mikan. 

Chicago White Sox: Ozzie Guillen

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 28: Manager Ozzie Guillen of the Chicago White Sox poses during photo media day at the White Sox spring training complex on February 28, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Tenure: 1985-97

Greatest Achievement: 1985 Rookie of the Year

Runner-Up: Carlton Fisk

Honorable Mention: Nellie Fox

Maybe Ozzie gets special consideration on this list because he is the team’s manager and led the White Sox to their only World Series since the end of World War I.

But ever so, Guillen was terribly popular during his decade plus on the South Side, partly because he started so strong, winning the Rookie of the Year as a 21-year-old.

And although Guillen’s teammate Carlton Fisk had his most popular and memorable moment in 1975 with the Red Sox, his tenure in Chicago was longer than his stay in Boston.

Cleveland Indians: Bob Feller

Tenure: 1936-56

Greatest Achievement: 1948 World Series victory

Runner-Up: Jim Thome

Honorable Mention: Sandy Alomar

Rapid Robert was thrilled Indians fans for the better part of three separate decades. Feller’s presence as the game’s best pitcher kept Cleveland relevant while the Yankees dominated the headlines during the 1930s and 1940s.

And long after retirement, he was the player emeritus for the Indians even longer than Stan Musial has been for the Cardinals.

Jim Thome also holds a special place in Cleveland sports history thanks to his penchant for collecting home runs in bunches.

Detroit Tigers: Al Kaline

Tenure:1953-74

Greatest Achievement: 1968 World Series

Runner-Up: Hank Greenberg

Honorable Mention: Mark Fidrych

Kaline is often forgotten when the lists of greatest players of all time is selected. But at least Tigers fans knew what they had for 22 seasons. Every Tigers player from the 1950s to the end of time will be compared to Kaline.

Long before Kaline, Hank Greenberg was the Tigers centerpiece and standard bearer for years—his status as a World War II hero also made him exponentially more popular.

But even he didn’t have a season like Mark “The Bird” Fidrich did in 1976. The 19-game winner was the toast of the sports world that year, and especially in the Motor City. 

Kansas City Royals: George Brett

Tenure: 1973-93

Greatest Achievement: 1980 AL MVP

Runner-Up: Bo Jackson

Honorable Mention: Bret Saberhagen

There are any number of on-the-field achievements we could list to make a case for Brett as the club’s most popular player: hitting .390 in 1980, the same year he led the Royals to their first pennant. His lengthy resume of clutch, late-inning post-season homeruns. Or the fact that he won three batting titles in three separate decades.

But the Pine Tar  incident shows all you need to know about why he’s a Kansas City legend. And so does his encounter with Morgana the Kissing Bandit. 

For a few years, however, Brett lost some of his popularity while teammate Bo Jackson, stole the spotlight as a home run hitting, touchdown scoring leftfielder. 

Philadelphia/Kansas City/Oakland A’s: Ricky Henderson

Tenure: 1979-84, 1989-93, 1994-95, 1998

Greatest Achievement: 1990 AL MVP

Runner-Up: Jimmie Foxx

Honorable Mention: Catfish Hunter

Forget about the ridiculous base-stealing totals, the 1989 ALCS MVP, and the major league record for leadoff home runs.

Ricky ‘s personality was classic. He was brash, funny, confident, and was the centerpiece of an endless string of hilarious anecdotes.

And as much as he loved playing for the A’s (four separate tenures with the club) the fans at Oakland-Alameda Coliseum loved him more.

Even more than Catfish Hunter, Vida Blue, Reggie Jackson and all those members of Charlie Finley’s early 1970s dynasty. 

Texas Rangers: Nolan Ryan

Tenure: 1989-93

Greatest Achievement: 7^th No-hitter

Runner-Up:  Ivan Rodriguez

Honorable Mention: Rafael Palmeiro

Much like Ozzie Guillen, we might be blinded by Ryan’s post-playing career contributions to his ballclub. It’s no coincidence that within two years of becoming the team president, the Rangers won their first pennant.

But since Ryan was a Texan through and through, he became one of the most popular players the day he signed with the club in early 1989, no matter how old he was.

He tossed two his last two no-hitters  and recorded his unthinkable 5,000^th strike out with the club, so it’s impossible to imagine a more popular figure in the club’s somewhat short history. And since his infamous, one-sided fight with Robin Ventura came in a Rangers uniform, he gets the top spot. 

Pudge Rodriguez, Ryan’s battery mate for three seasons, is a worthy silver medalist, however, winning a league MVP and guiding a mediocre staff to three AL West titles in four seasons.

And as much as Raffy Palmeiro is a pariah now, he was extremely popular during both of his stints in Arlington.

California/Los Angeles Angels: Jim Abbott

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

ANAHEIM, CA - JUNE 2, 1996: Jim Abbott of the California Angels stands on the mound during the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Anaheim Stadium on June 2, 1996 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Tenure: 1989-92

Greatest Achievement: 1991 Season (18-11, 2.89 ERA)

Runner-Up: Jim Edmonds

Honorable Mention: Nolan Ryan

The inspirational nature of Abbott’s story—making it to the major leagues with one hand—is enough to make anyone, Angels fan or not, root for Abbott.

Especially since he became a Cy Young candidate (without spending a day in the minor leagues) by the end of his third season.

And while the Angels would later become an annual buyer in the free agent market, their homegrown, hometown star, Jim Edmonds, who spent nearly over a decade with the franchise, was a defensive genius who captivated the fans anytime a ball was hit to the outfield. 

Seattle Mariners: Ken Griffey Jr.

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BOSTON - JULY 13: Ken Griffey Jr of the American League waves to fans as he's introduced before the 1999 All-Star Game at Fenway Park on July 13,1999 in Boston, Massachusetts. The American League defeated the National League 4-1. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Get

Tenure: 1989-99, 2009-10

Greatest Achievement: 1997 AL MVP

Runner-Up: Ichiro Suzuki

Honorable Mention: Randy Johnson

No explanation should be needed for Junior. He was the most popular player of the entire 1990s, so of course he was the most popular player in the Mariners relatively brief history.

With his mullet atop a 6’10” frame, dominant pitching, and mount histrionics, Griffey’s teammate Randy Johnson became as popular in Seattle as the sun and coffee.

And although they still haven’t seen a World Series appearance by their club, Mariners fans were lucky to replace Griffey and Alex Rodriguez with Ichiro, who has kept the Mariners from complete irrelevancy the past few years.