MLB Franchise Icons

Was it the final series of '81 when Foote came up for one pinch hit against -- I'm thinking it was matt's bro' Bob Welch -- and brandished three jinormously huge whiffs?

Angels - statue: Everyone else is saying Nolan Ryan, but in fact Tim Salmon is more deserving of the honor; face: Vlad Guerrero.
Astros - statue: Nolan Ryan, Craig Biggio (though I might be tempted to go with Clemens if he re-ups).
Athletics - statue: Mark McGwire (tainted as he is), Rickey Henderson,  Vida Blue, Catfish Hunter, or Dennis Eckersley; face: Eric Chavez.
Blue Jays - statue: Joe Carter, Dave Steib; face: Carlos Delgado (for now), Roy Halladay.
Braves - statue: Hank Aaron, Dale Murphy (both retired numbers); face: Chipper Jones or John Smoltz.
Brewers - statue: This one's a little tougher, because the Braves played here for so many years, and you could make a really good case for a Hank Aaron statue.  (His number is retired in Milwaukee, because he did play the last two years of his career there.) But in the Brewers-only cast, there's Paul Molitor or Robin Yount, or in a stretch, Rollie Fingers.  Face: Prince Fielder.
Cardinals - statue: Stan Musial, Rogers Hornsby, Red Schoendienst, Bob Gibson; face: Albert Pujols.
Cubs - statue: Cap Anson, Ron Santo, Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Hack Wilson, "Three Fingers" Brown, Frank Chance; face: Derrek Lee or Carlos Zambrano.
Devil Rays - statue: Wade Boggs, though it seems an awful thing to do; face: Carl Crawford or Aubrey Huff.
Diamondbacks - statue: after he retires, Luis Gonzalez, who holds almost all of that franchise's offensive records, though you could also make a case for (gulp) Steve Finley. face: Brandon Webb.
Dodgers - statue: the great Jackie Robinson before anyone else, and really the only Brooklyn Dodger who would be recognizeable to modern audiences, but Hall of Famer Zack Wheat, arguably the greatest offensive Dodger of all time, certainly deserves a shot; also, Jim Gilliam, Gil Hodges, Duke Snider, Don Drysdale, Sandy Koufax, and Fernando Valenzuela. face: Russell Martin, maybe Nomar Garciaparra in a pinch.
Giants - statue: Since they already have such statues, the obvious answers are Willy Mays and Willie McCovey, but Juan Marichal would also be an interesting choice. Face: Given the decimated roster, it still has to be Bonds, Barry Bonds.
Indians - statue: Nap Lajoie, Bob Feller, Lou Boudreau, Larry Doby, Early Wynn, Stan Covaleski; face: Travis Hafner.
Mariners - statue: Edgar Martinez; face: Ichiro Suzuki.
Marlins - statue: pass, on the grounds that the player ought to be retired; Dontrelle Willis, Miguel Cabrera.
Mets - statue: Tom Seaver; face: David Wright, though others' suggestion of Carlos Delgado isn't a bad way to go.
Expos/Nationals - statue: Gary Carter, Rusty Staub, Andre Dawson, Tim Raines; face: Nick Johnson.
Orioles - statue: Cal Ripken, Jr., Brooks Robinson, Eddie Murray, Jim Palmer, Frank Robinson, among others; face: Miguel Tejada.
Padres - statue: Tony Gwynn, maybe Dave Winfield; face: Trevor Hoffman, Jake Peavy.
Phillies - statue: Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton, Robin Roberts; face: Ryan Howard.
Pirates - statue: Roberto Clemente, Honus Wagner, Paul Waner, Willie Stargell, Arky Vaughn, Pie Traynor; face: Jason Bay.
Rangers - statue: Rafael Palmiero would be a good choice but he's got that steroid taint, so Pudge works, also maybe Charlie Hough and Nolan Ryan; face: Michael Young.
Reds - statue: Johnny Bench, Frank Robinson (heh, he got traded to the Orioles because their GM thought he was washed up, so maybe not), Joe Morgan, Dave Concepcion; face: Griffey, Jr., Bronson Arroyo.
Red Sox - statue: Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, Tris Speaker, Carlton Fisk; face: David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Curt Schilling.
Rockies - statue: pass; face: Todd Helton.
Royals - statue: George Brett, Dan Quisenberry, Bret Saberhagen, Hal McRae; face: Mark Teahen.
Tigers - statue: Ty Cobb, Al Kaline, Hank Greenberg, Hal Newhouser; face: Pudge, Justin Verlander.
Twins - statue: Harmon Killebrew, Walter Johnson, Kirby Puckett, Bert Blyleven, Jim Kaat; face: Joe Mauer, Johan Santana, maybe Francisco Liriano if he can stay healthy.
White Sox - statue: Nellie Fox, Luke Appling, Eddie Collins, Ted Lyons; face: Jermaine Dye, Paul Konerko.
Yankees - statue: Babe Ruth and a cast of dozens; face: Derek Jeter.

Angels - Nolan Ryan, though arguably Tim Salmon now that he's retired; Vlad Guerrero

Astros - Ryan; Biggio

Athletics - again, this one is so generation-dependent.  Connie Mack or Jimmie Foxx, if you go back far enough; Catfish Hunter or Reggie Jackson if you came of age in the 1970s; Jose Canseco if you came along 10 years later.  Current: Nick Swisher.

Blue Jays - Joe Carter; Roy Halladay.

Braves - Hank Aaron; John Smoltz

Brewers - Robin Yount; Prince Fielder

Cardinals - another generational one.  Stan Musial; Albert Pujols.

Cubs - Ernie Banks; Kerry Wood

Devil Rays - Carl Crawford and Carl Crawford

Diamondbacks - Randy Johnson; Orlando Hudson or Stephen Drew

Dodgers - generational, as noted above.  I'll go with Jackie Robinson, and I'm going to have to cheat and not name a player but VIN SCULLY.  Definitely the face of the franchise, currently.

Giants - Willie Mays; Barry Bonds.

Indians - Tris Speaker; Travis Hafner

Mariners - Ken Griffey Jr.; Ichiro

Marlins - Livan Hernandez; Dontrelle Willis

Mets - Tom Seaver; David Wright

(Expos)/Nationals - Andre Dawson; Ryan Zimmerman

Orioles - generational.  People born before about 1963 might say Brooks Robinson, but I'll stick with Cal Ripken, Jr.; Miguel Tejada.

Padres - Tony Gwynn; Trevor Hoffman

Phillies - Mike Schmidt; Ryan Howard

Pirates - another generational one, but I'll go with Roberto Clemente; Jason Bay

Rangers - Nolan Ryan; Michael Young

Reds - Pete Rose.  I grew up rooting for the Reds.  Sorry to all those who said Johnny Bench, but Pete Rose was and, to this day really, still IS the face of the franchise, for better or worse.  People who didn't start following the team until the 1980s would pick Barry Larkin; Adam Dunn

Red Sox - another generational one.  Ted Williams; Manny Ramirez

Rockies - Larry Walker; Todd Helton

Royals - George Brett; Mark Teahen

Tigers - generational again.  Ty Cobb; Pudge Rodriguez

Twins - Kirby Puckett; Johan Santana

White Sox - Harold Baines; Paul Konerko

Yankees - Babe Ruth; Derek Jeter