>>>7. Mariano Rivera.
>>
>>Most likely the first ever player who played for the Yankees that gets respected by all Baseball fans across the globe, regardless of the baseball-team they root on.
>>
>>In other words, the player you always wanted to be part of the team you are rooting for and not the opposite team.
>>
>>Truly the best ambassador of baseball the commissioner could wish for, not just for the USA, but also as for the rest of the globe to show that it does not matter where you were born to become (hopefully) a first round HOF'er and also to get unanimous votes for it.
>
>I agree with your characterization of Rivera overall, but don't think he was the first like that. Maybe Gehrig?
>
>Tamar

Yes - Gehrig or Yogi - East of the Hudson.
West of the Hudson, Stan the Man.