>>>>>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.
>
>He is truly idolized in St. Louis. Two years ago I was working on a contract in St. Louis. I had always heard what great fans the Cardinals have and got to witness it for myself. It was their miracle season. They were dead in the water on September 1 and then caught fire. David Freese, a little known rookie, had one of the best playoff runs ever.
>
>Too bad it was at the expense of my Brewers. But it was exciting. My best memory is of an accounting manager named Rose. She was not young and not beautiful but boy did she love the Cardinals. It was a law firm and normally the dress code was pretty strict. It was relaxed for the playoffs. Rose came to work every day in full Cardinals regalia, right down to the hat. It was cool.

I hope those Cards fans were suitably grateful to the Phils, who swept the Braves on the last weekend of the season (setting a franchise record of 102 wins for the season) to let them in. Rudely, they then beat the Phils in the first round. <g>

Tamar