DHL Hometown Heroes

On September 27, 2006, Major League Baseball announced a list of players, one from each team, voted by MLB fans. Fans were asked to vote for the most outstanding player in the history of each MLB franchise, based on on-field performance, leadership quality and character value.^[1]

The candidates for the ballot were chosen by the clubs themselves, in conjunction with a blue-ribbon panel of baseball experts, journalists, and historians. The award winners were then chosen, over two months of voting, in a process similar to MLB all-star voting. Votes were cast by fans at every MLB ballpark, as well as online and via cell-phone. In all, nearly 17 million votes were cast.

Shipping company DHL sponsored the contest.

Of the players awarded, Nolan Ryan was the only player to win the award for two different teams, the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers.

Three of the honored players were true "hometown heroes" in the sense of starring with MLB teams in or near their actual hometowns. Ryan grew up from infancy in the Houston suburb of Alvin, Texas. Cal Ripken, Jr., chosen by Baltimore Orioles fans, was born in Havre de Grace and grew up in Aberdeen, towns in Harford County, Maryland within 45 minutes' drive of Baltimore. Pete Rose, chosen by Cincinnati Reds fans, was born and raised in Cincinnati. (Note that although Jackie Robinson, selected by Los Angeles Dodgers fans, grew up in Pasadena, California, he never played for the franchise in Los Angeles. His entire MLB career was with the Brooklyn Dodgers.)

Award winners

Team	Nominee	Nominee	Nominee	Nominee	Winner	Years	Ref
Angels	Jim Abbott	Don Baylor	Chuck Finley	Tim Salmon	Carew, RodRod Carew	1979–1985	[1][2]
Astros	Jeff Bagwell	Craig Biggio	Larry Dierker	Jimmy Wynn	Ryan, NolanNolan Ryan	1979–1988	[1][2]
Athletics	Dennis Eckersley	Lefty Grove	Rickey Henderson	Catfish Hunter	Jackson, ReggieReggie Jackson	1967–1975, 1987	[1][2]
Blue Jays	Roberto Alomar	Tony Fernández	Pat Hentgen	Dave Stieb	Carter, JoeJoe Carter	1991–1997	[1][2]
Braves	Chipper Jones	Phil Niekro	John Smoltz	Warren Spahn	Aaron, HankHank Aaron	1954–1974	[1][2]
Brewers	Cecil Cooper	Rollie Fingers	Jim Gantner	Paul Molitor	Yount, RobinRobin Yount	1974–1993	[1][2]
Cardinals	Lou Brock	Bob Gibson	Albert Pujols	Ozzie Smith	Musial, StanStan Musial	1941–1944, 1946–1963	[1][2]
Cubs	Ferguson Jenkins	Ryne Sandberg	Ron Santo	Billy Williams	Banks, ErnieErnie Banks	1953–1971	[1][2]
Devil Rays	Carl Crawford	Roberto Hernández	Aubrey Huff	Fred McGriff	Boggs, WadeWade Boggs	1998–1999	[1][2]
Diamondbacks	Jay Bell	Luis Gonzalez	Todd Stottlemyre	Matt Williams	Johnson, RandyRandy Johnson	1999–2004, 2007–2008	[1][2]
Dodgers	Roy Campanella	Sandy Koufax	Pee Wee Reese	Duke Snider	Robinson, JackieJackie Robinson	1947–1956	[1][2]
Giants	Barry Bonds	Juan Marichal	Willie McCovey	Mel Ott	Mays, WillieWillie Mays	1951–1952, 1954–1972	[1][2]
Indians	Earl Averill	Larry Doby	Nap Lajoie	Tris Speaker	Feller, BobBob Feller	1936–1941, 1945–1956	[1][2]
Mariners	Jay Buhner	Edgar Martínez	Jamie Moyer	Ichiro Suzuki	Griffey, Jr., KenKen Griffey, Jr.	1989–1999, 2009–2010	[1][2]
Marlins	Josh Beckett	Luis Castillo	Jeff Conine	Robb Nen	Willis, DontrelleDontrelle Willis	2003–2007	[1][2]
Mets	John Franco	Tug McGraw	Mike Piazza	Darryl Strawberry	Seaver, TomTom Seaver	1967–1977, 1983	[1][2]
Nationals[3]	Liván Hernández	Brian Schneider	Rusty Staub	José Vidro	Carter, GaryGary Carter	1974–1984, 1992	[1][2]
Orioles	Eddie Murray	Jim Palmer	Brooks Robinson	Frank Robinson	Ripken, Jr., CalCal Ripken, Jr.	1981–2001	[1][2]
Padres	Brian Giles	Trevor Hoffman	Randy Jones	Dave Winfield	Gwynn, TonyTony Gwynn	1982–2001	[1][2]
Phillies	Richie Ashburn	Steve Carlton	Chuck Klein	Robin Roberts	Schmidt, MikeMike Schmidt	1972–1989	[1][2]
Pirates	Ralph Kiner	Bill Mazeroski	Willie Stargell	Honus Wagner	Clemente, RobertoRoberto Clemente	1955–1972	[1][2]
Rangers	Rusty Greer	Iván Rodríguez	Jim Sundberg	Mark Teixeira	Ryan, NolanNolan Ryan	1989–1993	[1][2]
Red Sox	Roger Clemens	Jim Rice	Carl Yastrzemski	Cy Young	Williams, TedTed Williams	1939–1942, 1946–1960	[1][2]
Reds	Johnny Bench	Joe Morgan	Tony Perez	Frank Robinson	Rose, PetePete Rose	1963–1978, 1984–1986	[1][2]
Rockies	Dante Bichette	Vinny Castilla	Andrés Galarraga	Todd Helton	Walker, LarryLarry Walker	1995–2004	[1][2]
Royals	Amos Otis	Bret Saberhagen	Mike Sweeney	Frank White	Brett, GeorgeGeorge Brett	1973–1993	[1][2]
Tigers	Charlie Gehringer	Hank Greenberg	Al Kaline	Alan Trammell	Cobb, TyTy Cobb	1905–1926	[1][2]
Twins	Rod Carew	Kent Hrbek	Harmon Killebrew	Tony Oliva	Puckett, KirbyKirby Puckett	1984–1995	[1][2]
White Sox	Luke Appling	Harold Baines	Nellie Fox	Minnie Miñoso	Thomas, FrankFrank Thomas	1990–2005	[1][2]
Yankees	Yogi Berra	Joe DiMaggio	Lou Gehrig	Mickey Mantle	Ruth, BabeBabe Ruth	1920–1934	[1][2]

The Official "Hometown Heroes" Panel

• Orestes Destrade (ESPN and XM Satellite Radio broadcaster)
• Steve Hirdt (Elias Sports Bureau Executive Vice President)
• Jerome Holtzman (Hall of Fame writers wing official MLB historian)
• Richard C. Levin (Yale University president)
• Dinn Mann (MLB.com editor-in-chief)
• Tim McCarver (Fox Sports broadcaster)
• Jose de Jesus Ortiz (Houston Chronicle writer)
• Harold Reynolds (ESPN broadcaster)
• Ken Shouler (historian and author)
• Claire Smith (The Philadelphia Inquirer assistant sports editor)
• Don Sutton (Washington Nationals broadcaster and Hall of Fame pitcher)^[1]

See also

• Baseball awards
• List of MLB awards

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af} "Major League Baseball, DHL unveil nominees for the "DHL Presents Major League Baseball Hometown Heroes" platform". MLB.com. July 17, 2006. Archived from the original on March 27, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5xUQgm8J9. Retrieved June 29, 2010. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad} Newman, Mark (October 1, 2006). "Fans select teams' Hometown Heroes". MLB.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5xUQHbv8s. 
3. ^ Staub and Carter were players for the former Montréal (QC) franchise that became the Nationals in 2005. Because of rules established, no former Washington Senator (before 1971) could have been nominated.

External links

• DHL Presents Major League Baseball Hometown Heroes (2006) imdb.com
• Five 'All-Century' players not included Ken Shouler ESPN.com