Who was your first baseball hero.. and why

[Donn Beach]

thinking...Reggie is the guy that legitimized striking out...

[Happy as hell]

Mickey Mantle. Because.

[D-train]

thinking...Reggie is the guy that legitimized striking out...

Yep. Renaissance man.

[AT Funchal-Madeira]

First baseball hero playing in Seattle, I guess...... Outfielder Vada Pinson and pitcher Claude Osteen....both friendly, signed autographs, and played hard... I hated to see them leave, wanted them to play for Seattle forever...

[Petert]

Up until I was 14, Mickey Mantle (along with most NYC area kids).

After 14, Bo Belinsky. Not a pinnacle of virtue, per se, but he knew how to parlay 10 cents’ worth of talent into a few hundred K of fame, something I thought I was going to desperately need to learn to do eventually.

[Sexymarinersfan]

Kirby Puckett! The 1st baseball game I ever watched was the 1987 World Series, Game 7. I was 8 years old.

I knew right then I loved this sport! From then on, it was all Kirby, until, "The Kid!"

[number11]

Wow, I thought 100% of the responses here would be Griffey Jr., but only 1/2 of one so far. Definitely Griffey for me. I'd been to a few games pre-Griffey (usually with Grandma, RIP), but only started religiously following the M's when the Kid arrived on the scene. Jr. also prompted me to attempt a very unsuccessful transition from Jr. High wrestling to Jr. High baseball. A lot of other players to appreciate over the years...like SMF - Kirby Puckett was a favorite too (sucks about the eye issues, weird scandals & early death); Nolan Ryan, Rickey Henderson, Tony Gwynn, Wade Boggs, Omar Vizquel (he doesn't seem to fit here, but actually does). But it all started with Griffey. And I'm definitely ready for the next Griffey.

[number11]

oh...forgot the "why." It was the joy they all brought to the game...they all seemed to love every minute of it. They were making millions, but you got the feeling they'd be playing with the same joy & passion for minimum wage.

[Hanjag]

My mom played church league soft ball and actually was the one that played catch and home batting coach. Through her and the magic of cable she watched the WTBS Atlanta Braves of Dale Murphy, Bob Homer, R Ramirez, Sutter and co. There was another station Chicago's WGN which tuned in Cubs and their announcer with the Harry Carry Take me out, and Wriggly with the bleachers on neighboring apts. Sandberg,<-Spokane kid Dawson, Ron Cey the Penguin, Lee Smith dominant closer, but that was just little kid memories. Later on when I was a bigger kid I started watching for myself and really being a fan. All of my 1st teams were California teams. I stayed home from church one day and discovered Montana and the Niners the year of Montana to Clark "The catch", B-Ball was Magic led Lakers before discovering the Sonics and switching allegiances. Finally, Oakland's Bash Brothers with Ricky Henderson lead off, Carny Landsford #2, BB, Dave Henderson. Stewart and Welch followed by Dennis Eckersly.

Of course this leads me back to the beginning,,,,.MOM

[ddraig]

Frederic Carl Reichardt. Who?

My age is showing here but this guy was a member of the Seattle Rainiers. Rick Reichardt. Saw him play many times at Sick's Stadium. Reichardt was the perfect local hero for a 12-year-old kid.