A pitcher as most iconic player

[fineyoungarm]

This ties into last night's game thread. I am confident that we can all agree that "every day" players such as Babe Ruth for the Yankees, Ted Williams for the Red Sox and Stan Musial for the Cardinals are the most iconic players in the history of each of those teams.
 
Which major league teams have as their most iconic players a pitcher (and why, if you wish)?
 
I can think of two:
 
Sandy Koufax for the Dodgers
 
Walter Johnson for the old Washington Senators

 

[Rudi Fingers]

Jackie Robinson is arguably the most iconic Dodger

 

[E5 Yaz]

Tom Seaver for the Mets
 
Nolan Ryan for the Angels (though Trout could someday surpass him)

 

[Rasputin]

"Feller pitching for the Indians?"
 
"Of course there's a feller pitching for the Indians. What do you think, they'd use a girl?"

 

[rembrat]

Jackie Robinson is arguably the most iconic Dodger

 
Yes but he specifically asked for a pitcher. 
 
EDIT: Nevermind. I misunderstood OP's premise. I like mine a bit more.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Jackie Robinson is arguably the most iconic Dodger

 
The discussion might be whether Jackie Robinson is more one of baseball's greatest icons than he is to the Dodgers themselves. It's close between him and Koufax, though

 

[VTSox]

Nolan Ryan in Houston.  Possibly in Texas also.

 

[fineyoungarm]

I agree with Seaver, Feller and Ryan.  I guess for the Oakland A's R. Henderson would out pace a few of their pitchers.  To reach a good bit,  Warren Spahn for the "old" Milwaukee Brewers. Stupid fingers. Braves.
 
Seaver and Ryan have no competition.  Feller is looking at Al Kaline way back in his rearview mirror.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Feller is looking at Al Kaline way back in his rearview mirror.

 
A rearview mirror that can't see all the way from Cleveland to Detroit?

 

[fineyoungarm]

 
A rearview mirror that can't see all the way from Cleveland to Detroit?

 
Wow.  Just shoot me.

 

[fineyoungarm]

 OK, so Ty Cobb is looking at Al Kaline way back in his rearview mirror.

 

[RIrooter09]

An argument could be made for King Felix by the time he retires.

 

[inJacobyWeTrust]

An argument could be made for King Felix by the time he retires.

 
Griffey probably has something to say about that

 

[ifmanis5]

And of course, Luis Aponte for the Red Sox.

 

[riboflav]

I thought this was going to be a discussion of which position is the most iconic in sports: pitcher? quarterback? heavy-weight boxer? 

 

[fineyoungarm]

Pretty clearly Frank Robinson and Cal Ripken (and maybe Brooks Robinson for that matter) beat out Jim Palmer - right?  Does Ripken take the prize over the other two?
 
(I may argue that Sparky Lyle tops Ruth simply because I remain so angry about the trade for Danny Cater. Then again, maybe I won't.)

 

[fineyoungarm]

I thought this was going to be a discussion of which position is the most iconic in sports: pitcher? quarterback? heavy-weight boxer? 

 
Morph it into that. The narrower topic has about run its course. ONCE it easily was heavy-weight boxer. Now, not even on the list. Shows how time sensitive the issue is. Today has to be QB.

 

[Dan to Theo to Ben]

Who's most iconic in Oakland? Could be a half dozen person race with multiple pitchers.

 

[fineyoungarm]

 Which raises the question - which NFL teams do NOT have a QB as their most iconic player. Two jump to mind - Jim Brown for the Browns and Dick Butkus for the Bears (I think he passes Sayers and Payton.)

 

[fineyoungarm]

Who's most iconic in Oakland? Could be a half dozen person race with multiple pitchers.

 
I went with Rickey Henderson.  Then come the guys with and without mustaches. 

 

[Dan to Theo to Ben]

 
I went with Rickey Henderson.  Then come the guys with and without mustaches. 

I agree but if someone gives me the argument of how someone can leave the team 4 times and still be most iconic, I wouldn't argue.

 

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

Which raises the question - which NFL teams do NOT have a QB as their most iconic player. Two jump to mind - Jim Brown for the Browns and Dick Butkus for the Bears (I think he passes Sayers and Payton.)

Ravens

 

[fineyoungarm]

 Either Chicago baseball team is a reach. Ron Santo - really? Is there a case for Jenkins? Merkle?  I guess The Big Hurt is not that much of a reach - although there are a couple of short stops to consider. And Shoeless Joe Jackson.

 

[fineyoungarm]

Ravens

 
Yup.  Easily. 

 

[Dan to Theo to Ben]

 Which raises the question - which NFL teams do NOT have a QB as their most iconic player. Two jump to mind - Jim Brown for the Browns and Dick Butkus for the Bears (I think he passes Sayers and Payton.)

Cardinals
Bills
Eagles
Browns
Chiefs

 

[riboflav]

Also, interesting would be most iconic olympic winner: decathlete? marathoner? ladies figure skater? ladies all-around gymnast?

 

[Marciano490]

Ravens

 
Houston Oilers.

 

[fineyoungarm]

Until Brees cam along, New Orleans Saints. A place kicker.  A PLACE KICKER!

 

[riboflav]

Did running back at one time rival QB as most iconic position in football?

 

[E5 Yaz]

The Cubs most iconic player is, um, Mr. Cub ... Ernie Banks

 

[fineyoungarm]

Also, interesting would be most iconic olympic winner: decathlete? marathoner? ladies figure skater? ladies all-around gymnast?

 
Historically, have to go with the marathoner.  And maybe a speedster. 

 

[fineyoungarm]

The Cubs most iconic player is, um, Mr. Cub ... Ernie Banks

 
Yikes. Of course.   

 

[fineyoungarm]

Did running back at one time rival QB as most iconic position in football?

 
Surpassed QB arguably. 

 

[fineyoungarm]

Cardinals
Bills
Eagles
Browns
Chiefs

 
Cardinals - Who? (Dierdorf?) 
 
Bills - Simpson over Jim K?
 
Eagles - Reggie White
 
Browns - Already covered
 
Chiefs - Dawson not even in the running?

 

[Saints Rest]

 Which raises the question - which NFL teams do NOT have a QB as their most iconic player. Two jump to mind - Jim Brown for the Browns and Dick Butkus for the Bears (I think he passes Sayers and Payton.)

Giants -- LT?
Steelers -- Lynn Swann?  Mean Joe Greene?
Bills -- OJ

 

[Dan to Theo to Ben]

Cardinals
Bills
Eagles
Browns
Chiefs

Lions, Falcons, and Giants too.

 

[Marciano490]

Giants -- LT?
Steelers -- Lynn Swann?  Mean Joe Greene?
Bills -- OJ

 
Steelers have to be Bradshaw, right?  Iconic to me sounds like lasting legacy.  I think nowadays more people associate the Steelers with Bradshaw than Swann or Greene.
 
Who would be Oakland/LA?  Plunkett? Long?

 

[Comfortably Lomb]

Randy Johnson for Arizona?

 

[fineyoungarm]

 
Yikes. Of course.   

 
Although out of sheer peversity, Merkle is the clear choice. And he played for the Giants.

 

[fineyoungarm]

Randy Johnson for Arizona?

 
Agree. 

 

[pedro1918]

Short histories but:
 
Diamondbacks - Randy Johnson
 
Marlins - Jeff Conine?
 
 
EDIT: Damn it!

 

[Rudi Fingers]

 
Steelers have to be Bradshaw, right?  Iconic to me sounds like lasting legacy.  I think nowadays more people associate the Steelers with Bradshaw than Swann or Greene.
 
Who would be Oakland/LA?  Plunkett? Long?

Oakland has to be Stabler.  Though Madden as a coach (and Davis as an owner) is more iconic than any of their players.

 

[fineyoungarm]

 
Steelers have to be Bradshaw, right?  Iconic to me sounds like lasting legacy.  I think nowadays more people associate the Steelers with Bradshaw than Swann or Greene.
 
Who would be Oakland/LA?  Plunkett? Long?

 
Marcus Allen? 

 

[fineyoungarm]

Oakland has to be Stabler.  Though Madden as a coach (and Davis as an owner) is more iconic than any of their players.

 
Stabler tops Allen 

 

[Dan to Theo to Ben]

Made thread in BBTL for NFL
 
http://sonsofsamhorn.net/topic/84998-most-iconic-player/

 

[fineyoungarm]

Short histories but:
 
Diamondbacks - Randy Johnson
 
Marlins - Jeff Conine?
 
 
EDIT: Damn it!

 
Marlins - soon to be Red Sox (in your dreams) Stanton or formerly with Red Sox, Beckett 

 

[pedro1918]

Who would be Oakland/LA?  Plunkett? Long?

 
Lester Hayes?  Marcus Allen?  Or stretching it a bit - John Madden?  But if you went there, I guess you'd have to include Al Davis.
 
EDIT: I'm just too slow today.

 

[Kliq]

For football
 
Buffalo- OJ Simpson, maybe Bruce Smith
Pittsburgh- Perhaps Joe Greene over Bradshaw
Baltimore- Ray Lewis
Cleveland- Jim Brown
Tennessee/Houston- Earl Campbell
Houston- Andre Johnson
Jacksonville- Fred Taylor
Oakland- Bo Jackson/Marcus Allen
San Diego- LaDanian Tomlinson
Giants- Lawrence Taylor
Dallas- Case can be made for Emmit Smith
Chicago- Butkus or Sayers or Payton
Minnesota- Peterson could catch Tarkenton
Detroit- Barry Sanders
Tampa Bay- Warren Sapp or Derrick Brooks?
Carolina- Steve Smith?
49ers- Case could be made for Rice
Rams- Eric Dickerson or Deacon Jones
Seattle- Steve Largent

 

[Bosoxen]

Interestingly, an argument could be made about Nolan Ryan belonging on that list for multiple teams. Gun to my head, I'd probably go Pudge Rodriguez for the Rangers, but Nolan Ryan has to be in the conversation, no?

 

[SumnerH]

Pretty clearly Frank Robinson and Cal Ripken (and maybe Brooks Robinson for that matter) beat out Jim Palmer - right?  Does Ripken take the prize over the other two?
 

 
If you're talking about iconic to fans of the team, it's Ripken in a walk.  He's absolutely beloved in Baltimore, and in DC too since they didn't have a team during his tenure.