Reds Mount Rushmore

[redsfaninbsg]

With the off day, recent losing, and impending Cardinals series I ask you the ORG who would be on your Reds Mt. Rushmore? It's a lot more difficult than I had originally thought, below is mine. Feel free to disagree.

Johnny Bench: Career Red, Hall of Famer, multiple MVP Awards and multiple rings. Throw in the World Series MVP and the fact he's the best catcher ever, make him a no-brainier to me. Bench is also the franchise leader in home runs with 389 and RBIs with 1,376.

Pete Rose: A native son who is the all-time hits leader. Not to mention an MVP, two rings, and a World Series MVP. Rose is the club's all-time leader in hits, doubles, total bases, and runs scored. As a Red, he led the league in hits six times, doubles four times, runs scored four times, and batting average three times.

Bucky Walters: Some may argue but, here is my case. The MVP in '39 and led the Reds to the World Series in '40. Walters hurled two complete games in the series, both wins, including a complete game five hit shutout in game six. Walters ranks fourth in Reds history with 160 wins and third in WAR among pitchers at 37.7. In '39 and '40, he led the league in wins, era, innings pitched, era+, and whip.

Barry Larkin: A Hall of Famer, career Red, World Series champion, MVP, and three gold gloves. Also a native son, Larkin is widely recognized as the best shortstop in Reds history (sorry Davey). Larkin is second in team history in hits and runs scored. For his career, he lined 441 doubles, 198 homers, and knocked in 960 runs.


Best of the rest: Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, Bid McPhee, Ernie Lombardi, Joey Votto, Sparky Anderson, Frank Robinson, and Joe Nuxhall (his overall impact not just his on field attributes).

[Donder]

I think Bench, Rose, and Larkin are probably no-brainers. Before opening the thread I thought of those four and Robinson, although so much of his greatness came with the Orioles. It's hard to leave Morgan off but it's also hard to include three from the BRM. Walters is a good interesting choice, but I'm not sure many casual Reds fans know anything about him. So I'm going with my gut reaction and saying Robinson.

[dougdirt]

Pete Rose doesn't belong. He is a black mark on the franchise.

Johnny Bench and Barry Larkin are easy ones. After that, it gets tougher with a whole slew of guys who had 10 or so year stretches with the Reds that were outstanding.

[919191]

I think Bench, Rose, and Larkin are probably no-brainers. Before opening the thread I thought of those four and Robinson, although so much of his greatness came with the Orioles. It's hard to leave Morgan off but it's also hard to include three from the BRM. Walters is a good interesting choice, but I'm not sure many casual Reds fans know anything about him. So I'm going with my gut reaction and saying Robinson.

Over half of Robinson's hits, homers and RBI came as a Red.

[Wonderful Monds]

Pete Rose doesn't belong. He is a black mark on the franchise.

lol.

[mth123]

Mount Rushmore is going to last forever. May as well make it something that will be accurate in 100 years.

Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Barry Larkin, Joey Votto.

Sorry to the teams prior to 1963.

[RedsBaron]

Mount Rushmore is going to last forever. May as well make it something that will be accurate in 100 years.

Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Barry Larkin, Joey Votto.

Sorry to the teams prior to 1963.

If Mount Rushmore was constructed today it probably would not have the same four Presidents. While Washington and Lincoln's rankings at the very top of the presidential heap are secure, most rankings I have seen in recent decades do not put Jefferson and especially Teddy Roosevelt in the top four. They are still highly ranked but not in the Fab Four of Presidents.
I mention that by way of an explanation as to why I am not including Joey Votto in my Reds Mount Rushmore. I suspect he may finish his Reds career as the greatest Red ever but it is too early to pick him, in mid-career.
It should also be noted that in professional baseball's centennial in 1969 Edd Roush was selected as the greatest Red of all time--but I am not taking him either.
My Reds Mount Rushmore is Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Frank Robinson and Barry Larkin. Rose and Bench are unquestionable picks. But for Bill DeWitt 's trade, Robinson would also be an unquestionable pick, and Larkin rounds out the group. If Joe Morgan had played his entire career as a Red, then he might join the group.

[Redlegs]

Edd Roush, Frank McCormick, Pete Rose, Barry Larkin.

[RedEye]

Jefferson got knocked out of the Fab Four? What about that whole "Declaration of Independence" thing?

[WrongVerb]

I think Nuxhall's contributions can't be overlooked. Solid pitcher for many seasons, great color analyst for 40 years, and IIRC he's the one who taught Soto the circle change. A hometown boy, he was the face of the franchise for ages and his trademark "the old left-hander, rounding third and heading for home" will be forever etched in the minds of Reds fans.

Bench should be there simply because he's the greatest ever at his position. He also was the innovator of the throat protector and the one-handed catching style.

Robinson set the rookie record for home runs (surpassed by McGwire). Also arguably the best at his position for many years.

And Votto can be the Teddy Roosevelt of this group...recently on the scene, yet very effective at what he does.

It's hard to leave off Rose, but he kinda burned himself with his mistakes in life. Also hard to leave off Morgan, Sparky and Marty.

[RedEye]

Klu, Bench, Rose, Larkin

[dubc47834]

Votto, Bench, Larkin, and Morgan for me. I almost put Eric Davis, but even tho he is my favorite red of all time, he just didn't do it long enough. I think in my 4 you could argue that those are the best Reds of all-time at their position.

[Always Red]

Pete Rose doesn't belong. He is a black mark on the franchise.

Johnny Bench and Barry Larkin are easy ones. After that, it gets tougher with a whole slew of guys who had 10 or so year stretches with the Reds that were outstanding.

IMO, if there's no Rose, then don't bother having a Reds Mount Rushmore.

History will ultimately judge Rose (the player) kinder than many here on RZ do.

What he did on the field of play, and the numbers he put up, were 2nd to none in Reds history.

For some of younger folks, go back and take a look at his 1968 and '69 seasons, and remember those were accomplished during a strong pitching plus era.

[HokieRed]

For some who saw him, I'd say it starts with Robinson. At least it does for me.

[Cedric]

For some who saw him, I'd say it starts with Robinson. At least it does for me.

Amazing player. I would tend to think that the Reds have enough great players to pass up someone that would already be on another teams list like this.