Mt. Rushmore, Part 1 of 4- National League

            The blogosphere is full of articles about who the greatest four players have been on a particular team.  These four players (we can include managers and owners, too) could be carved on a particular city’s cheap imitation of Mt. Rushmore, provided that Gutzon Borglum himself could be resurrected to do the designing.

            This article will be the first in a four-part series covering the Mt. Rushmores of 62 MLB and NFL teams.  Even the newest teams (D-Backs, Texans, etc.) deserve to have their four greatest individuals honored in granite.  Just don’t take my suggestions for granite. 

As far as methodology is concerned, I chose three players and one manager (or owner) for each team.  Managers and owners are listed first.  I tried to represent different eras, to give the old-timers credit where credit’s due.  I also tried to include one pitcher for each team, although that wasn’t always possible.  And now, the 15 National League teams’ Mt. Rushmores:

            Dodgers: Lasorda, Jackie Robinson, Koufax, Snider.

            This involved a lot of tough decisions; the Dodgers were fortunate enough to have had 53 players enter the Hall of Fame.  That’s two more than the Yankees!

Padres: Kroc, Gwynn, Winfield, Hoffman.

Ray Kroc is the only owner in this set.

Diamondbacks: Brenly, Randy Johnson, Luis Gonzalez, Womack.

The youngest NL team.

Giants: John McGraw, Mays, Mathewson, McCovey.

All M’s.  If Barry Bonds somehow makes it into the Hall of Fame, he will replace McCovey on the rock.

Rockies: Hurdle, Walker, Helton, Tulowitzki.

Their honorable mentions are Bichette and Galarraga.  Since Coors Field is a hitters’ park, I didn’t pick any pitchers.

Cardinals: La Russa, Musial, Hornsby, Gibson.

Like the Dodgers and Yankees, the Cardinals had a plethora of Hall of Famers.

Cubs: Chance, Banks, Jenkins, Sandberg.

Frank Chance led them to consecutive World Series victories in 1907 and 1908.  They have not been to the Fall Classic since 1945.

Brewers: Kuenn, Yount, Molitor, Caldwell.

The Brewers haven’t had too many notable players or managers; all of the above played on/managed the team when it was still in the American League.

            Pirates: Clarke, Wagner, Clemente, Stargell.

            They had too many outstanding hitters.

            Reds: Sparky Anderson, Bench, Rixey, Rose.

            If Cincinnati fans don’t want Pete Rose on their rock, the rightmost face would have to be Barry Larkin’s.

            Marlins: McKeon, Conine, Willis, Cabrera.

            (They’re my favorite team, so I had the hardest time with this one.)  Miguel Cabrera might be transferred to the Tigers’ Mt. Rushmore someday.  If that happens, his face will be replaced by Charles Johnson’s.

            Mets: Davey Johnson, Seaver, Piazza, Wright.

            David Wright narrowly beat out Keith Hernandez for the rightmost face.

            Braves: Cox, Aaron, Spahn, Chipper Jones.

            Their honorable mentions are too numerous to mention honorably.

            Phillies: Manuel, Schmidt, Carlton, Ashburn.

            They need a fifth face on their rock for the Phanatic.

            Nationals/Expos: Felipe Alou, Gary Carter, Dawson, Raines.

            Everyone here was part of the organization when they were the Expos.  No current Nationals made the cut.

            Coming in Part 2, the American League…