Hometown Heroes

At today's Mariners' game we picked up ballots for Hometown Heroes, a new fan voting based list of the most outstanding players from each Major League baseball team. Here are my American League votes (I'll post my National League choices soon), as well as the one change per team I would make if I were writing the ballot (with special thanks to Rob Neyer's Big Book of Baseball Lineups which came in quite handy in remembering other potential candidates).

American League

Baltimore Orioles
Selection: Cal Ripken Jr.
Change: None

Boston Red Sox
Selection: Ted Williams
Change: Drop Jim Rice add Wade Boggs

Chicago White Sox
Selection: Luke Appling
Change: Drop Minnie Minoso add Eddie Collins

Cleveland Indians
Selection: Nap Lajoie
Change: Drop Larry Doby add Jim Thome

Detroit Tigers
Selection: Ty Cobb
Change: None

Kansas City Royals
Selection: George Brett
Change: None

California/LA/Anaheim Angels
Selection: Nolan Ryan
Change: Drop Jim Abbott add Nolan Ryan

Minnesota Twins
Selection: Harmon Killebrew
Change: None

New York Yankees
Selection: Babe Ruth
Change: None

Oakland A's
Selection: Rickey Henderson
Change: Remove Catfish Hunter add Mark McGwire

Seattle Mariners
Selection: Ken Griffey Jr.
Change: Drop Jay Buhner add Randy Johnson

Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Selection: Aubrey Huff (sadly)
Change: Drop Wade Boggs (he only played two years). Add Delmon Young...err make that Randy Winn?

Texas Rangers
Selection: Ivan Rodriguez
Changes: This one needs at least two. Drop Jim Sundberg & Rusty Greer, add Rafael Palmeiro and Charlie Hough

Toronto Blue Jays
Selection: Joe Carter
Changes: Drop Pat Hentgen add George Bell, while you're at it drop Tony Fernandez and add Carlos Delgado