Ozzie Smith.  The sunny disposition, the intelligence and the acrobatics made him an easy rooting interest in the 80s. 

My first favourite player was probably John Mayberry. He went from the guy who hit 3 HR in a game vs. the Jays in 1978 (dates and totals subject to the vagaries of memory), to being their 1st baseman the next year. Also, he showed up at one of my tyke league games when I was 10 and living in Etobicoke.

I also had a fondness for Rick Bosetti, who made countless (probably just 1 or 2) catches against the 400ft marker on the CF wall at Exhibition Stadium at games I attended. When I looked him up in BBref a couple years ago, I was shocked to see how poorly he hit!

Dave Stieb will always be the first greatest pitcher, and Willie Upshaw's 1983 season will always hold a special place in my heart.

Finally, my Favouritest non-Blue Jay ever was Jackie Robinson. When the Jays started playing, I was 7 and I was immediately hooked. I went to the school library to read as much as I could on the Grand Old Game, and the biography on Mr. Robinson was my favourite book for at least a couple of years, partly because of the Royal treatment (see what I did there?) he received in Montreal in '46, partly because of what he endured, and what he meant to so many people, but mostly because the descriptions made him seem like the most exciting player ever. (It also caused me to despise Enos Slaughter, although my stance on him has somewhat softened over time). That biography was single-handedly responsible for me becoming a fan of Dem Bums (and to the extent of Sandy Koufax' best years, an LA Dodger fan), and a Yankee hater.

Harry “Peanuts” Lowrey caught my boyhood imagination for some reason I have long since forgotten.  Maybe it was because he was so handsome--a short, chunky guy who mostly played third base for the Cubs, when I first saw him, but who also played in the outfield a lot.  Ended up as a good pinch-hitter (once had seven straight).  Oh yes, and as a third-base coach for the Expos.  Made one All-Star Game, got a sprinkle of MVP votes a few times, and had 9 hits for the Cubs in the 1945 World Series.  Pretty good stuff.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lowrepe01.shtml

Really tough to pick only one but I'm pickin the say hey kid, Willie Mays. Now to be truthful I was a bit of a Giants fan growing up but as a kid I was a fan of pretty much every team though the Twins were my real somewhat close to home team so I'll discount my real favs. I would also say Hammering Hank Aaron, Juan Marichal, Billy Williams, Fergie Jenkins and Ernie Banks.... well enough reminiscing as I might run out of space if I keep going. :)

The more I read about him and his play, the more Yogi Berra laps the field as my favorite all-time player. Like everyone else I started with the Yogi-isms, as amusing as they are, I think they obfuscate just how great his play was on the field.

If I restrict my "crushing" to players I've seen play live, well it has to be: Junior. For all the obvious reasons plus that he always seemed to be enjoying himself on the field.

I was a young buck at Green Acres Baseball Camp in Markham, Ontario one summer and Pat Borders made an appearance to show us all a few fundamentals.  He had a huge wad of chew in his mouth and when we all asked him what it was, all he said was "Root beer juice." 

Honourable mention to Tom Henke, who was kind enough to stand around in his seat at the Dome after a game many years ago and sign things for fans.

 

For some reason I have always believed that journeyman back up catcher Einar Diaz was very good.  I think I saw two outlier games (one as an Indian, one as a Ranger) where he hit really well and maybe threw out some runners too.

Looking at the stats, he's lucky to have won my heart.

Jesse Barfield..

Just saw this on Facebook. Genius or giveup?

Today's Date in Baseball History: 1976 - The Braves send Valentines to season-ticket holders and the media. Atlanta finished 5th in 1975, 40.5 games behind Cincinnati. The Braves will finish 1976 in last, 32 games behind the Reds. Their card reads: "Rose is a Red Morgan's one, too. They finished first, Like we wanted to. But last year's behind us; We're happy to say. Now we're tied for first, Happy Valentine's Day."

The first will always be the best. Fernando.

I'd have to go with Ex Expo Jamey Carroll, nice guy and a scrappy player who makes the most of his limited talents. Good utility guy and knows how to take a walk too. Just fun to watch.

For some reason, that I don't remember, Rodney Scott of the Expos was my 80's favourite.

My favourite Expo then was Chris Speier for some reason and he didn't even wear number 2.  Go figure!

Mark Buehrle.

I'll admit that I'm probably one of the younger fans on the site, given that I was 7 when Joe Carter hit his famous home run.  I don't remember the first WS very well, but I definitely remember '93.  For that, I was always a Blue Jays fan even though my Dad was an Expos fan.  However, my baseball crush growing up was from neither team... none other than... Ken Griffey Jr. 

 

Jesse Barfield. I remember being about 7 years old and our baseball team spent an afternoon at the coach's house for a BBQ to kick off the season. One of the videos we watched was a video teaching kids baseball fundamentals starring Jesse.

He showed us the proper way to grip a ball when throwing, how to position your glove to catch a ball, taught us to use our whole bodies to get in front of grounders, and to never stop running when you're heading for first base no matter what. From that day forward Jesse Barfield would forever be my baseball idol.

Kirby Puckett.  I started watching baseball in 91' when he carried the Twins from last place to a World Series title (with some help from Jack Morris).  He hit everything he saw that season...and I still can't get past the fact that a guy that was 5'8" and built like a truck could play defense like that.  Plus to this day I have not seen a player that looked like he enjoyed the game as much as Kirby did.  

Honorable mention goes to Ken Griffey Jr (the original Mariners version), the greatest player that I have ever seen play the game

Ramon Martinez (the pitcher), Pedro's older brother. Oh, what could have been...

I wasn't going to answer this thread but i got to musing about what non-Blue Jay fascinated me and the first was Tim Raines.

But the guy who really stirred my lust was Bo Jackson - i so wanted to be a witness to a real legend  of the sort they said he could be.

Catfish.

Metkovich?

I always liked this description of Kirby's physique.

Put together like a poorly stuffed duffle bag.

Nolan Ryan for me. My memory picks up in the mid 80's , when his career numbers started to jump out against anyone else. And then he was 40, and still making a living throwing the heat. The mid-late 80's were a barren time for guys who just brought the heat (Ryan, Gooden for a few years, Clemens came in at some point), and one of the few notable ones was also old. I always loved his delivery as well, it just looked like a pitcher was supposed to look, to me. When he moved to Texas and only got better (??) for a few years, and then the Jays no-hitter with Alomar helplessly swinging on the last pitch...yeah, he was awesome.

Dan Plesac.

  Roberto Clemente.  What a pretty baseball player, a ballet dancer with power.  Not a bad human being, either.