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Baseball's people of influence, the USA Today version
2007-04-04 19:37
by Bob Timmermann

USA Today asked a panel of its writers (such as Hal Bodley and Bob Nightengale) and others involved in baseball at some time (such as Fred Claire and Dennis Gilbert) and picked the 50 most influential people in baseball.

Unsurprisingly, #1 was Commissioner Bud Selig and #2 was Players Association head Donald Fehr. The most influential current player was #15 Barry Bonds. Lots of owners and GMs make the list, but only one manager, #42 Bobby Cox.

There is also a waiting list of 15 which includes SABR president Dick Beverage and Baseball-reference.com creator Sean Forman.

 

 

Comments
2007-04-04 22:01:24
1.   Eric Enders
The first sentence above leads me to wonder: Does USA Today have any good baseball writers?
2007-04-04 22:11:05
2.   Eric Enders
All that influentialness is really making Selig age quickly.

His MLB PR Portrait:
http://agglo.org/files/2007/01/commissioner-bud_selig02.jpg

What he actually looks like:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2007-04-04-50-most-influential_N.htm?csp=34

2007-04-04 22:20:13
3.   Andrew Shimmin
Chase Carey's mustache did not make the list.
2007-04-04 22:21:46
4.   Eric Enders
It is, however, on the list of most influential baseball mustaches, in between Frenchy Bordagaray and Jose Valentin. (Rollie Fingers, obviously, is #1.)
2007-04-04 22:29:35
5.   Andrew Shimmin
Rod Beck's mustache has demanded a recount!
2007-04-04 22:32:05
6.   Andrew Shimmin
Ooh, Keith Hernandez took the top spot at Maxim's baseball player's with mustaches countdown. That cannot stand. I do fully approve of picking Sal Fassano twice, though.

http://www.maximonline.com/slideshows/index.aspx?imgCollectId=110

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