Californians among American Legion Baseball’s All-Centennial Team Hall of Famers

Seven Californians were among 18 baseball players and coaches picked by fans to join American Legion Baseball’s “Centennial Team.” The organization is honoring the greatest players from the first 100 years of The American Legion, which celebrated its centennial on March 15.

A total of 85 nominees, including all of the 78 former American Legion Baseball players inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, were presented to the American Legion Baseball Committee, which pared the list down to 60 for a fan vote.

Fans voted by the thousands for a final 18-man roster, the same size as an American Legion Baseball team. The results created this team, featuring 17 Hall of Fame inductees and one sure-fire future Hall of Famer.

The leading vote getters were two legendary players, both of whom also served their country during wartime: Ted Williams and Bob Feller.

Second Baseman: Joe Morgan

Post 471, Oakland – California

A 10-time All-Star and two-time Most Valuable Player, Morgan helped the Reds to back-to-back World Series wins in 1975 and 1976. A five-time Gold Glover, Morgan was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1990.

Utility: Robin Yount

Los Angeles – California

A member of the 3,000-hit club, Yount was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989. The three-time All-Star and two-time American League Most Valuable Player helped guide the Brewers to an appearance in the World Series in 1982.

Outfielder: Ted Williams

San Diego – California

A member of Major League Baseball All-Time and All-Century Teams, Williams defined an era of hitting, batting .344 over his career with 521 home runs. The 19-time All-Star earned two MVPs and had two Triple Crowns. He is the only member of the Baseball Hall of Fame to serve during two war eras, first training as a reservist aviator in the Navy during World War II. He later was commissioned in the Marines and served in Korea, reaching the rank of captain. He was named the 1960 American Legion Graduate of the Year.

Outfielder: Tony Gwynn

Arthur L. Peterson Post 27, Long Beach – California

“Mr. Padre” led San Diego for two decades as one of the best pure hitters ever. His .338 career batting average and eight batting titles came from a model of consistency, with the Hall of Famer never hitting below .309. He added 15 All-Star appearances and five Gold Gloves. He was named 1998 American Legion Graduate of the Year. He played for Arthur L. Peterson Post 27, Long Beach, Calif.

Outfielder: Frank Robinson

Bill Erwin Post 237, Oakland – California

A two-time World Champion, Robinson is the only player to win MVP in both leagues. The Hall of Famer also won the triple crown before becoming the first African-American manager in MLB history. He was the 1966 Graduate of the Year; the 14-time All-Star had his number retired by the Reds, Orioles and Indians, and is a member of each of those teams’ Halls of Fame.

Relief Pitcher: Rollie Fingers

Upland Post 73 – California

The 1964 Legion Player of the Year from Upland Post 73 (Calif.), Fingers went on to become the only American Legion Player of the Year to reach the Hall of Fame. His career included an MVP, World Series MVP, Cy Young, three World Series wins and seven All Star appearances.

Manager: Sparky Anderson

Los Angeles Crenshaw Post 715 – California

A winner of the American Legion World Series as a player in 1951, Anderson reached the majors as a player but was known for his managerial career, where he finished with a record of 2,194-1,834 (.545 winning percentage). He won three World Series titles (1975, 1976 and 1984) and two AL Manager of the Year titles. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000.

Catcher: Yogi Berra

Fred W. Stockholm Post 245 – Missouri

Berra appeared in 14 MLB World Series and won 10 of them. The three-time American League Most Valuable Player and 18-time All-Star was rewarded with enshrinement in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972. Following high school, Berra joined the U.S. Navy in 1943 during World War II and served as gunner’s mate on the USS Bayfield during the D-Day invasion of France.

Catcher: Johnny Bench

Post 24, Anadarko – Oklahoma

Named 1973 American Legion Graduate of the Year, Bench was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989. The 14-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion won two Most Valuable Player awards and 10 Gold Gloves.

First Baseman: Harmon Killebrew

Payette – Idaho

Named 1969 American Legion Graduate of the Year., Killebrew was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984. Known for his power, “The Killer” led the American League in home runs six times. He made 13 All-Star Game appearances and was the 1969 AL MVP.

Designated Hitter: Albert Pujols

Hi-Boy Drive In/Post 340, Independence – Missouri

One of only four members of the 3,000-hit to also have 600 home runs, Pujols is a future Hall of Famer. The 10-time All-Star has won two World Series, three Most Valuable Player awards, six Silver Sluggers, two Gold Gloves and two Hank Aaron Awards.

Third Baseman: Brooks Robinson

M. Eberts Post No. 1 Doughboys – Arkansas

Arguably the best defensive third baseman ever, Robinson won 16 consecutive Gold Glove awards and made 18-straight All-Star games. The 1964 American League MVP won two World Series titles and was named the 1970 World Series MVP. He was named the 1964 American Legion Graduate of the Year. He is a member of the Hall of Fame Class of 1983.

Shortstop: Pee Wee Reese

Louisville – Kentucky

A 1984 inductee into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Reese was a 10-time All-Star, including nine straight appearances. He helped the Dodgers to World Series titles in 1955 and 1959.

Outfielder: Stan Musial

Donora – Pennsylvania

Musial, named 1961 American Legion Graduate of the Year, appeared in a record-tying 24 All-Star Games and holds numerous hitting records. He finished with a career .331 batting average with 3,630 hits and 475 home runs. The three-time NL MVP and three-time World Series champion was a first ballot Hall of Famer in 1969. He served in the Navy during World War II.

Starting Pitcher: Bob Feller

Variety Post 313, Van Meter – Iowa

The first American Legion alumnus inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Feller played Legion Baseball in Iowa from the age of 10. He was in the Major Leagues by age 17 and spent 18 fantastic years in the majors on his way to a first ballot Hall of Fame induction. Feller became the first American athlete to enlist after the attacks on Pearl Harbor and served in the Navy for four years before becoming a Legionnaire. A true role model, Feller’s name adorns the Legion’s award for the best pitcher.

Starting Pitcher: Bob Gibson

Omaha – Nebraska

Gibson was the World Series Most Valuable Player in each of the Cardinals’ two titles during his tenure. The nine-time All-Star added two Cy Young Awards to his resume. He is a member of the MLB All-Century team and was inducted into the Hall of Fame on his first ballot in 1981.

Starting Pitcher: Greg Maddux

Post 8, Las Vegas – Nevada

Known for his control and fielding, Maddux won 18 straight Gold Glove awards and four-straight Cy Young awards. The 18-time All-Star won 15 or more games for 17 straight seasons. He was a first ballot Hall of Famer in 2014. He was named 1994 American Legion Graduate of the Year.

Starting Pitcher: Warren Spahn

Buffalo – New York

The winningest left-handed pitcher of all-time, Spahn finished his career with 363 wins and a 3.09 earned run average. The 17-time All-Star led the NL in wins eight times, and won the Cy Young and World Series in 1957. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973 and is a member of the MLB All-Century Team. Spahn served in the Army during World War II and was awarded a Purple Heart for his actions in Remagen, Germany in 1945.

Relief Pitcher: Lee Smith

Natchitoches – Louisiana

Smith retired in 1997 as the Major League’s all-time leader in saves with 468. The seven-time All-Star led the league in saves four times and he was the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year recipient three times. In 1991, Smith set a National League record with 47 saves and was runner-up for the NL Cy Young Award. He is part of the Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2019 and was a unanimous inductee by the Today’s Game Era Committee.

Coach: Joe Torre

New York – New York

A 2014 Baseball Hall of Famer, Torre had a stellar playing career, earning nine All-Star Game trips, an MVP, Gold Glove and batting title, but reached the Hall as a manager, leading the Yankees to four World Series titles and earning two Manager of the Year awards. His career record as a manager was 2,326-1,997 (.538 winning percentage). As a Yankee, his teams had a .605 winning percentage and reached the playoffs all 12 seasons he was in the Bronx.

Article originally published at Legion.org.