# DHL Hometown Heroes

DHL Hometown Heroes was a 2006 promotional event, sponsored by shipping company DHL, where Major League Baseball (MLB) fans were encouraged to vote for the most outstanding player in the history of each MLB franchise.
Fans were asked to vote for the most outstanding player in the history of each MLB franchise, based on on-field performance, leadership quality and character value. The candidates for the ballot were chosen by the clubs themselves, in conjunction with a blue-ribbon panel of baseball experts, journalists, and historians. The award winners were then chosen, over two months of voting, in a process similar to MLB all-star voting. Votes were cast by fans at every MLB ballpark, as well as online and via cell-phone. In all, nearly 17 million votes were cast.
On September 27, 2006 MLB announced a list of winning players, one from each team.
Of the players awarded, Nolan Ryan was the only player to win the award for two different teams: the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers.
Three of the honored players were true "hometown heroes" in the sense of starring with MLB teams in or near their actual hometowns. Ryan grew up from infancy in the Houston suburb of Alvin, Texas. Cal Ripken Jr., chosen by Baltimore Orioles fans, was born in Havre de Grace and grew up in Aberdeen, towns in Harford County, Maryland within 45 minutes' drive of Baltimore. Pete Rose, chosen by Cincinnati Reds fans, was born and raised in Cincinnati. (Note that although Jackie Robinson, selected by Los Angeles Dodgers fans, grew up in Pasadena, California, he never played for the franchise in Los Angeles. His entire MLB career was with the Brooklyn Dodgers.)

## Award winners

| Team | Nominee | Nominee | Nominee | Nominee | Winner | Years |
| Angels | Jim Abbott | Don Baylor | Chuck Finley | Tim Salmon | Rod Carew | 1979–1985 |
| Astros | Jeff Bagwell | Craig Biggio | Larry Dierker | Jimmy Wynn | Nolan Ryan | 1979–1988 |
| Athletics | Dennis Eckersley | Lefty Grove | Rickey Henderson | Catfish Hunter | Reggie Jackson | 1967–1975, 1987 |
| Blue Jays | Roberto Alomar | Tony Fernández | Pat Hentgen | Dave Stieb | Joe Carter | 1991–1997 |
| Braves | Chipper Jones | Phil Niekro | John Smoltz | Warren Spahn | Hank Aaron | 1954–1974 |
| Brewers | Cecil Cooper | Rollie Fingers | Jim Gantner | Paul Molitor | Robin Yount | 1974–1993 |
| Cardinals | Lou Brock | Bob Gibson | Albert Pujols | Ozzie Smith | Stan Musial | 1941–1944, 1946–1963 |
| Cubs | Ferguson Jenkins | Ryne Sandberg | Ron Santo | Billy Williams | Ernie Banks | 1953–1971 |
| Devil Rays | Carl Crawford | Roberto Hernández | Aubrey Huff | Fred McGriff | Wade Boggs | 1998–1999 |
| Diamondbacks | Jay Bell | Luis Gonzalez | Todd Stottlemyre | Matt Williams | Randy Johnson | 1999–2004, 2007–2008 |
| Dodgers | Roy Campanella | Sandy Koufax | Pee Wee Reese | Duke Snider | Jackie Robinson | 1947–1956 |
| Giants | Barry Bonds | Juan Marichal | Willie McCovey | Mel Ott | Willie Mays | 1951–1952, 1954–1972 |
| Indians | Earl Averill | Larry Doby | Nap Lajoie | Tris Speaker | Bob Feller | 1936–1941, 1945–1956 |
| Mariners | Jay Buhner | Edgar Martínez | Jamie Moyer | Ichiro Suzuki | Ken Griffey Jr. | 1989–1999, 2009–2010 |
| Marlins | Josh Beckett | Luis Castillo | Jeff Conine | Robb Nen | Dontrelle Willis | 2003–2007 |
| Mets | John Franco | Tug McGraw | Mike Piazza | Darryl Strawberry | Tom Seaver | 1967–1977, 1983 |
| Nationals | Liván Hernández | Brian Schneider | Rusty Staub | José Vidro | Gary Carter | 1974–1984, 1992 |
| Orioles | Eddie Murray | Jim Palmer | Brooks Robinson | Frank Robinson | Cal Ripken Jr. | 1981–2001 |
| Padres | Brian Giles | Trevor Hoffman | Randy Jones | Dave Winfield | Tony Gwynn | 1982–2001 |
| Phillies | Richie Ashburn | Steve Carlton | Chuck Klein | Robin Roberts | Mike Schmidt | 1972–1989 |
| Pirates | Ralph Kiner | Bill Mazeroski | Willie Stargell | Honus Wagner | Roberto Clemente | 1955–1972 |
| Rangers | Rusty Greer | Iván Rodríguez | Jim Sundberg | Mark Teixeira | Nolan Ryan | 1989–1993 |
| Red Sox | Roger Clemens | Jim Rice | Carl Yastrzemski | Cy Young | Ted Williams | 1939–1942, 1946–1960 |
| Reds | Johnny Bench | Joe Morgan | Tony Pérez | Frank Robinson | Pete Rose | 1963–1978, 1984–1986 |
| Rockies | Dante Bichette | Vinny Castilla | Andrés Galarraga | Todd Helton | Larry Walker | 1995–2004 |
| Royals | Amos Otis | Bret Saberhagen | Mike Sweeney | Frank White | George Brett | 1973–1993 |
| Tigers | Charlie Gehringer | Hank Greenberg | Al Kaline | Alan Trammell | Ty Cobb | 1905–1926 |
| Twins | Rod Carew | Kent Hrbek | Harmon Killebrew | Tony Oliva | Kirby Puckett | 1984–1995 |
| White Sox | Luke Appling | Harold Baines | Nellie Fox | Minnie Miñoso | Frank Thomas | 1990–2005 |
| Yankees | Yogi Berra | Joe DiMaggio | Lou Gehrig | Mickey Mantle | Babe Ruth | 1920–1934 |

### The "Hometown Heroes" panel

* Orestes Destrade (ESPN and XM Satellite Radio broadcaster)
* Steve Hirdt (Elias Sports Bureau Executive Vice President)
* Jerome Holtzman (Hall of Fame writers wing official MLB historian)
* Richard C. Levin (Yale University president)
* Dinn Mann (MLB.com editor-in-chief)
* Tim McCarver (Fox Sports broadcaster)
* Jose de Jesus Ortiz (Houston Chronicle writer)
* Harold Reynolds (ESPN broadcaster)
* Ken Shouler (historian and author)
* Claire Smith (The Philadelphia Inquirer assistant sports editor)
* Don Sutton (Washington Nationals broadcaster and Hall of Fame pitcher)