Are there any current baseball players who you'd consider true "role models"?

Question

I mean, when I say "role model" I mean someone you wouldn't mind hearing your kid say "I wanna be just like him!" about. Obviously not everyone's a parent, but I'm sure you get the idea.

So, who comes to mind?

Answer 1

Derrek Lee of the Chicago Cubs.

Not only is he a top performer in the game, but he also has a foundation to raise money for diseases, seeing as his daughter has an eye disease which makes her partially blind.

Answer 2

dustin pedroia because of his effort and derek jeter bc of his found raising

Answer 3

From everything I hear (and from player polls), Jim Thome.  Really nice guy, a family man, all that good stuff.

Answer 4

I think Josh Hamilton. How he turned his life around was amazing. I mean like he's just a great player and he just goes out there and works really hard. He is truly a role model. I heard instead of going out and stuff, he reads his bible, and doesn't leave (basbeall games). He is truly a great person and a great baseball player! Good Question. here's a star. =]

Answer 5

I can't believe nobody here has mentioned Curtis Granderson of the Detroit Tigers. He is one of the best representatives for baseball in history.

Curtis doesn't believe in frivolities, he owns a plain 4-year-old blue Chevy TrailBlazer. He lives in a two-bedroom apartment in the Detroit suburb of Troy that looks more like a college dormitory. The only leather he owns is the $150 jacket he bought, dipping into his $469,000 signing bonus.

He's always smiling, and knows how to act off the field, and on it. He makes countless school visits.

It just amazes me how much he just goes out of his way to do a lot of good for people. When I went to a game this year, he was signing autographs in my section for about 10 minutes, until at least 7:04, right before the game. He's a real class act.

Not to mention he's pretty good at baseball.

EDIT: Thanks for the 7 thumbs!

Answer 6

Derek Jeter.

He plays the game the way it should be. No drama, no excuses. And he works as hard as anyone out there.

Plus, look at the way the legends at the all-star game embraced him when his name was called. They respect him as well.

Answer 7

Eric Byrnes. His lifestyle seems very similar to mine.

Answer 8

I would like to nominate Torii Hunter. He plays the game the "right way." Always seems to have a smile on his face and is one those guys his teammates love playing with.

He has done numerous things for charity; especially for youth baseball. Last year he was rewarded with his efforts with the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award.

Check out this article I found from last season explaning the award and his work.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=...

What I really like about Torii compared to other players is he does not run around with a scowl on his face and does not play with that proverbial "chip on the shoulder," which would be understandable considering he grew up in a rougher neighborhood and a dad not there consistently due to drug addictions.

Answer 9

I think Michael Young or Derek Jeter.  Not that I'd be thrilled with my future kid choosing a Yankee as his role model, but... As Yankees go, Derek Jeter is a good one.  He respects others, plays hard, and is a great leader.

And Michael Young, of course he's terrific.  If my kid told me Michael Young was his role model, I'd nod and say, "good one".  Michael plays hard every day, respects his teammates, coaches, manager, umpires, and opponents, and does tons of charity work.  Plus, he doesn't mind signing autographs.

And oh yeah, if they idolized Josh Hamilton I'd be good with it.  Not that I encourage using drugs, but the fact that he used them, had the strength to stop and is now speakin against drugs means a lot to me.

What really gets me is that as I'm watching the Little League World Series, half the kids say A-Rod is their favorite player.  I'm sort of thinking, "Really?"  Because, while he's a very talented player, he's not exactly a team player and you find him on the back of tabloids more often than not.  

Not really the kind of guy I would idolize.

Answer 10

Uh theres a guy that plays for a new york team... Whats that kid's name??? Jeter???

Answer 11

well when i think abouy a baseball role model, i think of Josh Hamilton...i think he sets a good example...he just came back from drug addiction to being one of this seasons great hitters...and just set a new record in the HR Derby...

but someone I wouldnt mind hearing my kid say would be...i guess Pujols, because he is one of Baseballs great hitters and he does it without steroids, and not a lot of drama surrounds him.

Answer 12

I think Chris Coste truly is a great role model (catcher on the Philadelphia Phillies)

He was a major league lifer - 11 years, but he never gave up. He played for 12 different teams and played every position, except enter field, including pitcher, in the minors. Even after a Major league Spring training, his first, where he hit .438 with 5 hr's, he was sent back down to the minors. Struggle after struggle, he kept with it, and just played to reach his dream. He truly plays for the love of the game, and I respect that. Some big names, like Utley and Jim Thome are also role models, but I think the fact that Coste isn't a big name, and his story isn't well known makes him that much more of an inspiration.

edit : wow, I don't think i've ever had 8 thumbs up, not recently anyway. haha thanks everyone :) awesome question, greta!!

Answer 13

David Wright. You will never hear him saying negative things in the media, never hear about his run-ins with the law (his dad is a cop), he is a stand up guy.

Answer 14

DAVID WRIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He's a perfect role model for a kid. He gives max effort every day out there, treats the fans with respect, never turns down an autograph, picture or an interview, and does a lot of charity work in the community (as well as having his own charity- the david wright foundation) He's an excellent role model for a child to look up to,

Answer 15

Jon Lester has proven to be the ultimate in humility and determination.  Beating cancer and winning the WS.  That was how he rated the top two achievements in his life.  That puts everything back into perspective.

Mike Lowell gets an honorable mention just for making sure that the fans were well fed while waiting in line for tickets last year and dragging Pedroia along with him.  

Answer 16

Omar Vizquel is one of the biggest rolemodels because of the way he plays the game. Even though he isnt as good as he use to be and is know on the bench more often, he still helps the younger players on the giants unlike greedy other players who just care about themselves and dont respect the game

Answer 17

Derek Jeter and David Wright.  They both strike me as guys who do things the right way- work hard, keep your nose to the grindstone, play the game how it should be played, and don't do anything stupid.  There are probably a lot of guys like that, but those are the two who jump to my mind.  

And that they're big stars in the nation's biggest media market and haven't gotten a lot of tabloid attention says a lot.  They're eligible bachelors, I'm sure they have their fun, but they seem to be pretty responsible about it.  

Answer 18

Jeter, Glavine, Smoltz and Maddux. It's ironic that I choose them because the Yankees and Braves are two of my least favourite teams. But all them are classy, accountable and have a level of excellence few others have achieved.

The stories about Torii Hunter have me convinced he belongs here too.

Overall, I think the list of good people and role models in baseball is still a lot longer than the list of bad people, and that is to baseball's credit.

Answer 19

There are plenty of good players who are also amazing people in MLB ya know but i sure as heck wouldn't mind if my future kid tells me he would like to be just like Torii Hunter.

Torii is always upbeat and happy no matter what. Like some guys already said he had a rough childhood and i love how he still plays the game hard and give kids/fans his time. I think that's rare these days :)

honorable mentions:

Ken Griffey Jr

Curtis Granderson

and maybe i'm being biased because i'm a fan but i've always seen Mike Mussina as a good guy XP

Answer 20

In all fairness, people who knock Alex Rodriguez as a role model can't really call Derek Jeter a role model. They do similar things-- clubs, go through women. A-Rod is so frowned upon because he's married (or... was) and is not NYC's sweetheart.

I wouldn't exactly call either "role models" off the field. I can understand respecting Jeter as a role model for his work ethic, however.

When I think of someone I'd consider a role model, Mariano Rivera comes to mind, just on a personal level. Obviously, I can't tell you if the stories are true, but in the media, he's portrayed as a strong Christian. He reads his Bible. Mo hit someone a few years back and called to apologize and say he was praying for him. He loves his family and misses them when he's gone.

At the same time, he loves his job. He loves the challenges he's presented and he appreciates how successful he's been. I've seen him with fans-- he adores them. He likes to play games with them during BP. Mo is always smiling and laughing. And even though he's won four World Series, even though he is the greatest closer in the history of baseball, he's humble.

That's the kind of person I want my future children to admire.

Answer 21

Joe Mauer. He's a great person at heart and all around. He's an awesome baseball player, he's the hometown hero, he's a sweetheart, he's involved in a lot of different organizations/charities, he loves helping kids who love baseball, he helps make the Twin City ballparks better places, and there are a lot more reasons why he IS such a wonderful role model. What kid WOULDN'T want to be just like Joe Mauer? =]

That's another thing about Joe, I've only seen him get pissed twice and both times he had very legit reasons. He doesn't show anger very much at all, he just plays the game!

Answer 22

I'd say Chase Utley because he busts it on every play, Curtis Granderson because he signs autographs ALL THE TIME, and Casey Blake because of his batters theme "I've got soul, but I'm no solider."  

Answer 23

I am not in any way dissing Jeter or Joba Chamberlain Jr. for saying Jeter but if you say Jeter you dont really understand "role model"

When i think of role model i think of people of have had non self induced problems in their lives that have caused scars in their lives.

Now that i have said that the people that come to mind are Torri Hunter for his terrible childhood, Jon Lester for his battle with cancer, Chris Coste for his battle to stay in the game, Brad Zeigler for his two awful head injuries but he stayed in the game, Doug Brocail for his major issues in his life with injuries, Zack Grienke for overcoming anxiety issues.

So that is what a role model is

A father figure though and someone who i will always mention is Mike Mussina......i always thought he was a great guy.....role model? maybe......but not in the same category as those guys

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_lea...

I didnt need it but it gives some info

Answer 24

Derek Jeter whether the Yankees haters want to admit it or not but David Wright of the Mets & Ryan Zimmerman of the Nationals

Answer 25

~Chase Utley(the guys amazing, and he does charity)

~Jamie Moyer (I've never heard a bad thing about this guy, plus he does a lot of charity)

~Josh Hamilton (He's a big Christian but ok, i wouldn't want my future children being drug users but you get the idea)

  

Those are off the top of my head, but I think these are three guys that make baseball a great sport and I really wouldn't mind if my future kids had these guys as Role Models.....As long as dear ol' mom and pop are their role models too, ha.

Answer 26

Albert Pujols from the st. louis cardnials.

one time when he hit someone on the field, on accident, he went and prayed they he would be okay. That seem pretty role-model worthy to me!!  

Answer 27

Derek Jeter because he is very respectable and knows how to act unlike some other players, and Ryan Zimmerman even though he may not be an all-star but he's a great person.

Answer 28

Derek Jeter is a great role model. Willie Mays and Hank Aarron as well having to deal with as much c**p as they did during their careers

Answer 29

steve j with that statement about torri hunter.

Hunter has so much respect for the sport of baseball, and is courteous to the media.  Very kind person and a great ball player. Has gone through a lot and turned out to be an amazing person.

Answer 30

Torii Hunter comes to mind. He comes from a deprived background. Drug addict father, dangerous neighborhood growing up, everything going against him except his God given abilities. After he made it big he established a foundation to help other inner city children make it out of poverty. He's got a happy disposition and he believes in giving back. What more can you ask for in a role model?

Answer 31

Derek Jeter -- look up "class" in the dictionary and you'll see his picture.

From the Rays-- BJ Upton-- Just kidding.  Really, Carlos Pena,  always smiling, does "I don't use tobacco" ads and is great with the kids and all fans.  A really nice guy.