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Former Auburn standout Frank Thomas is nominated as one of the Franchise Four for the Chicago White Sox.
(AP Photo)
Major League Baseball wants fans to pick the Franchise Four for each of its 30 team. The Franchise Four are defined as "the four most impactful players who best represent the history of each franchise." They'll be selected in a set of polls on mlb.com, and 11 players with baseball roots in Alabama are included among the nominees.
The nominated state players include:
Mobile native Hank Aaron, who is one of the eight nominees for the Atlanta (and Milwaukee and Boston) Braves. The Braves' other nominees are Tom Glavine, Chipper Jones, Greg Maddux, Eddie Mathews, Dale Murphy, John Smoltz and Warren Spahn.
Former South Alabama star Luis Gonzalez for the Arizona Diamondbacks. The D-backs' other nominees are Steve Finley, Paul Goldschmidt, Mark Grace, Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling, Brandon Webb and Matt Williams.
Whistler native Billy Williams for the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs' other nominees are Ernie Banks, Mordecai "Three-Finger" Brown, Gabby Hartnett, Ferguson Jenkins, Ryne Sandberg, Ron Santo and Sammy Sosa.
Former Auburn star Frank Thomas for the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox's other nominees are Luis Aparicio, Luke Appling, Harold Baines, Eddie Collins, Nellie Fox, Paul Konerko and Minnie Minoso.
Mobile native Amos Otis and Montgomery native Willie Wilson for the Kansas City Royals. The Royals' other nominees are George Brett, Alex Gordon, Hal McRae, Dan Quisenberry, Bret Saberhagen and Frank White.
Mobile native Jake Peavy for the San Diego Padres. The Padres' other nominees are Nate Colbert, Steve Garvey, Adrian Gonzalez, Tony Gwynn, Trevor Hoffman, Randy Jones and Dave Winfield.
Westfield native Willie Mays and Mobile native Willie McCovey for the San Francisco (and New York) Giants. The Giants' other nominees are Barry Bonds, Orlando Cepeda, Juan Marichal, Christy Mathewson, Mel Ott and Buster Posey.
Mobile native Ozzie Smith for the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals' other nominees are Lou Brock, Dizzy Dean, Bob Gibson, Rogers Hornsby, Stan Musial, Albert Pujols and Red Schoendienst.
Aaron and Mays also are included on a separate ballot for baseball's greatest living player. The other nominees for that honor are Johnny Bench, Barry Bonds, Rickey Henderson, Sandy Koufax, Pedro Martinez and Tom Seaver.
VOTE FOR BASEBALL'S GREATEST LIVING PLAYERS
There's also a ballot to choose the Franchise Four for the Negro Leagues from baseball's pre-integration era. Mobile native Satchel Paige is one of the nominees in this category, along with Cool Papa Bell, Oscar Charleston, Martin Dihigo, Josh Gibson, Judy Johnson, Buck Leonard and Buck O'Neil.
Five Alabama natives who are in the National Baseball Hall of Fame don't appear on any of the ballots - Monte Irvin, Heinie Manush, Joe Sewell, Don Sutton and Early Wynn.
Voters are allowed to cast a write-in vote among their four choices.
The Franchise Four for each team will be revealed at the All-Star Game in Cincinnati on July 14.