Best #5, Joe - Say it ain't so!

The 56-game hitting streak. A three-time MVP. Spouse of Marilyn Monroe. DiMaggio played his entire career (1936-1951) for the Yankees and hit .325 with 361 home runs.

Runner-up: Johnny Bench

Worthy of consideration: Jeff Bagwell, Lou Boudreau, George Brett, Nomar Garciaparra, Hank Greenberg, Albert Pujols and Brooks Robinson

According to Sports Illustrated, Joe DiMaggio is the best player to ever wear the #5. And Johnny Bench is the Runner-up. I would like to know who voted and how many votes were thrown in for each.

Don't get me wrong any fan of the Game knows that DiMaggio is something legends are made of, however, he is no Johnny Bench. Johnny also spent his entire major league career with one team. That team was the Big Red Machine.

He was drafted by the Reds in 1967 and was named Rookie of the Year in 1968. NL MVP 1970, '72, 76. World Series MVP 1976. He can hold 7 baseballs in one hand! I'd like to see Joe do that. Well, before he died.

No other team in the history of baseball has ever matched the Big Red Machine. (Remember in TammieLand all my opinions are correct)

Johnny created the catcher of today. He changed the way the game is played from behind the plate. It was extremely rare for someone to steal on him. He had no problem falling into the dugout chasing that foul ball to ensure an out.

He kept his pitchers focussed and in check. He was also feared with a bat in his hands. Normally pitchers and catchers are "easy" outs. Not Johnny. You never knew where the ball was going. He could slam it out of the ballpark just as well as Joe Morgan and Pete Rose. Johnny, had 389 career home runs and 1376 RBI's - those are still Cincinnati Reds records.

Johnny never used steroids. He never even considered it. He is a true legend. And, someday will be folk-lore.

I'm not going to bore you with all the stats - just saying that he was the greatest catcher of all time. And nothing against Joe - Johnny is always my pick! Joe DiMaggio and Albert Pujols would be my runners-up.

Long days and pleasant nights.