Toughest poll yet, IMHO.

Gotta go with Rickey, I think -- though when arguably the greatest catcher in the history of the game other than Bench is the fourth-best player in a four-man field (again, IMHO), how can you go wrong?

I agree that this is a tough poll.  I voted for Pudge.  Rickey was the greatest player of the four, but spent so much of his time elsewhere that his connection with the A's is not very strong.  The great A's clubs of 89-91 are associated with the Bash Brothers, who might acquire a more negative nickname in time.  Rod Carew's best years were in Minneapolis.

Rickey to me is an Oakland A. He set the single season SB record there, set the career record there. He is the best leadoff hitter ever with the ideal skills for one (patient, hit for average, stole bases, enough power to keep pitchers honest).

Carew is a Twin, not an Angel imo. Griffey was very, very good but I'd take Rickey before him. I-Rod I've never been a big fan of, too few walks and his game calling was in question before his Detroit time (I'm one of the few who thinks I-Rod's defense is overrated, that he is a pitcher behind the plate rather than a catcher - stick Ankel out there and get the same results or better).

I loved Rod Carew, so I voted for him.  In hindsight, John is right and Rod is a Twin.  Ricky for me, then.

Griffey as a Mariner was one of the best players in the game - ever.  I don't think you can say that about the other 3.

Actually, I find it pretty easy to say that about Ricky (who got my vote), too.

It's a tough poll, for sure. It lead to an interesting realization, though - that the best OPS+ between the two was posted by Henderson in Oakland (188 in 1990), not Griffey in Seattle (172 in 1993). It shows just how much Oakland Colleseum hurt Henderson's numbers, and how radically different the eras were. Henderson's prime was amidst the weakest offensive period since 1968, and Griffey's was during the beginning of the Boom.

But, yeah, this one took some mulling over.