Rivalries in Major League Baseball—like the long-standing tension between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers—are built on fierce competition, passionate fanbases, and the occasional heated exchange on the field. But beneath the fiery moments and division battles lies a quieter truth: the best recognize the best.
Padres superstar Fernando Tatis Jr. is proof of that. Speaking to The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Jeff Sanders, Tatis revealed that when it comes to collecting memorabilia, talent and character outweigh any team allegiances.
“Definitely have a couple players on my mind,” Tatis said. “Guys that at least say hi and check in. Doesn’t have to be a relationship, but just a good guy and also a good player.”
Among the names on his wish list? Atlanta Braves phenom Ronald Acuña Jr., New York Yankees slugger and two-time AL MVP Aaron Judge, and—most eyebrow-raising for Padres fans—Dodgers first baseman and World Series champion Freddie Freeman.
If the thought of a Padres star owning a Dodgers jersey feels like crossing enemy lines, Tatis doesn’t see it that way. For him, the respect among elite players transcends rivalries and divisions.
Not every player agrees that jerseys are the ultimate keepsake. Padres teammate Gavin Sheets believes the truest symbol of greatness is something more personal: the bat.
“I feel like jerseys are very generic,” Sheets explained. “Obviously, the name’s on it, but I feel like bats are what make guys great. Everybody has a different model. In my opinion, bats are what make them great.”
For Sheets, admiration takes the shape of Bobby Witt Jr.’s BW7 Victus bat, now proudly displayed at home. In fact, Freeman’s bat also has a place in his collection—proof that even in the most heated rivalries, respect swings both ways.
Baseball may be a game of competition, but for its biggest stars, it’s also a fraternity where the bonds of shared excellence run deeper than the colors on their jerseys.
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