Reset: Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs (MLB edition)

What

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs? More like Maslow’s Hierarchy of CRAP!!! Every blowhard university professor has to trot out this tired, obvious triangle as some symbol of meaning and depth and intrigue. When in reality, it’s a symbol that otherwise smart people are out of ideas. My goal is to marginalize this antiquated concept by applying its five levels to something as trivial as professional sports. This will be the first part in a series, subbing in the men and women of Major League Baseball who best embody each level and hopefully, in the process, breech one of the worse triangles ever.

Note: This will only include players that I saw play in my lifetime. Apologies to all the Satchel Paige completists.

Components

Source: http://psychology.about.com/od/theoriesofpersonality/a/hierarchyneeds.htm

Physiological Needs: These include the most basic needs that are vital to survival, such as the need for water, air, food and sleep. Maslow believed that these needs are the most basic and instinctive needs in the hierarchy because all needs become secondary until these physiological needs are met.

Security Needs: These include needs for safety and security. Security needs are important for survival, but they are not as demanding as the physiological needs. Examples of security needs include a desire for steady employment, health insurance, safe neighborhoods and shelter from the environment.

Social Needs: These include needs for belonging, love and affection. Maslow considered these needs to be less basic than physiological and security needs. Relationships such as friendships, romantic attachments and families help fulfill this need for companionship and acceptance, as does involvement in social, community or religious groups.

Esteem Needs: After the first three needs have been satisfied, esteem needs becomes increasingly important. These include the need for things that reflect on self-esteem, personal worth, social recognition and accomplishment.

Self-actualizing Needs: This is the highest level of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Self-actualizing people are self-aware, concerned with personal growth, less concerned with the opinions of others and interested fulfilling their potential.

Replacement Parts

Physiological => Jack Wilson

A really basic player who has managed to toil as a basic shortstop for many basic teams such as the Pittsburgh Pirates of the 00s. He’s merely adequate. And yet finds work.

Also considered: David Dejesus, Vance Law, Tom Brookens

Safety => Mike Stanton

Steady employment was Mike Stanton’s specialty. And with good reason. He appeared in an unreal 11 different postseasons for four different teams and was always a calming, steady influence out of the bullpen. Especially for some really annoying New York Yankee squads. Leads were (for the most part) safe when Stanton came into the game and really, he deserves at least some “mad props” when Mariano Rivera makes his Cooperstown speech in a few years.

Also considered: Jeff Nelson, Jason Varitek, Jesse Orosco

Love/Belonging => Torii Hunter

Apparently the nicest dude in MLB circa now, Hunter likely would have been way more marketable if he didn’t spend him prime years in Minneapolis. That being said, why aren’t the Angels (in general) more “high profile” than they are? I don’t get it. Second biggest media market in the country and yet their homegrown“legends” (i.e. Tim Salmon, Mike Witt, Garret Anderson, Chuck Finley) aren’t exactly household names. That being said, Finley does deserve credit for getting his ass kicked by his ex-wife (inspite of his rangy 6'6 frame).

Also considered: Andy Van Slyke, Mike Scioscia, Roger McDowell

Esteem => Dave Winfield

Call him pompous. Call him arrogant. Just don’t call him late for dinner. Winfield had a mighty fine jib for a pro athlete and played the game with a great deal of reverence. A born leader with a knack for spewing quotes filled with simplistic philosophy that (somehow) dazzled sports writers, Winfield played the game with grace… whatever that means.

Also considered: Tony Gwynn, Gary Carter, Derek Jeter

Self-actualization => Greg Maddux

Personally, I feel Maddux might embody self-actualization more than any other professional athlete of my lifetime. This slight (6’0, 170 lbs) hurler was absolutely without peers during his prime and kept hitters completely baffled during the steroids era, in spite of being “blessed” with the physique of Matthew Broderick. Maddux could have never even been drafted if he wasn’t completely self aware of his physical limitations as a teenager and as a result, he opted to use cunning and smarts to complement a good (but not spectacular) arsenal of pitches. Outcome? This slight son-of-a-bitch won 355 games and four Cy Young Awards. Right proper.

Also considered: Orel Hershiser, Ichiro Suzuki, Dennis Eckersley

Reset Rating: 8/10

Gonna grade this on a curve since this is clearly an “Apples and Oranges” exercise. I really just loathe Maslow’s Hierarchy of Crap!!! and would love to play a role in its abolishment from curriculums across the globe. For more info, IM me.