An All-Tallie All-Star team

The Game Room
1

OK, this is more challenging than the All-Shorties team, although we have five positions that can be instantly filled in. The other four positions, though, are tough, because we haven’t had many super-tall infielders (outside of 1B) or catchers until recently, and the recent ones haven’t for the most part strong HoF credentials (maybe Cal Ripken is an exception, though he’s not super-tall). So unlike the all-short team, where we had one terrible headscratcher in deciding on a short 1B-man now we have four headscratchers. So

P Randy Johnson 6’10
C ???
1B Frank Howard 6’7’
2B ???
SS ???
3B ???
RF Daryl Strawberry 6’6"
CF Aaron Judge 6’7"
LF Dave Winfield 6’'6"

2

Cal Ripken the closest you’re going to get to a tall HOF shortstop. Although there’s a kid on the Pirates who might change that down the road.

Also, just found this. Not intended to stop the converstation, but some more data.

3

OK, let’s pencil Ripken in at short, but there are some serious holes at 2B and C. The All-Shortie team is way deep at 2B–Dustin Pedrioa, Jose Altuve, Bobby Richardson, dozens more. I’m stumped for a really tall, really good 2B man.

4

Alfonso Soriano was 6’1”. Not too shabby.

5

Maybe DJ LeMahieu at 2B? He’s 6’4".

6

And he’s a much better fielder than Soriano. That’s a big part of why Soriano was placed in the outfield.

-Superdude, who, as a Cubs fan, watched both of them play in Chicago.

7

Basketball star Danny Ainge played at 2B and 3B for the Blue Jays from 1979-81. He wasn’t great, mind you, but he was 6’4".

8

At catcher, probably Joe Mauer (6’5").

9

OK, so we’ve got so far:

P Randy Johnson 6’10
C Joe Mauer 6’5"
1B Frank Howard 6’7’
2B DJ LeMahieu 6’4"
SS Cal Ripken 6’4"
3B Danny Ainge 6’4"
RF Daryl Strawberry 6’6"
CF Aaron Judge 6’7"
LF Dave Winfield 6;'6"

The floor is open for further nominations

10

If we want a slightly better 3B than Danny Ainge, A-Rod is 6’3”.

11

For a 3B who wasn’t as terrible as Ainge, maybe Troy Glaus (6’5") or Scott Rolen (6’4").

12

You’re both right. Arod or Rolen or Glaus? Tough call.

13

That’s almost undoubtedly their ranking (in that order) on ability and performance, but happens to also be their ranking from shortest to tallest. :wink:

OTOH, A-Rod played the first half of his career at short, and only moved to third because he joined the Yankees, who already had an entrenched star at SS in Jeter. Rodriguez played more games at SS (1272) than he did at 3B (1194).

Also, Rolen had 8 Gold Gloves at third; Rodriguez won two Gold Gloves, but as a shortstop.

So I lean towards Rolen for this list, because he was fully a 3B guy, whereas Rodriguez became a third baseman only because that’s where the Yankees had to put him. Plus, Rolen was an inch taller. :smiley:

14

Correct answer! So:

P Randy Johnson 6’10
C Joe Mauer 6’5"
1B Frank Howard 6’7’
2B DJ LeMahieu 6’4"
SS Cal Ripken 6’4"
3B Scott Rolen 6’4"
RF Daryl Strawberry 6’6"
CF Aaron Judge 6’7"
LF Dave Winfield 6’6"

average height: a hair under 6’6"

15

Being 6’6" and a three-time All-Star over a 16-year career with 442 home runs ought to at least make this guy worthy of a bench spot.

16

No bench (and no DH). Just nine players, the way the Good Lord intended.

17

OK, the batting order is tougher than the shorties squad. I’m taking a stab, probably wrong in at least 5 places:

CF Aaron Judge 6’7"
RF Daryl Strawberry 6’6"
LF Dave Winfield 6’6"
1B Frank Howard 6’7’
SS Cal Ripken 6’4"
CJoe Mauer 6’5"
3B Scott Rolen 6’4"
2B DJ LeMahieu 6’4"
P Randy Johnson 6’10