# An All-Tallie All-Star team **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [March 25, 2023, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-all-tallie-all-star-team/981640 "2023-03-25T13:19:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2023, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-all-tallie-all-star-team/981640/1 "2023-03-25T13:19:45Z")
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" ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2023, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-all-tallie-all-star-team/981640/2 "2023-03-25T13:25:44Z")
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. > **[Baseball has never seen anyone like Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz - The Boston...](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/08/20/sports/baseball-has-never-seen-anyone-like-pirates-shortstop-oneil-cruz/)** > > At 6 feet 7 inches, the 23-year-old is the tallest player ever to start a game at shortstop, and that's not all. Also, just found this. Not intended to stop the converstation, but some more data. > **[This is MLB's All-Tall Team](https://www.mlb.com/news/tallest-players-in-mlb-history-by-position)** > > When Pirates prospect Oneil Cruz made his MLB debut on Oct. 2, 2021, he became the tallest player to start a big league game at shortstop ... ever. > Listed at 6-foot-7, Cruz is now back in the Majors, and he put together an electric 2022 debut on... ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2023, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-all-tallie-all-star-team/981640/3 "2023-03-25T14:00:51Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2023, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-all-tallie-all-star-team/981640/4 "2023-03-25T14:14:57Z")
> [@slicedalone](#): > > I’m stumped for a really tall, really good 2B man. Alfonso Soriano was 6’1”. Not too shabby. ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2023, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-all-tallie-all-star-team/981640/5 "2023-03-25T14:26:46Z")
Maybe DJ LeMahieu at 2B? He’s 6’4". ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2023, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-all-tallie-all-star-team/981640/6 "2023-03-25T14:38:42Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2023, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-all-tallie-all-star-team/981640/7 "2023-03-25T15:36:25Z")
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". > **[Danny Ainge Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |...](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/aingeda01.shtml)** > > Check out the latest Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More of Danny Ainge. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, draft status, bats, throws, school and more on Baseball-reference.com ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2023, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-all-tallie-all-star-team/981640/8 "2023-03-25T15:41:29Z")
At catcher, probably Joe Mauer (6’5"). ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2023, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-all-tallie-all-star-team/981640/9 "2023-03-25T15:55:43Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2023, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-all-tallie-all-star-team/981640/10 "2023-03-25T16:08:06Z")
If we want a slightly better 3B than Danny Ainge, A-Rod is 6’3”. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2023, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-all-tallie-all-star-team/981640/11 "2023-03-25T16:09:19Z")
For a 3B who wasn’t as terrible as Ainge, maybe Troy Glaus (6’5") or Scott Rolen (6’4"). ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2023, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-all-tallie-all-star-team/981640/12 "2023-03-25T16:10:21Z")
You’re both right. Arod or Rolen or Glaus? Tough call. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2023, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-all-tallie-all-star-team/981640/13 "2023-03-25T16:14:24Z")
> [@slicedalone](#): > > Arod or Rolen or Glaus? Tough call. That’s almost undoubtedly their ranking (in that order) on ability and performance, but happens to also be their ranking from shortest to tallest. 😉 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. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2023, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-all-tallie-all-star-team/981640/14 "2023-03-25T16:22:15Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I lean towards Rolen 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" ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2023, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-all-tallie-all-star-team/981640/15 "2023-03-25T16:38:31Z")
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](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kingmda01.shtml) worthy of a bench spot. ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2023, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-all-tallie-all-star-team/981640/16 "2023-03-25T16:44:34Z")
No bench (and no DH). Just nine players, the way the Good Lord intended. ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2023, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-all-tallie-all-star-team/981640/17 "2023-03-25T19:13:25Z")
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