# Great baseball nicknames **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 24, 2009, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-baseball-nicknames/494176 "2009-04-24T02:16:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![tds1273](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@tds1273](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tds1273)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-baseball-nicknames/494176/21 "2009-04-24T17:29:07Z")
The Rockies’ original “ace” - David Nied “for speed” ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-baseball-nicknames/494176/22 "2009-04-24T19:21:56Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Joakim “The Mexicutioner” Soria. And those he strikes out have been “Mexicuted”. My hispanic roommate is insanely jealous he never thought of it before. I just saw this one the other day and it is fantastic. Best one I’ve seen in awhile. Nice to get away from the “First letter of first name + first syllable of last name” meme that has stripped all creativity away from nicknames. I’ll add Jim “Catfish” Hunter. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-baseball-nicknames/494176/23 "2009-04-24T19:26:20Z")
Albert “Enraged Asshole” Belle ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-baseball-nicknames/494176/24 "2009-04-24T19:27:57Z")
Here are my three favorites (granted, not as obscure as some others): Walter “Big Train” Johnson The Splendid Splinter (Ted Williams) The Sultan of Swat (Babe Ruth) Another one I’ve heard that I find amusing: Death to Flying Things (Bob Ferguson) ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_C.Semone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-baseball-nicknames/494176/25 "2009-04-24T19:36:46Z")
Harry “Suitcase” Simpson, a utility infielder and outfielder of the 1950s, who moved around to so many teams the word was he kept his suitcase packed and ready to go. Sheldon “Available” Jones, a pitcher of the late 40s and early 50s who liked to announce “I’m available.” whenever the manager was trying to decide who he should use to start a game. In his early days with Boston, Ted Williams was known as “The Splendid Splinter” because he was so thin. And let’s not forget “Dizzy” Dean and his under-rated brother, “Daffy Dean”, Babe “The Sultan of Swat” Ruth, “Ironman” McGinty, … ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-baseball-nicknames/494176/26 "2009-04-24T19:39:30Z")
> [@Ol\_Gaffer](#): > > I just saw this one the other day and it is fantastic. Best one I’ve seen in awhile. Nice to get away from the “First letter of first name + first syllable of last name” meme that has stripped all creativity away from nicknames. Indeed, there’s been a lack of good sports nicknames for the past few decades. I’m sure this has something to do with changes in the way sports journalism works. “The Mexecutioner” is just fantastic. Other good nicknames for relief pitchers: Mariano “The Sandman” Rivera and Tom “The Terminator” Henke. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-baseball-nicknames/494176/27 "2009-04-24T19:45:04Z")
> [@Sternvogel](#): > > I wonder whether he or [Henry Nicholas “Tomato Face” Cullop](http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/culloni02.shtml) received the nickname first. There was also Jack “Tomato Face” Lamabe. Some others: Dave “Kong” Kingman Wilmer “Vinegar Bend” Mizell ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-baseball-nicknames/494176/28 "2009-04-24T19:45:10Z")
Mark “The Bird” Fidrych: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:2BirdsSICover.jpg](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:2BirdsSICover.jpg) Phil “Scrap Iron” Garner: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Phil\_Garner.jpg](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Phil_Garner.jpg) Willie “Pops” Stargell: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Willie\_stargell\_70topps\_super-19.jpg](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Willie_stargell_70topps_super-19.jpg) Dave “The Cobra” Parker: [http://www.nostalgiables.com/DaveParkerSoloSI.jpg](http://www.nostalgiables.com/DaveParkerSoloSI.jpg) Albert “Mr. Freeze” Belle: [http://assets.sbnation.com/imported\_assets/1540/p1\_belle\_pensinger2.jpg](http://assets.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1540/p1_belle_pensinger2.jpg) Charles Dillon “Casey” Stengel, AKA “The Old Professor”: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Stengel.jpg](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Stengel.jpg) Tyrus Raymond “Ty” Cobb, AKA “The Georgia Peach”: [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d1/Ty\_Cobb.jpg](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d1/Ty_Cobb.jpg) Christopher “Christy” Mathewson, AKA “Big Six”, “The Christian Gentleman” or “Matty”: [File:Christy Mathewson2.jpg - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Christy_Mathewson2.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-baseball-nicknames/494176/29 "2009-04-24T20:42:20Z")
> [@drm](#): > > Walter “Big Train” Johnson Followed by, of course, Randy “Big Unit” Johnson, aka “The Intimidator” (If I recall correctly, Yankee Paul O’Neill dissed Johnson, saying he just went out there and intimidated people. Johnson responded with, “I am the Intimidator, he is the Intimidatee.” Joey “El Gallo” Cora Dennis “El Presidente” Martinez Ritchie “Big Sex” Sexson Last year after Mariners closer Brandon Morrow’s first few appearances with his 99-100 MPH fastballs, somebody came up with “The Pulverizer”, but it didn’t stick. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-baseball-nicknames/494176/30 "2009-04-25T01:36:53Z")
> [@Sternvogel](#): > > I wonder whether he or [Henry Nicholas “Tomato Face” Cullop](http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/culloni02.shtml) received the nickname first. Hard telling,tho Gabby’s debut came four years earlier and his career lasted much longer. > [@Marley23](#): > > Did anyone _ever_ call him that during his playing career? A Bermanism isn’t the same thing as a real nickname. Tho some do stick,not 100% sure, but I think Berman gave Fred McGriff his nickname. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-baseball-nicknames/494176/31 "2009-04-25T08:10:48Z")
I don’t think “Frank Tanana Daiquiri” ever took hold. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_Clock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Shot\_Clock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_Clock)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-baseball-nicknames/494176/32 "2009-04-25T12:26:51Z")
Y’all leave it up to one of the house Hoop Junkies to mention the inimitable [Walt “No-Neck” Williams](http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=williwa02)? What kinda baseball fans are you people? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-baseball-nicknames/494176/33 "2009-04-25T12:31:56Z")
I’d mention Rollie Fingers, but that’s his real name How great is that real name for a pitcher? ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-baseball-nicknames/494176/34 "2009-04-25T14:41:15Z")
Rogers Hornsby was called “The Rajah”, not bad for the hitting king. Huh. [Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rogers_Hornsby)says that Bruce Hornsby is a distant relative and sometimes performs with a bust of Rogers on his piano. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-baseball-nicknames/494176/35 "2009-04-25T14:56:14Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I’d mention Rollie Fingers, but that’s his real name How great is that real name for a pitcher? I still say the best pitcher names ever were Bob Walk, Early Wynn and Eric Plunk. ---
**Author:** ![RetroVertigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@RetroVertigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RetroVertigo)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-baseball-nicknames/494176/36 "2009-04-25T15:28:53Z")
Dennys [“Big Sweat”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennys_Reyes) Reyes ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_C.Semone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-baseball-nicknames/494176/37 "2009-04-25T16:53:39Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > I still say the best pitcher names ever were Bob Walk, Early Wynn and Eric Plunk. Let’s not forget Herb Score. And three great nicknames from my early days of listening to Red Sox baseball on the radio: Dom “The Little Professor” Dimaggio, Walt “Moose” Dropo, and Virgil “Fire” Trucks. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-baseball-nicknames/494176/38 "2009-04-25T17:26:12Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > I still say the best pitcher names ever were Bob Walk, Early Wynn and Eric Plunk. The A’s have a pitcher named Outman. Just a few nights ago, he was pitching to Nick Swisher (who, of course, has also pitched in the major leagues.) That’s a promising matchup for the A’s right there. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2009, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-baseball-nicknames/494176/39 "2009-04-25T21:19:32Z")
> [@Ronald\_C.Semone](#): > > Let’s not forget Herb Score. > > And three great nicknames from my early days of listening to Red Sox baseball on the radio: Dom “The Little Professor” Dimaggio, Walt “Moose” Dropo, and Virgil “Fire” Trucks. Virgil ,Firetrucks was a great hitter. Tigers used him as a pinch hitter. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-baseball-nicknames/494176/40 "2009-04-26T02:39:32Z")
> [@Ronald\_C.Semone](#): > > And let’s not forget “Dizzy” Dean and his under-rated brother, “Daffy Dean” Also “Dazzy” Vance from the same pitching staff. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-baseball-nicknames/494176.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-baseball-nicknames/494176.md?page=3)