# MLB: Create your best team based on first name **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [November 13, 2011, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-create-your-best-team-based-on-first-name/602828 "2011-11-13T19:50:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-create-your-best-team-based-on-first-name/602828/1 "2011-11-13T19:50:20Z")
My fiancee and I were having a random discussion about this last night, and I thought it might be a good one for the Dope. The game is simple. Try to come up with the best team you can where all f the team’s players share the same first name. Here are the ground rules: 1. No looking things up – this should only come from your knowledge and memory of players 2. Your roster can consist of past or present players, so long as they played in the majors at some point 3. You must declare the name your team is based on (this becomes pertinent based on later rules) 4. Name variations can consist of common nicknames (“Joseph” includes “Joe” and “Joey”) but not language equivalents (“John” is not the same as “Juan”) 5. If a player COMMONLY went or goes by a nickname, you can field him based on the nickname or his birth name (Babe Ruth could be on a “Babe” team or a “George” team) 6. You may choose to create a team based on a specific nickname, but then that name must be EXACTLY the same for all players (“Will Clark” can’t play with “Wil Cordero” since they are spelled differently and since their full first names aren’t the same) Have fun! My money’s on the All-Ubaldo team. ---
**Author:** ![mikeargo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/858c86/32.png) [@mikeargo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikeargo)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-create-your-best-team-based-on-first-name/602828/2 "2011-11-13T20:01:43Z")
Just thinking about it for five minutes, here’s my All-Joe team: OF Joe DiMaggio OF Joe Carter OF Joey Votto 1B Joe Torre 2B Joe Morgan SS Joe Koppe (okay, he sucked) 3B Joe Foy (he did, too) C Joe Girardi P Joey Jay P Joe Niekro ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2011, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-create-your-best-team-based-on-first-name/602828/3 "2011-11-13T22:02:11Z")
Move Torre to catcher and put Shoeless Joe in the OF and Votto at first, right? ---
**Author:** ![mikeargo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/858c86/32.png) [@mikeargo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikeargo)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-create-your-best-team-based-on-first-name/602828/4 "2011-11-14T00:33:54Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > Move Torre to catcher and put Shoeless Joe in the OF and Votto at first, right? Yeah, that’s what I meant.:o ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-create-your-best-team-based-on-first-name/602828/5 "2011-11-14T01:04:48Z")
Hm, since Babe was mentioned… here’s a team of Georges. OF George (Babe) Ruth OF George Foster OF Ken Griffey Jr. (first name of George) 3B George Brett 1B George Sisler 2B SS P I was able to cheat and find a few more (a HoF middle infielder from the 1800s and a HoF pitcher I only knew by his nickname), but couldn’t get them off the top of my head. Still a pretty good core, eh? Maybe somebody can fill it out without cheating like I did. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-create-your-best-team-based-on-first-name/602828/6 "2011-11-14T01:10:45Z")
1B: Frank Thomas 2B: Frank White SS: Frankie Crosetti 3B: Frank “Home Run” Baker C: Frank Hayes RF: Frank Howard CF: Frank Robinson (Cheating here LF: Frank Catalanotto P: Frank Viola ETA: That’s without cheating. And then I looked it up and holy crap, I forgot Frankie Frisch. I’m not too upset with having Frank White though. That’s a hell of a ballclub. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-create-your-best-team-based-on-first-name/602828/7 "2011-11-14T01:18:16Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > Hm, since Babe was mentioned… here’s a team of Georges. > > OF George (Babe) Ruth > OF George Foster > OF Ken Griffey Jr. (first name of George) > 3B George Brett > 1B George Sisler > 2B > SS > > P > > I was able to cheat and find a few more (a HoF middle infielder from the 1800s and a HoF pitcher I only knew by his nickname), but couldn’t get them off the top of my head. Still a pretty good core, eh? Maybe somebody can fill it out without cheating like I did. You need a catcher. Otherwise you’ll have a lot of passed balls. ~ Casey Stengel. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-create-your-best-team-based-on-first-name/602828/8 "2011-11-14T01:25:20Z")
William/Bill/Will etc C Dickey 1b Buckner 2b ss 3b Madlock OF Billy Williams OF OF P Singer Owner: Veeck GM: Beene Tennis player: Tilden ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-create-your-best-team-based-on-first-name/602828/9 "2011-11-14T01:32:12Z")
> [@mikeargo](#): > > Just thinking about it for five minutes, here’s my All-Joe team: > > OF Joe DiMaggio > OF Joe Carter > OF Joey Votto > 1B Joe Torre > 2B Joe Morgan > SS Joe Koppe (okay, he sucked) > 3B Joe Foy (he did, too) > C Joe Girardi > > P Joey Jay > P Joe Niekro SS Hall of Famer Joe Cronin ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-create-your-best-team-based-on-first-name/602828/10 "2011-11-14T01:34:32Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > William/Bill/Will etc > > C Dickey > 1b Buckner > 2b > ss > 3b Madlock > OF Billy Williams > OF > OF > P Singer > > Owner: Veeck > GM: Beene > Tennis player: Tilden There’s this outfielder named Mays. OF McGee 2B Bill Mazerowski (Does that count?) ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-create-your-best-team-based-on-first-name/602828/11 "2011-11-14T01:44:41Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > You need a catcher. Otherwise you’ll have a lot of passed balls. ~ Casey Stengel. 😃 Heh. True enough. The only George I can think of that can catch is a current player George Kottaras. I think the OF is good enough to carry him. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-create-your-best-team-based-on-first-name/602828/12 "2011-11-14T01:47:41Z")
1B Bob Watson 2B Roberto Alomar SS 3B Bob Horner OF Bobby Bonds OF Roberto Clemente OF Bobby Abreu C Bob Boone Really blanking on shortstop My pitching staff is awesome! Bob Gibson Bob Feller Bob Forsch (RIP) Robert (Lefty) Grove RP Bobby Jenks ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-create-your-best-team-based-on-first-name/602828/13 "2011-11-14T01:50:27Z")
P C 1B 2B 3B SS Khalil Greene OF OF OF ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-create-your-best-team-based-on-first-name/602828/14 "2011-11-14T01:50:54Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > There’s this outfielder named Mays. > > OF McGee > 2B Bill Mazerowski (Does that count?) :smack::smack::smack::smack: ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-create-your-best-team-based-on-first-name/602828/15 "2011-11-14T01:51:57Z")
Unfortunately, no one in the MLB is named JoyAnn. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-create-your-best-team-based-on-first-name/602828/16 "2011-11-14T02:31:23Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > 1B Bob Watson > 2B Roberto Alomar > SS > 3B Bob Horner > OF Bobby Bonds > OF Roberto Clemente > OF Bobby Abreu > C Bob Boone > > Really blanking on shortstop > > My pitching staff is awesome! > > Bob Gibson > Bob Feller > Bob Forsch (RIP) > Robert (Lefty) Grove > RP Bobby Jenks Sorry - Clemente and Alomar are disqualified by the language rule! ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-create-your-best-team-based-on-first-name/602828/17 "2011-11-14T02:44:13Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > Sorry - Clemente and Alomar are disqualified by the language rule! Missed that. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-create-your-best-team-based-on-first-name/602828/18 "2011-11-14T02:45:34Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > You need a catcher. Otherwise you’ll have a lot of passed balls. ~ Casey Stengel. 😃 George Strickland could be your 2B or SS. No hall of famer, but competent. Played for the Indians late 50s early 60s ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-create-your-best-team-based-on-first-name/602828/19 "2011-11-14T02:54:14Z")
Since my first name is John… SP- John “Jack” Chesbro SP - John Smoltz (or I could use him in relief!) SP- John Candelaria SP- Johnny Antonelli SP- John Clarkson RP - John Hiller RP- John Wetteland RP- John Franco C- Johnny Bench (backups: Johnny Blanchard and Johnny Roseboro) 1B- Johnny Mize (backup John Kruk) 2B - Johnny Evers (I know, overrated because of that poem) 3B/Manager- John McGraw SS- Johnny Pesky LF- John Wesley “Boog” Powell CF- Johnny Damon RF- Johnny Callison DH- John Olerud ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2011, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-create-your-best-team-based-on-first-name/602828/20 "2011-11-14T04:00:21Z")
I’m a Robert, but my brother is Michael, so let’s see who I can come up with: 1B Mike Hargrove (prepare for some long AB’s) 2B Mike Andrews (even though Charlie Finley tried to fire him during a World Series) SS Mike Fischlin (not very good, but my sister met him when she was working as a hotel desk clerk) 3B Mike Schmidt (the “franchise player”, so to speak) LF Mike Aldrete (the outfielders were the toughest to think of – I’m sure I’ve missed some better ones) CF Michael Bourn (gives me some speed in the leadoff slot) RF Mike Davis (played for A’s and Dodgers – solid journeyman) C Mike Ivie (one of those highly-touted prospects who never quite panned out) P Mike Maddux (not his brother, admittedly, but he could also coach the staff) P Mike McCormick (reliable starter) P Mike Morgan (since he pitched for so many teams anyway) P Mike Paul (sentimental pick – he started for the Indians in the first MLB game I ever attended, at old Cleveland Municipal Stadium) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-create-your-best-team-based-on-first-name/602828.md?page=2)