MLB: Create your best team based on first name

[Ichbin_Dubist]

@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

2B Bobby Doerr
SS Bobby Grich

I can’t think of another outfielder at the moment.

[Ichbin_Dubist]

@astorian

SS- Johnny Pesky

I humbly submit John Peter “Honus” Wagner.

[astorian]

@Ichbin_Dubist

I humbly submit John Peter “Honus” Wagner.

That’s a much better choice than mine, though I was trying to follow the rules, and not look up people’s real names if I didn’t know them off the top of my head.

I knew Boog Powell was really John Wesley Powell. And I hoped for a moment that Jackie Robinson might have been a John, before I remembered his birth name was, in fact, Jack Roosevelt Robinson.

[Kiros]

@Ichbin_Dubist

2B Bobby Doerr
SS Bobby Grich

I can’t think of another outfielder at the moment.

Bobby Bonilla isn’t a super-stud or anything, but he was well above average and played more than enough OF to qualify.

[Ichbin_Dubist]

@astorian

That’s a much better choice than mine, though I was trying to follow the rules, and not look up people’s real names if I didn’t know them off the top of my head.

I actually did remember that without looking it up, mainly because of the German John/Hans thing.

By the way, I tried to do Richards but stalled at Rickey Henderson/Dick Allen/Richie Ashburn and a whole bunch of second-tier Ricks.

I can think of a few good Alberts/Als but not enough to fill a roster.

[Ichbin_Dubist]

I also can’t think of any top-tier pitchers named Richard (Rick Aguilera? Rick Reed? Does Ricky Nolasco count?). On the other hand, I can think of a string of pretty great pitching Thomases (Seaver, Glavine, John) but no noteworthy position players.

[running_coach]

@Lamar_Mundane

There’s this outfielder named Mays.

His first name actually is Willie. It’s not a contraction of William.

[kidchameleon]

Ufff

OF-Ken Griffey Jr.
OF-Ken Griffey Sr.
OF-

C-Ken Huckabey
1B-Ken Harvey
2B-
SS-Ken Jackson
3B-Ken Caminiti

P-Kenny Rogers

Missing a few spots there.

[astorian]

@Ichbin_Dubist

I also can’t think of any top-tier pitchers named Richard (Rick Aguilera? Rick Reed? Does Ricky Nolasco count?). On the other hand, I can think of a string of pretty great pitching Thomases (Seaver, Glavine, John) but no noteworthy position players.

Of course, Tom Seaver’s real first name is George (look it up), so you could have him starting on a team with Babe Ruth.
I don’t know about"top tier" pitchers, but you could have Rick Reuschel, Rick Sutcliffe and Rick Wise, which isn’t bad, plus Rich “Goose” Gossage in the bullpen.

[kenobi_65]

@Sternvogel

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)

A couple more Mikes for you (might or might not be better than the ones you have):
OF Mike Felder (fast guy, 10 year career, mostly for the Brewers and Giants)
SP Mike Caldwell (stalwart for the Brewers in the late 70s and early 80s)
RP Mike Marshall (won the Cy Young when he pitched in 106 games for the '74 Dodgers)

[Duke]

Maybe not as good as the Joes, but how about the Joses?

1B Jose Offerman
2B Jose Oquendo (The Secret Weapon!)
SS Jose Reyes
3B Jose Hernandez
LF Jose Bautista
CF Jose Cruz
RF Jose Canseco
C Jose Labaton

P Jose Contreras
P Jose Lima (Lima Time!)
P Jose Mendez (Cuban pitcher from the Negro Leagues; Hall of Famer)

RP Jose Mesa

OK, so I had to cheat wildly on this one. What do we have? An excellent leadoff man in Reyes, power aplenty in Bautista and Canseco, a solid pitching staff, and…not a whole lot else.

[Jimmy_Chitwood]

@Kiros

Bobby Bonilla isn’t a super-stud or anything, but he was well above average and played more than enough OF to qualify.

Also Indian Bob Johnson was unbelievably good considering how little anybody talks about him.

[Jas09]

@Duke

Maybe not as good as the Joes, but how about the Joses?

And here’s where I unleash my “didn’t need to look it up” tidbit - Pujols’ given name is Jose Alberto Pujols.

[Ichbin_Dubist]

@Jas09

And here’s where I unleash my “didn’t need to look it up” tidbit - Pujols’ given name is Jose Alberto Pujols.

And I did need to look this up, but I’m surprised that Mickey Mantle’s given name is actually Mickey, not Michael, and he was named after Mickey Cochrane, who is actually named Gordon.

[astorian]

For people making Richard/Rick lists, remember that Rickey Henderson’s name isn’t short for “Richard.” It actually says “Rickey” on his birth certificate.

[Duke]

@Jas09

And here’s where I unleash my “didn’t need to look it up” tidbit - Pujols’ given name is Jose Alberto Pujols.

Yeah, I think trading Offerman for Pujols would be a step up. Not sure it was allowed under the rules, though.

[Wilson]

David / Dave:

C Dave Duncan
1B David Ortiz
2B Davey Lopes (had to check, his given name is David)
SS Dave Concepcion
3B Dave Magadan
OF Kingman, Parker, Winfield… umm not sure if any of those could really play center.

SP David Wells, David Cone, Dave Righetti.
RP Dave Smith

Not bad, although the defense with Ortiz and I guess Winfield in CF wouldn’t be great.

[Wilson]

OK after cheating, I forgot Dave Stieb, and HOF SS Dave Bancroft (not sure he’s really better than Concepcion). And embarrassingly as a Yankee fan, David Justice, who is clearly better than Kingman.

ETA: David Wright. Not sure how I forgot him.

[ZipperJJ]

@Lamar_Mundane

P
C
1B
2B
3B
SS Khalil Greene
OF
OF
OF

I was going to suggest an all unique names team but if Asdrubal can’t play SS, I’m going home.

[RickJay]

@Duke

Maybe not as good as the Joes, but how about the Joses?

1B Jose Offerman
2B Jose Oquendo (The Secret Weapon!)
SS Jose Reyes
3B Jose Hernandez
LF Jose Bautista
CF Jose Cruz
RF Jose Canseco
C Jose Labaton
OK, so I had to cheat wildly on this one. What do we have? An excellent leadoff man in Reyes, power aplenty in Bautista and Canseco, a solid pitching staff, and…not a whole lot else.

I dunno, that looks like a damned good team. Cruz was a great player, and his kid, same name, could be your fourth outfielder. You’ve got solid defense when the ball isn’t being hit to Canseco and lots of baserunners.

I’m going to do Rick/Richard/etc., for obvious reasons, and anyone who doesn’t like me using Rickey can meet me at the ballpark:

1B: Richie Sexson
2B: Rickie Weeks
SS: Rick “The Rooster” Burleson
3B: Rich Aurilia, must have played a few games there
C: Rick Ferrell
CF: Richie Ashburn
RF: Dick Allen
LF: Rickey Henderson
DH: Richie Zisk, of course
SP: Rick Reuschel
SP: Rick Honeycutt
SP: Rick Wise
SP: Rick Sutcliffe
RP: Rich “Goose” Gossage
RP: Ricky Romero