Infield: Hall of Famer Paul Molitor (1978-98) came up as a second baseman, shifted to third for the prime of his career, then finished at first, all the while playing a lot of DH – not because he was a poor fielder, but more as a way to keep him healthy. He’s a first baseman on this team. He put up some fine numbers – 3,315 hits, including 605 doubles and 234 home runs, 504 steals, more than 1,300 RBI and almost 1,800 runs scored. In 29 postseason games, he batted .368 (on-base .435, slugging .615). A nice guy who had a 39-game hitting streak in 1987 and drove reporters nuts because his quiet, humble demeanor did not make for good daily copy. Pinky May (1939-43), father of Milt the catcher, was a solid third baseman for the Phillies whose playing career ended after his Navy service during World War II. Shortstop Pat Meares (1993-2001) was a decent fielder with a little pop. Pete Mackanin (1973-81) was a second baseman who hit 12 home runs in 1975 but never produced enough to hold down a regular starting job for long.
Outfielder: Center fielder Pepper Martin (1928-44), known as The Wild Horse of the Osage, was a hustling firebrand who was one of the key figures on the hard-playing, hard-living Gashouse Gang Cardinals teams. He played on two championship teams, batting .418 in 15 World Series games. Baseball historian Lee Allen described Martin as an “unshaven hobo who ran the bases like a berserk locomotive, slept in the raw and cursed at pitchers in his sleep.” Right fielder Pat Mullin (1940-53) was a good hitter who missed four prime years due to World War II. Left fielder Pedro Munoz (1990-96) would hit 12-15 home runs in a good year.
Catcher: Phil Masi (1939-52) was a respectable catcher for the Braves and the White Sox. He played in three all-star games.
Rotation: At his peak, Pedro Martinez (1992-2009) may have been the most dominant pitcher of all time. In 2000, for example, his ERA was 1.74 while the league average was (ahem) 4.92. He was always a good pitcher, but for a seven-year stretch in mid-career he was insanely good, blowing hitters away and keeping them off-balance so effectively that it seemed like scoring a run off of him was a major accomplishment. For his career he went 219-100 with an ERA below 3.00. He cruised past 3,000 strikeouts, averaging 10 per 9 innings over the course of his career. But his legend, which put him in the Hall of Fame, is that stretch between 1997-2003 when he was as great as any pitcher who ever stood on a mound. Pat Malone (1928-37) won 134 games, including a pair of 20-win seasons for the Cubs. Paul Maholm (2005-14) was a fairly good pitcher for some bad Pirates teams. He finished at 77-100, but he was probably a little better than that record indicates on its own. Paul Moskau (1977-83) was a swing man on the post-Machine teams in Cincinnati. Paul Minner (1946-56) was a lefty on some bad Cubs teams.
Bullpen: Closer Pete Mikkelsen (1964-72) came up with the Yankees at the end of their dynasty and then had some good years bouncing around the National League. Peter Moylan (2006- ) is an Australian import who had some fine years in Atlanta. He's got a slinging sidearm delivery and a cheeky sense of humor that the fans enjoy. Had his second Tommy John Surgery in his mid-30s and spent his off-year working as a coach in the Braves minor-league system. Still slinging as he approaches 40. Pat Mahomes (1992-2003) had a couple of good years, but not many. He earned an estimated $2.6 million in his career, which ain't but, but his son Patrick will get a bigger bonus than that when he signs his contract with the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs, who took him with the 10th pick in the 2017 draft. Pedro A. Martinez (1993-97) was a useful lefty reliever who was always referred to with his middle initial so as not to confuse him with the real Pedro Martinez. Paul Mirabella (1978-90) was a hot prospect who went to the Yankees in a 10-player trade that involved Sparky Lyle, Dave Righetti and Juan Beniquez. He went 0-4 for the Yankees, and they shipped him to Toronto in a six-player deal that involved Chris Chambliss and Rick Cerone. He hung around the American League for more than a decade as one of those lefties who is just good enough to earn an invite to spring training. Peter Munro (1999-2004) was a hot Red Sox prospect who got traded to Toronto and never did much. Phonney Martin (1872-73) was a combination outfielder-pitcher who wasn’t very good at either, but his versatility earns him a roster spot (plus, we like a guy named Alphonse who answers to Phonney).
Bench: Pepe Mangual (1972-77) was a speedy outfielder, the brother of Angel Mangual and the cousin of Coco Laboy. Phil Mankowski (1976-82) was a third baseman who never hit enough. Paul McNulty (1922-27) was a backup outfielder who batted .290 at a time when everyone was batting .290. Backup catcher Pat Moran (1901-14), who won a World Series with the Chicago Cubs (so you know he’s long dead). Patsy McGaffigan (1917-18) is a middle infielder with a .194 batting average.
Manager: With all due respect to Pat Moran, who had a fine managerial career and led the 1919 Reds to the World Series title over the tanking Black Sox, we’re turning this team over to Pinky May for sentimental reasons. He won more than 1,600 games as a minor-league manager, including two years with the hometown Peninsula Pilots.
Outfielder: Center fielder Pepper Martin (1928-44), known as The Wild Horse of the Osage, was a hustling firebrand who was one of the key figures on the hard-playing, hard-living Gashouse Gang Cardinals teams. He played on two championship teams, batting .418 in 15 World Series games. Baseball historian Lee Allen described Martin as an “unshaven hobo who ran the bases like a berserk locomotive, slept in the raw and cursed at pitchers in his sleep.” Right fielder Pat Mullin (1940-53) was a good hitter who missed four prime years due to World War II. Left fielder Pedro Munoz (1990-96) would hit 12-15 home runs in a good year.
Catcher: Phil Masi (1939-52) was a respectable catcher for the Braves and the White Sox. He played in three all-star games.
Rotation: At his peak, Pedro Martinez (1992-2009) may have been the most dominant pitcher of all time. In 2000, for example, his ERA was 1.74 while the league average was (ahem) 4.92. He was always a good pitcher, but for a seven-year stretch in mid-career he was insanely good, blowing hitters away and keeping them off-balance so effectively that it seemed like scoring a run off of him was a major accomplishment. For his career he went 219-100 with an ERA below 3.00. He cruised past 3,000 strikeouts, averaging 10 per 9 innings over the course of his career. But his legend, which put him in the Hall of Fame, is that stretch between 1997-2003 when he was as great as any pitcher who ever stood on a mound. Pat Malone (1928-37) won 134 games, including a pair of 20-win seasons for the Cubs. Paul Maholm (2005-14) was a fairly good pitcher for some bad Pirates teams. He finished at 77-100, but he was probably a little better than that record indicates on its own. Paul Moskau (1977-83) was a swing man on the post-Machine teams in Cincinnati. Paul Minner (1946-56) was a lefty on some bad Cubs teams.
Bullpen: Closer Pete Mikkelsen (1964-72) came up with the Yankees at the end of their dynasty and then had some good years bouncing around the National League. Peter Moylan (2006- ) is an Australian import who had some fine years in Atlanta. He's got a slinging sidearm delivery and a cheeky sense of humor that the fans enjoy. Had his second Tommy John Surgery in his mid-30s and spent his off-year working as a coach in the Braves minor-league system. Still slinging as he approaches 40. Pat Mahomes (1992-2003) had a couple of good years, but not many. He earned an estimated $2.6 million in his career, which ain't but, but his son Patrick will get a bigger bonus than that when he signs his contract with the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs, who took him with the 10th pick in the 2017 draft. Pedro A. Martinez (1993-97) was a useful lefty reliever who was always referred to with his middle initial so as not to confuse him with the real Pedro Martinez. Paul Mirabella (1978-90) was a hot prospect who went to the Yankees in a 10-player trade that involved Sparky Lyle, Dave Righetti and Juan Beniquez. He went 0-4 for the Yankees, and they shipped him to Toronto in a six-player deal that involved Chris Chambliss and Rick Cerone. He hung around the American League for more than a decade as one of those lefties who is just good enough to earn an invite to spring training. Peter Munro (1999-2004) was a hot Red Sox prospect who got traded to Toronto and never did much. Phonney Martin (1872-73) was a combination outfielder-pitcher who wasn’t very good at either, but his versatility earns him a roster spot (plus, we like a guy named Alphonse who answers to Phonney).
Bench: Pepe Mangual (1972-77) was a speedy outfielder, the brother of Angel Mangual and the cousin of Coco Laboy. Phil Mankowski (1976-82) was a third baseman who never hit enough. Paul McNulty (1922-27) was a backup outfielder who batted .290 at a time when everyone was batting .290. Backup catcher Pat Moran (1901-14), who won a World Series with the Chicago Cubs (so you know he’s long dead). Patsy McGaffigan (1917-18) is a middle infielder with a .194 batting average.
Manager: With all due respect to Pat Moran, who had a fine managerial career and led the 1919 Reds to the World Series title over the tanking Black Sox, we’re turning this team over to Pinky May for sentimental reasons. He won more than 1,600 games as a minor-league manager, including two years with the hometown Peninsula Pilots.
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