Infield: Two longtime rivals become teammates here. Pee Wee Reese (1940-58) was a Hall of Fame shortstop, but he’ll move to third base on this team (he actually played 115 games there for the Dodgers near the end of his career). He makes the move to accommodate his contemporary, Yankees shortstop Phil Rizzuto (1941-56). Reese was the better player, but Rizzuto had the better glove, and with the two of them on the left side of the infield, not much will get through. People often discussed them as though they were interchangable - diminutive New York shortstops of the same era - and that tendency grew even stronger after they retired. But the truth is, Reese had 126 home runs and 232 steals, while Rizzuto had just 38 home runs and 149 steals. Reese scored 1,338 runs and drove in 885, while Rizzuto had 877 runs and 563 RBI. Reese was the better player, but Rizzuto was very fine as well, winning the MVP in 1950. Reese was the highly respected captain of the "Boys of Summer" Dodgers and a key player in the Jackie Robinson story, and Rizzuto was very popular with teammates as well. Reese played on seven pennant winners and one World Series champion, and Rizzuto played on nine pennant winners and seven World Series champions. All seven times that Reese's Dodgers played in the World Series, the opponent was Rizzuto's Yankees. (Oddly enough, Reese might end up batting cleanup in this batting order - the roster is full of leadoff hitters with no middle-of-the-order types.) First baseman Pete Runnels (1951-64) hit .300 six times, won two batting titles, drew a lot of walks and played defense well enough that he also spent considerable time at second and short. Pokey Reese (1997-2004) didn’t hit much, but he stole 144 bases and whacked the occasional double, and he won two Gold Gloves, making this one slick defensive group.
Outfield: Pete Rose (1963-86) could honestly start on this team anywhere but short or catcher. We’ll slide him into the left field spot because that’s where he’ll be the most useful. You know Pete Rose’s story – 4,256 hits (first all-time) and 2,165 runs (third all-time), a half-dozen pennants, three world championships and the guts of the Big Red Machine. A lifetime ban for gambling, federal incarceration as a tax cheat, and an unapologetic manner that has come to be accepted as the ugly “flip side” of the admirable competitive fire he showed on the field. Center fielder Pete Reiser (1940-52) was an electrifying talent with eye-popping speed and a live bat, but his career was derailed by a string of injuries, many of which were caused by his habit of running headlong into outfield walls while chasing fly balls. Stretchers were his constant companion. On one occasion he fractured his skull, and on another he was given Last Rites on the field in case he died. Leo Durocher, who managed them both, said Reiser was as talented as Willie Mays but that he had “everything but luck.” Right fielder Paul Revere Radford (1883-94), a 5-foot-6 guy who hit .242 and drew a lot of walks, was nowhere near as interesting as Rose and Reiser.
Catcher: Phil Roof (1961-77) was a backup for most of his career, and he hung around long enough to have played for both the Milwaukee Braves and the Toronto Blue Jays. He retired at age 37, and four years later, Gene Roof made it to the majors. We all assumed it was his son – but no, it was his brother, 17 years younger.
Rotation: Preacher Roe (1938-54) threw a great spitball. Yes, yes, the pitch had been banned for almost 20 years before he arrived. But he still threw a hella good one. He went 127-84 and pitched in three World Series as Reese's teammate on the “Boys of Summer” Dodgers, but he didn’t last long enough to be part of the 1955 championship. Pete Redfern (1976-82) was a nondescript righty for the Twins. Pat Rapp (1992-2001) and Pat Ragan (1909-23) were average pitchers on some below-average teams. Actually, Pedro Ramos (1955-70) fits that description pretty well, too.
Bullpen: Closer Phil Regan (1960-72) had a brilliant year in 1966 and a few other good years along the way. He was known as “The Vulture,” an inside joke among pitchers. Pete Richert (1962-74) was a fireballer who had good years in the 1960s and ‘70s and could also get some work in the closer role. Paul Reuschel (1975-78) looked like his brother Rick - portly and sort of geeky looking - but didn’t pitch nearly as well. Paul Rigdon (2000-01) wasn’t very good. Pep Rambert (1939-40) was not as good as Rigdon. Pete Rambo (1926) and Phil Redding (1912-13) will get mop-up work.
Bench: Paul Ratliff (1963-72) is the backup catcher. Paul Runge (1981-88) was a utility infielder for the Braves who became a minor-league manager. Prentice Redman (2003), brother of Tike, gets a backup outfield job here because there isn’t anyone that much better and because of his distinguished association with the hometown Norfolk Tides. Phil Reccius (1882-90) was a versatile third baseman who could also pitch a bit, which will come in very handy considering the back end of this team’s bullpen. Pop Rising (1905) batted .103. His real name was Percival Sumner Rising. If he played in the 1980s, Chris Berman would have called him (What Time is) Pop Rising.
Manager: Paul Richards managed the White Sox and the Orioles for a dozen years, and some of his teams were pretty good. He had some old-fashioned ideas that didn't jibe real well with the contemporary game, but his overall record is decent enough.
Outfield: Pete Rose (1963-86) could honestly start on this team anywhere but short or catcher. We’ll slide him into the left field spot because that’s where he’ll be the most useful. You know Pete Rose’s story – 4,256 hits (first all-time) and 2,165 runs (third all-time), a half-dozen pennants, three world championships and the guts of the Big Red Machine. A lifetime ban for gambling, federal incarceration as a tax cheat, and an unapologetic manner that has come to be accepted as the ugly “flip side” of the admirable competitive fire he showed on the field. Center fielder Pete Reiser (1940-52) was an electrifying talent with eye-popping speed and a live bat, but his career was derailed by a string of injuries, many of which were caused by his habit of running headlong into outfield walls while chasing fly balls. Stretchers were his constant companion. On one occasion he fractured his skull, and on another he was given Last Rites on the field in case he died. Leo Durocher, who managed them both, said Reiser was as talented as Willie Mays but that he had “everything but luck.” Right fielder Paul Revere Radford (1883-94), a 5-foot-6 guy who hit .242 and drew a lot of walks, was nowhere near as interesting as Rose and Reiser.
Catcher: Phil Roof (1961-77) was a backup for most of his career, and he hung around long enough to have played for both the Milwaukee Braves and the Toronto Blue Jays. He retired at age 37, and four years later, Gene Roof made it to the majors. We all assumed it was his son – but no, it was his brother, 17 years younger.
Rotation: Preacher Roe (1938-54) threw a great spitball. Yes, yes, the pitch had been banned for almost 20 years before he arrived. But he still threw a hella good one. He went 127-84 and pitched in three World Series as Reese's teammate on the “Boys of Summer” Dodgers, but he didn’t last long enough to be part of the 1955 championship. Pete Redfern (1976-82) was a nondescript righty for the Twins. Pat Rapp (1992-2001) and Pat Ragan (1909-23) were average pitchers on some below-average teams. Actually, Pedro Ramos (1955-70) fits that description pretty well, too.
Bullpen: Closer Phil Regan (1960-72) had a brilliant year in 1966 and a few other good years along the way. He was known as “The Vulture,” an inside joke among pitchers. Pete Richert (1962-74) was a fireballer who had good years in the 1960s and ‘70s and could also get some work in the closer role. Paul Reuschel (1975-78) looked like his brother Rick - portly and sort of geeky looking - but didn’t pitch nearly as well. Paul Rigdon (2000-01) wasn’t very good. Pep Rambert (1939-40) was not as good as Rigdon. Pete Rambo (1926) and Phil Redding (1912-13) will get mop-up work.
Bench: Paul Ratliff (1963-72) is the backup catcher. Paul Runge (1981-88) was a utility infielder for the Braves who became a minor-league manager. Prentice Redman (2003), brother of Tike, gets a backup outfield job here because there isn’t anyone that much better and because of his distinguished association with the hometown Norfolk Tides. Phil Reccius (1882-90) was a versatile third baseman who could also pitch a bit, which will come in very handy considering the back end of this team’s bullpen. Pop Rising (1905) batted .103. His real name was Percival Sumner Rising. If he played in the 1980s, Chris Berman would have called him (What Time is) Pop Rising.
Manager: Paul Richards managed the White Sox and the Orioles for a dozen years, and some of his teams were pretty good. He had some old-fashioned ideas that didn't jibe real well with the contemporary game, but his overall record is decent enough.
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