Infield: First baseman Stuffy McInnis (1909-27) was a slick-fielding, line-drive hitting, bunt-dropping member of the famous “$100,000 Infield” (a collective nickname that sounded more impressive in 1911 than it does today). McInnis was part of the great Philadelphia A's team that won five World Series titles. He finished his career with 2,400 hits, and he was regarded as a brilliant defensive first baseman. Third baseman Scott McClain (1998-2008) hit 310 minor-league home runs, with more than 1,000 runs and 1,100 RBI, but he stepped to the plate fewer than 100 times in the majors. He’ll get his shot with this team. Second baseman Ski “Spinach” Melillo (1926-37) was a fine fielder but a weak hitter for the St. Louis Browns, and he actually finished in the top 10 in the AL MVP voting three times (including his rookie year). The starting shortstop is 5-foot-3, 135-pound Stubby Magner (1911), because even though he wasn’t very good, he was better than the alternative (a fellow named Sal Madrid).
Outfield: There’s a reason they called Stan Musial (1941-63) “The Man.” One of the great left fielders of all time, one of the great hitters of all time, and one of the great gentlemen in baseball history. During his playing career, Musial was tremendously appreciated but nonetheless overshadowed by the likes of Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle. Musial was never flashy, but he was consistently outstanding - he finished with 3,630 hits, and he won three MVP awards, seven NL batting titles and three World Series championships. In his 90s, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor that can be bestowed upon an American civilian, in recognition of all that he has represented. Right fielder Sherry Magee (1904-19) was also a terrific hitter and a great all-around player, but unlike Musial he was a firebrand who once beat an umpire unconscious after being ejected for arguing ball-and-strike calls. A Phillies scout spotted Magee pickup ball with a scrub team in Pennsylvania and was so impressed that he signed the kid on the spot and sent him directly to Philadelphia, where Magee became a starter at age 19. He was a .300 hitter who walked more than he struck out and had good line-drive power. Magee stole almost 400 bases in his career and was regarded as an outstanding defensive outfielder with a powerful arm. Center fielder Shane Mack (1987-98) was a .300 hitter (OK, .299) who drew some walks, had some pop and ran reasonably well. He played in Japan for a couple of years in mid-career, and when he came back he had injury issues, but for five years in Minnesota he was an awfully good player.
Catcher: Sandy Martinez (1995-2004) was the catcher for Kerry Wood’s 20-strikeout game, and he was on the receiving end of an especially memorable ceremonial first pitch at Harbor Park in Norfolk. As a major-leaguer, however, he’s a .230 hitter with no power.
Rotation: Sal Maglie (1945-58) was a great pitcher, a fiery competitor and a fascinating figure who lost the early part of his career to a defense job during World War II and then four prime seasons because he jumped to the Mexican League for two years and was subsequently banned from the majors for two more. Thus, he was a rookie at age 28 and then did not play his second season until age 33. He still managed to post a 119-62 career record. Maglie was nicknamed "The Barber" because he was famous for "shaving" batters with high, inside fastballs. Sudden Sam McDowell (1961-75) was an alcoholic flamethrower (isn’t that a fun phrase?) whose starts always involved a lot of strikeouts, a lot of walks, and very few hits. He was a good, and sometimes great, pitcher who won 141 games. He led the league in strikeouts five times, including two seasons with more than 300. He finally quit drinking and spent a lot of time after he retired counseling players on alcohol abuse. Compared to Sal the Barber and Sudden Sam, lefty Scott McGregor (1976-88) was a fairly dull guy – a mild-mannered control artist who didn’t blow anyone away, a solid starter on some very good Baltimore teams. He posted a career record of 138-108 and he had an ERA of 1.63 in a half-dozen postseason starts. Sadie McMahon (1889-97) won 173 games back in the era when pitchers would work 400 or (in his case) 500 innings per year. Shaun Marcum (2005- ) has bounced back strong from Tommy John surgery and he remains a fine pitcher in mid-career.
Outfield: There’s a reason they called Stan Musial (1941-63) “The Man.” One of the great left fielders of all time, one of the great hitters of all time, and one of the great gentlemen in baseball history. During his playing career, Musial was tremendously appreciated but nonetheless overshadowed by the likes of Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle. Musial was never flashy, but he was consistently outstanding - he finished with 3,630 hits, and he won three MVP awards, seven NL batting titles and three World Series championships. In his 90s, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor that can be bestowed upon an American civilian, in recognition of all that he has represented. Right fielder Sherry Magee (1904-19) was also a terrific hitter and a great all-around player, but unlike Musial he was a firebrand who once beat an umpire unconscious after being ejected for arguing ball-and-strike calls. A Phillies scout spotted Magee pickup ball with a scrub team in Pennsylvania and was so impressed that he signed the kid on the spot and sent him directly to Philadelphia, where Magee became a starter at age 19. He was a .300 hitter who walked more than he struck out and had good line-drive power. Magee stole almost 400 bases in his career and was regarded as an outstanding defensive outfielder with a powerful arm. Center fielder Shane Mack (1987-98) was a .300 hitter (OK, .299) who drew some walks, had some pop and ran reasonably well. He played in Japan for a couple of years in mid-career, and when he came back he had injury issues, but for five years in Minnesota he was an awfully good player.
Catcher: Sandy Martinez (1995-2004) was the catcher for Kerry Wood’s 20-strikeout game, and he was on the receiving end of an especially memorable ceremonial first pitch at Harbor Park in Norfolk. As a major-leaguer, however, he’s a .230 hitter with no power.
Rotation: Sal Maglie (1945-58) was a great pitcher, a fiery competitor and a fascinating figure who lost the early part of his career to a defense job during World War II and then four prime seasons because he jumped to the Mexican League for two years and was subsequently banned from the majors for two more. Thus, he was a rookie at age 28 and then did not play his second season until age 33. He still managed to post a 119-62 career record. Maglie was nicknamed "The Barber" because he was famous for "shaving" batters with high, inside fastballs. Sudden Sam McDowell (1961-75) was an alcoholic flamethrower (isn’t that a fun phrase?) whose starts always involved a lot of strikeouts, a lot of walks, and very few hits. He was a good, and sometimes great, pitcher who won 141 games. He led the league in strikeouts five times, including two seasons with more than 300. He finally quit drinking and spent a lot of time after he retired counseling players on alcohol abuse. Compared to Sal the Barber and Sudden Sam, lefty Scott McGregor (1976-88) was a fairly dull guy – a mild-mannered control artist who didn’t blow anyone away, a solid starter on some very good Baltimore teams. He posted a career record of 138-108 and he had an ERA of 1.63 in a half-dozen postseason starts. Sadie McMahon (1889-97) won 173 games back in the era when pitchers would work 400 or (in his case) 500 innings per year. Shaun Marcum (2005- ) has bounced back strong from Tommy John surgery and he remains a fine pitcher in mid-career.
Bullpen: Stu Miller (1952-68) won 105 games and saved 154 in the period when the “closer” role was beginning to take shape. He was a good pitcher, but perhaps most famous for a bizarre play in the 1967 All-Star Game when a gust of wind almost blew him off the mound at Candlestick Park, forcing a balk that led to the tying run scoring. Steve Mingori (1970-79) and Sid Monge (1975-84) were both good left-handed relievers who spent some time in the closer role. Steve Mura (1978-85) was a useful spare part who could start or relieve. Sean Marshall (2006- ) is a 6-foot-7 lefty who has been a consistently solid reliever for the Cubs. He is in mid-career and coming off of very fine seasons in 2010 and '11. Steve McCatty (1977-85) was one of Billy Martin’s workhorse starters in Oakland. He'll work long relief here and pick up some spot starts as needed to give Shaun Marcum some rest. McCatty led the AL with 14 victories during the strike-shortened 1981 season. He was also declared the league leader in ERA due to a ridiculous statistical anomaly. McCatty's ERA was 2.326, and Baltimore's Sammy Stewart was at 2.323, but the rules at the time inexplicably called for thirds of an inning to be rounded off. The ensuing mathematics rounded McCatty's inning count upward and Stewart's downward, edging McCatty's faux ERA lower than Stewart's. Speed Martin (1917-22) earns mop-up duty because we’re fascinated by a guy whose real name is Elwood Good Martin, whose nickname is “Speed,” and who hails from Wawawai, Washington.
Bench: Sam Mertes (1896-1906) was a good outfielder who will probably press Mack for time in center field. Mertes led the NL in doubles and RBI for the Giants in 1903, the year New York won the first World Series. Sam Mele (1947-56) was actually a pretty decent outfielder, too, but he won’t find much playing time on this roster and, besides, he’ll be busy managing the team. Stu Martin (1936-43) is a decent backup infielder, and if he can learn to play shortstop he could take the starting job away from Stumpy. The backup catcher is Scotti Madison (1985-89), a .163 hitter. Swat McCabe (1909-10) gets the last spot on the bench largely because it seems like good karma to have a pinch-hitter named Swat.
Manager: Sam Mele, our player-manager, had a successful run with the Minnesota Twins highlighted by the 1965 AL pennant.
Bench: Sam Mertes (1896-1906) was a good outfielder who will probably press Mack for time in center field. Mertes led the NL in doubles and RBI for the Giants in 1903, the year New York won the first World Series. Sam Mele (1947-56) was actually a pretty decent outfielder, too, but he won’t find much playing time on this roster and, besides, he’ll be busy managing the team. Stu Martin (1936-43) is a decent backup infielder, and if he can learn to play shortstop he could take the starting job away from Stumpy. The backup catcher is Scotti Madison (1985-89), a .163 hitter. Swat McCabe (1909-10) gets the last spot on the bench largely because it seems like good karma to have a pinch-hitter named Swat.
Manager: Sam Mele, our player-manager, had a successful run with the Minnesota Twins highlighted by the 1965 AL pennant.
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