Infield: Shortstop Tim Anderson (2016- ) had a good run with the White Sox in his mid- to late-20s, winning a batting title in 2019 and leading the league in runs in the Covid-shortened 2020 season. He was apparently better at basketball in high school, but at 6-foot-1 he figured he had a better future in baseball, so he went the junior college route and became a first-round draft pick. He's had a decent enough career to this point, but he might be best known for an on-field altercation in which he was dropped like a sack of laundry by Cleveland's Jose Ramirez. Third baseman Tucker Ashford (1976-84) was also a juco star, taken with the second pick of the 1974 draft. Only three players taken in that first round had more than 2 career WAR, and Ashford wasn't one of them. For his career he batted .218 with no power. The Padres made him their everyday third baseman after experiments with Dave Kingman and Gene Tenace at the hot corner didn't work out. No, really. (Side note: When Ashford was barely hanging onto his career, there was tremendous excitement surrounding his debut with the New York Met in 1983 — but only because it was also the MLB debut of Darryl Strawberry.) Second baseman Tony Abreu (2007-14) had a decent enough rookie season for the Dodgers but suffered a groin injury at the end of the 2007 season that forced him to miss the entire 2008 season, and if you think that sounds really painful you're right. He bounced around the majors after that, actually hit pretty well for the Giants in 2013 but never got another hit. First baseman Tyler Austin (2015-19) was a hot prospect in the Yankees organization whose progress was delayed by a lot of injuries. He hit a home run in his first major-league at-bat, and so did the guy who came to the plate after him, a tall chap named Aaron Judge. It was the first time in MLB history that two teammates hit home runs in their first MLB at-bats in the same game. He bounced around the majors for a few years. (Side note: Austin was treated for testicular cancer at age 17 and still works with charitable organizations to fight that disease.)
Outfield: Center fielder Tommie Agee (1962-73) was AL Rookie of the Year for the White Sox when he hit 22 home runs and stole 44 bases. He won two Gold Gloves, played in a couple of All-Star Games, but none of that really matters. What matters is that in October 1969 he batted .357 and hit two home runs to lead the Miracle Mets over the Braves in the NLCS, and then in Game 3 of the World Series he hit a leadoff home run and made two spectacular catches that saved five runs. He finished his career with 130 home runs and 167 steals, but his legacy is that he was the face of the Miracle Mets. Right fielder Tony Armas (1976-89) basically never walked, so he can't be described as a "three true outcomes" hitter, but we'll call him Meat Loaf, because two out of three (true outcomes) ain't bad. Armas hit for a low average but he hit a ton of home runs and struck out a whole lot. He had a strong outfield arm and ran OK, basically a guy with obvious strengths and obvious weaknesses. Led the league in home runs twice, RBI once, strikeouts a couple of times. Left fielder Tommie Aaron (1962-71) was the younger brother of Henry Aaron, and with all due respect it sure seems that he only got 1,000 plate appearances because of his bloodlines. They hold the record for most home runs by brothers with 768. Tommie contributed 13 to that total. (Note the spelling, because if you look for info on Tommy Aaron you'll get the golfer who won the Masters in 1973).
Catcher: Toby Atwell (1952-56) got off to a late start because of his service in World War II. He batted .290 as a 28-year-old rookie, but he wasn't really that good. In fact, that was the only time he played in 100 games. Had a strong arm and a good batting eye.
Rotation: Lefty Tyler Anderson (2015- ) went 15-5 with a 2.57 ERA for the Dodgers in 2022 at the age of 32, one of those regular instances where an otherwise nondescript hurler shows up when the Dodgers have some injuries and turns in a great season. Take that season out of his journeyman career and he's got a record of 45-59 and his ERA goes up by about 35 points. Then again, that season did happen, and on the whole he's been a dependable and durable lefty, which is never a bad thing. Righty Tony Armas Jr. (1999-2008) is the son of our right fielder. He was a promising pitcher who struggled to stay healthy. As a prospect, he was part of the package the Red Sox sent to Montreal to acquire Pedro Martinez. He had flashed but finished at 53-65. Righty Ted Alexander (1938-49) pitched for several teams in the Negro Leagues. His biggest contribution to baseball is that he served in the U.S. Army with Jackie Robinson and, according to Robinson, it was Alexander who steered him toward the K.C. Monarchs and a career in baseball. Left-handed Tyler Alexander (2019- ) isn't a flame thrower by any means, but on Aug. 2, 2020, pitching in relief for Detroit, he struck out nine straight batters, which is something rarely done by relief pitchers. Righty Tim Adleman (2016-17) finished with a 9-15 record in large part because his pitches often ended up landing in the seats behind the outfield fence.
Bullpen: Closer Ted Abernathy (1955-72) was a right-handed side-arming workhorse who saved 149 games adn twice led the league. A tall fellow who looked like a dour mortician, he led the league three times in pitching appearances. He spent 14 seasons with seven teams but never made a postseason appearance. Righty Terry Adams (1995-20050 won 51 games and saved 42, mostly for the Cubs and Dodgers. He gave up Barry Bonds' 500th career home run and he was part of the Red Sox's historic 2004 championship, though it's hard to say he contributed since he had a 6.00 ERA in the regular season and did not throw a single pitch in the postseason despite being active the whole time. Righty Tom Acker (1956-69) won 19 games for Cincinnati. When he was done, he went home to New Jersey and played semi-pro ball, where he mentored dozens of players and was credited with revitalizing small-town baseball in the region. Righty Tony Arnold (1986-87) pitched alright in a cup o'coffee as a rookie but struggled thereafter. Injury-prone righty Tejay Antone (2020- ) has won two games in the majors, and his career may be over after the tendon tore completely off the elbow on his throwing arm in 2024. Is it apropos that a guy named Tejay has had three Tommy John surgeries? Righty Tavo Alvarez (1995-66) won three games for the Expos and while he was trying to hang on in 1997 the scoreboard in spring training misidentified. him as, yes, Taco Alvarez. Tommy Atkins (1909-10) is the only lefty in the bullpen, so he'll stay busy in a variety of roles. He appeared in one game for Connie Mack's A's in 1909 and then went 3-2 for the A's team that won 102 games and a World Series the following year. He apparently had a pitch known as the fingernail fling, which sounds cool but it didn't keep him in the majors for long.
Bench: Negro Leaguer Toussaint Allen (1914-28) was, as far as we know, no relation to legendary New Orleans R&B man Allen Toussaint. Tug Arundel (1882-88) ws a catcher who couldn't hit. So was Troy Afenir (1987-92). Tom Alston (1954-57) was the first black player for the St. Louis Cardinals. He played a half-season and then just kind of took up space for a few years. Tony Alvarez (2002-04) was a hot prospect in the Pirates organization who never stuck in the majors, but he did become a successful reggae musician known as El Potro ("The Colt"). And, oh yeah, he served as an official in the administration of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro. And, oh yeah, he has had three wives, each of whom won the Miss Venezuela beauty pageant, so apparently we know where he goes shopping for dates.
Manager: Todd Allen was a Negro League third baseman who managed the Indianapolis ABCs to a 17-53 re ord in 1925.
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