Infield: Third baseman Lave Cross (1887-1907) is an enormous figure in baseball of the late 19th century (as befits a man named Lafayette Napoleon Cross), even though it’s hard to get a handle on precisely how great or influential he was as a player. He came up as a catcher but converted to third base and was a fine defensive player. He amassed 2,645 hits in his career and topped 1,300 in both runs and RBI. He never led the league in any offensive categories, and he wasn’t especially noteworthy for speed or power, but he played for a long time and was widely respected in his day. Shortstop Leo Cardenas (1960-75) was a lanky Cuban with long arms and big hands who was a fine defensive infielder, mostly for the Reds and Twins. He was your basic .260 hitter with a bit of pop and a few walks, but along with his glove, that was enough to make him a regular for a long time, as well as a five-time all-star. Second baseman Luis Castillo (1996-2010) stole 193 bases in his first four years as a regular. He was a .290 hitter who drew enough walks to be fairly useful, especially since he played solid defense. Batted .300 as a regular with the Mets in 2009 but has faded from public view somewhat since he stopped stealing 50 bases a year. He scored the 1,000th run of his career in 2010. Lou Criger (1903-12) is really a catcher, but we have no first baseman. Criger played 10 games at first base, so he ends up starting there for the LCs, but player-manager Lave Cross notes that bench player Luke Carlin played some first base in the minors, and so there is every likelihood that Carlin will be allowed to take over the starting job at first base to move Criger back behind the plate where he belongs. As a first baseman, Criger ain’t much – a .220 hitter with 11 home runs in 16 years. Behind the plate, on the other hand, he’s got some assets in his favor – a strong throwing arm, a reputation for calling a good game, and the pedigree of having been one of Cy Young’s favorite catchers. He caught two of Cy’s no-hitters, including the perfect game.
Outfield: Center fielder Leon Culberson (1943-48) was a part-time player for the Red Sox, never playing 100 games in a season but generally getting 200-300 plate appearances. He was a very average player, a .270 hitter who ran alright and had some line drive power. Right fielder Lou Clinton (1960-67) also spent most of his career with the Red Sox, but a couple of generations later. He hit for a lower average than Culberson, but with more power – double-digit home run power, but not exactly what you’d call a slugger. Larry Chappell (1913-17) rounds out this nondescript outfield. He was a semi-regular for the White Sox for one season and then was part of a package of largely worthless players the Sox sent to Cleveland (along with about $30,000) in exchange for Shoeless Joe. Chappell died at age 28 of a flu epidemic that was sweeping the country.
Catcher: Larry Cox (1973-82) was never more than a backup except for a couple of years with the expansion Mariners, because they had to put somebody behind the plate every day.
Rotation: Larry Corcoran (1880-87) was a 5-foot-3 righty, though he was ambidextrous enough to pitch a few innings lefty on a few occasions. He won 170 games in the first five years of his career, back during the rubber-armed days when pitchers threw more or less underhand and logged 400 innings in a season. He pitched three no-hitters and was regularly among the league leaders in all sorts of statistical categories. Larry Cheney (1911-19) was a workhorse won 26 games as a rookie with the 1912 Cubs. He once walked 140 batters in a season and he annually led the league in wild pitchers, but he was a pretty fair hurler and he won 116 games in his career and another 137 in the minors. Larry Christenson (1973-83) was the third pick in the 1972 draft, and less than a year later he was in the majors at age 19, pitching a complete game victory in his debut. He had various injury issues throughout his career and was done before he turned 30, but along the way he was a pretty decent pitcher when he was healthy (and he could hit too, with 11 career home runs). Christenson spent his whole career with the Phillies during a period when the team was very good. He was part of the 1980 World Series championship team, but his contribution wasn’t much. He started Game 4 but only recorded one out. For the record, he gave up a single to Willie Wilson, then made a wild pickoff throw that sent him to third base. After recording one out, he gave up a triple to George Brett, a home run to Willie Aikens and doubles to Hal McRae and Amos Otis. That was the extent of Christenson’s World Series experience. Leon Cadore (1915-24) holds the record for the most batters faced in a single game (96). He set the record in a legendary 1920 game that ended in a tie after 26 innings, with Cadore and his counterpart Joe Oeschger both working complete games. Cadore was a decent enough pitcher, with a 68-72 record but a good ERA (3.14), spending most of his career in Brooklyn. Les Cain (1968-72) was a promising young lefty who had a couple of good years for the Tigers before arm trouble ended his career at age 24.
Bullpen: Lance Carter (1999-2006) saved 26 games for Tampa in 2003, which makes him the nominal closer on this team. Lance Cormier (2004- ) is still active and is still capable of pitching reasonably well. He is from Lafayette, Louisiana, and has two teammates on the LC team with the first name Lafayette, which doesn’t really mean anything but we thought it was worth mentioning. Larry Casian (1990-98) was as anonymous but reasonably effective middle reliever for five teams. Leon Chagnon (1929-35) pitched mostly for the Pirates and in general he wasn’t terrible. Lance Clemons (1971-74) was a big lefty who was expected to be good but wasn’t. He pitched briefly for the Astros, Cardinals and Royals and was part of trades that involved the likes of Jerry Reuss and John Mayberry. Leo Cristante (1951-55) had a long, successful minor-league career punctuated by brief trials with the Phillies in 1951 and the Tigers in 1955. Lafayette Currence (1975) did nothing of note, but he had a way-cool name (Delancey Lafayette Currence, to be precise).
Bench: Luke Carlin (2008- ) has done nothing in the majors to date, and he’s in his early 30s so if he’s gonna do something he ought to start doing it soon. But in the minors, he’s been a .250-ish hitter who draws a lot of walks, so that’s something. He’s a catcher, but he played some first base in the minors so he might take over the first base job and let Lou Criger move back behind the plate. Lou Chiozza (1934-39) was an infielder-outfielder who played regularly for the Phillies for a few years, and he has the distinction of being the first player ever to bat in a night game. Lorenzo Cain (2010- ) is a speedy young outfielder who made his debut with the Brewers and then went to Kansas City in the Zach Grienke trade. He is still at the prospect stage, but he looks like he should be good, and that's enough to land him a spot on this roster at this point. Lou Collier (1997-2004) was a utility guy who bounced around a lot. Leo Callahan (1913-19) was a slap-hitting outfielder who got a couple of trials in the majors.
Manager: Player-manager Lave Cross had a very brief and unsuccessful stint as a manager in 1899, but he was a team captain for a long time back when that title really meant something.
Outfield: Center fielder Leon Culberson (1943-48) was a part-time player for the Red Sox, never playing 100 games in a season but generally getting 200-300 plate appearances. He was a very average player, a .270 hitter who ran alright and had some line drive power. Right fielder Lou Clinton (1960-67) also spent most of his career with the Red Sox, but a couple of generations later. He hit for a lower average than Culberson, but with more power – double-digit home run power, but not exactly what you’d call a slugger. Larry Chappell (1913-17) rounds out this nondescript outfield. He was a semi-regular for the White Sox for one season and then was part of a package of largely worthless players the Sox sent to Cleveland (along with about $30,000) in exchange for Shoeless Joe. Chappell died at age 28 of a flu epidemic that was sweeping the country.
Catcher: Larry Cox (1973-82) was never more than a backup except for a couple of years with the expansion Mariners, because they had to put somebody behind the plate every day.
Rotation: Larry Corcoran (1880-87) was a 5-foot-3 righty, though he was ambidextrous enough to pitch a few innings lefty on a few occasions. He won 170 games in the first five years of his career, back during the rubber-armed days when pitchers threw more or less underhand and logged 400 innings in a season. He pitched three no-hitters and was regularly among the league leaders in all sorts of statistical categories. Larry Cheney (1911-19) was a workhorse won 26 games as a rookie with the 1912 Cubs. He once walked 140 batters in a season and he annually led the league in wild pitchers, but he was a pretty fair hurler and he won 116 games in his career and another 137 in the minors. Larry Christenson (1973-83) was the third pick in the 1972 draft, and less than a year later he was in the majors at age 19, pitching a complete game victory in his debut. He had various injury issues throughout his career and was done before he turned 30, but along the way he was a pretty decent pitcher when he was healthy (and he could hit too, with 11 career home runs). Christenson spent his whole career with the Phillies during a period when the team was very good. He was part of the 1980 World Series championship team, but his contribution wasn’t much. He started Game 4 but only recorded one out. For the record, he gave up a single to Willie Wilson, then made a wild pickoff throw that sent him to third base. After recording one out, he gave up a triple to George Brett, a home run to Willie Aikens and doubles to Hal McRae and Amos Otis. That was the extent of Christenson’s World Series experience. Leon Cadore (1915-24) holds the record for the most batters faced in a single game (96). He set the record in a legendary 1920 game that ended in a tie after 26 innings, with Cadore and his counterpart Joe Oeschger both working complete games. Cadore was a decent enough pitcher, with a 68-72 record but a good ERA (3.14), spending most of his career in Brooklyn. Les Cain (1968-72) was a promising young lefty who had a couple of good years for the Tigers before arm trouble ended his career at age 24.
Bullpen: Lance Carter (1999-2006) saved 26 games for Tampa in 2003, which makes him the nominal closer on this team. Lance Cormier (2004- ) is still active and is still capable of pitching reasonably well. He is from Lafayette, Louisiana, and has two teammates on the LC team with the first name Lafayette, which doesn’t really mean anything but we thought it was worth mentioning. Larry Casian (1990-98) was as anonymous but reasonably effective middle reliever for five teams. Leon Chagnon (1929-35) pitched mostly for the Pirates and in general he wasn’t terrible. Lance Clemons (1971-74) was a big lefty who was expected to be good but wasn’t. He pitched briefly for the Astros, Cardinals and Royals and was part of trades that involved the likes of Jerry Reuss and John Mayberry. Leo Cristante (1951-55) had a long, successful minor-league career punctuated by brief trials with the Phillies in 1951 and the Tigers in 1955. Lafayette Currence (1975) did nothing of note, but he had a way-cool name (Delancey Lafayette Currence, to be precise).
Bench: Luke Carlin (2008- ) has done nothing in the majors to date, and he’s in his early 30s so if he’s gonna do something he ought to start doing it soon. But in the minors, he’s been a .250-ish hitter who draws a lot of walks, so that’s something. He’s a catcher, but he played some first base in the minors so he might take over the first base job and let Lou Criger move back behind the plate. Lou Chiozza (1934-39) was an infielder-outfielder who played regularly for the Phillies for a few years, and he has the distinction of being the first player ever to bat in a night game. Lorenzo Cain (2010- ) is a speedy young outfielder who made his debut with the Brewers and then went to Kansas City in the Zach Grienke trade. He is still at the prospect stage, but he looks like he should be good, and that's enough to land him a spot on this roster at this point. Lou Collier (1997-2004) was a utility guy who bounced around a lot. Leo Callahan (1913-19) was a slap-hitting outfielder who got a couple of trials in the majors.
Manager: Player-manager Lave Cross had a very brief and unsuccessful stint as a manager in 1899, but he was a team captain for a long time back when that title really meant something.
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