Infield: Shortstop Glenn Wright (1924-35) was a good enough defensive player to move Rabbit Maranville to another position, and a good enough hitter to drive in 100 runs four time and bat cleanup for the championship Pirates teams of the mid-1920s. His arm was powerful but sometimes erratic, leading to the delightful nickname “Buckshot,” but he was a highly respected glove man. His career was cut short by injuries, but he was a very fine player and a respected gentleman. His double player partner will be (no relation) George Wright (1871-82), a star shortstop during baseball’s formative years who will move over to second base on this team. Along with his brother Harry (baseball had Wright Brothers long before Kitty Hawk), he was one of the sport’s earliest stars. It’s hard to truly make sense out of the stats from those early leagues, but it is abundantly clear that George Wright was a very fine player and will form one hell of a good defensive combo up the middle. (Team slogan: Two wrongs don’t make a right, but two Wrights turn a double play.) First baseman Greg Walker (1982-90) came up as one of a group of powerful first basemen whom Bill James dubbed “The Young McCoveys.” Well, he wasn’t Willie McCovey good (not many are), but he was a big, strong slugger for the White Sox for a few years. In 1988 he began to experience a series of terrifying brain seizures, the first of which struck during pregame warmups and almost killed him. He was diagnosed as epileptic and apparently got the condition under control, but his career was never the same after that. Third baseman Glenn Williams (2005) has a career batting average of .425. His career consisted of 13 games for the Minnesota Twins in which he went 17 for 40 before a dislocated shoulder ended his season. He never made it back to the majors, which means that he holds the “modern baseball” record for the most at-bats by a player with a career average over .400. A native of New South Wales, Australia, and he played for the country’s Olympic teams in 2000 and 2004.
Outfield: Right fielder Gene Woodling (1943-62) played for six teams but is mostly remembered for his six years with the Yankees, which included five straight World Series titles between 1949-53). Woodling was a good player, and in those 26 World Series games he batted .318 with lots of extra-base hits and more than twice as many walks as strikeouts. After a great minor-league career in which he batted .348, he made his way to the majors and put together a fine career in which he batted .284 and averaged about 80 walks and a dozen home runs per year. He was known as a hustling ballplayer who got the most out of his abilities. Center fielder Gee Walker (1931-45) was a .300 hitter with a line-drive stroke that produced a ton of doubles and a few home runs. He was a fiery player (“The Madman from Mississippi”) and very fast, but he had occasional lapses in judgment on the basepaths, such as getting thrown out trying to steal while the batter was being intentionally walked, or getting picked off base while trash talking with players in the opposing dugout. He was immensely popular in Detroit and the fans nearly rioted when he was traded after the 1937 season. Left fielder George “Dandy” Wood (1880-92), a Canadian gent who hailed from Prince Edward Island off the coast of Nova Scotia, played for several teams in the late 19th century. He appears to have been a good hitter with some speed and a little pop in his bat. He and George Wright will try to convince their teammates to grow ornate facial hair.
Catcher: George Williams (1995-2000) was a switch-hitting catcher for Oakland who had a good batting eye and a little bit of pop, but his time in the big leagues didn’t last long.
Rotation: Gus Weyhing (1887-1901) was an itinerant right-hander known as Rubber-Arm (or Rubber-Wing) Gus because he generally worked about 400-450 innings per year. Granted, it was the dead ball era when pitchers worked a lot of innings, and no, he never actually led the league, but still, the guy was a workhorse, and he did win 30 games in four straight seasons (though he never led the league in that category either). He did once throw 56 wild pitches in a season, and he holds the all-time career record for hit batsmen with 277. (That’s almost 100 more than the active leader, Tim Wakefield.) George Lovington “Sassafrass” Winter (1901-08) came along just as Gus Weyhing was departing. A diminutive righty (5-8, 155 pounds) and a teammate of Hall of Famer Eddie Plank at Gettysburg College, Winter had a solid career with the Red Sox, winning 83 games. Gene Wright (1901-04) arrived on the scene the same year as George Winter, but they didn’t have much in common. Wright was much bigger (6-2, 185, known as “Big Gene”) and wasn’t nearly as good (14 career wins). George Wheeler (1896-99) spent his whole career pitching for the Phillies, going 21-20. He was a righty who would occasionally switch things up and pitch lefty. Gary Wheelock (1976-80) had a couple of very brief callups, sandwiched around 17 ineffective starts for the expansion Mariners. He is the only pitcher in this rotation who does not date back to the turn of the 20th century. He’ll wear a high collared jersey just to fit in.
Bullpen: Lefty Gabe White (1994-2005) spent most of his career in a setup role, but his 570 innings with a 17 saves and a reasonble 4.51 ERA makes him the closer on this squad. He had his best years in Cincinnati and spent the second half of his career moving around the majors. He earned his niche in baseball trivia history by giving up the final hit of Tony Gwynn’s career. Gary Wagner (1965-70) pitched for the Phillies and wasn’t terrible. Gary Wayne (1989-94) was an effective lefty who spent most of his career with the Twins. Gary Waslewski (1967-72) actually holds a major-league record – fewest career wins for a pitcher making a World Series start. He went 2-2 as a rookie for the Red Sox in 1967 and then started Game 6 against the Cardinals. He finished his career with an 11-26 record, mostly in relief, pitching for five teams in six seasons. Gene Walter (1985-88) was a very ordinary lefty. George “Breezy” Winn (1919-23) is another lefty, ensuring that this bullpen will tilt southward. Gene Woodburn (1911-12) put too many people on base. As a rookie, he only gave up 22 hits in 38 innings, but he walked 40. So his second season, he really worked on his control, and in 48 innings he gave up 42 walks – but also allowed 60 hits. If you’re good at math, you can see that this means he finished his career having allowed 82 hits and 82 walks in just 76 innings. Woof.
Bench: Outfielder Glenn Wilson (1982-93) would generally hit about .270 with a dozen or so home runs. He drove in 102 runs in 1985 and made the all-star team, but that was an anomaly. He was best known for his cannon arm from right field. Outfielder Gary Ward (1979-90) was a similar hitter to Wilson, but a little bit better across the board, for which rearson he made the all-star team twice. Gerald “Ice” Williams (1992-2005) put together a long career as an outfielder who ran well but didn’t hit much. Infielder George Williams (1961-62) shall be known as George Williams the Elder, to differentiate from the catcher of the same name. Gil Whitehouse (1912-15) didn’t hit much, but he did log three games behind the plate, and we do need a backup catcher.
Manager: George Wright will be player-manager. He managed Providence in 1879 at age 32 and took the team to a 59-25 record and a league championship. Good enough to get this job.
Outfield: Right fielder Gene Woodling (1943-62) played for six teams but is mostly remembered for his six years with the Yankees, which included five straight World Series titles between 1949-53). Woodling was a good player, and in those 26 World Series games he batted .318 with lots of extra-base hits and more than twice as many walks as strikeouts. After a great minor-league career in which he batted .348, he made his way to the majors and put together a fine career in which he batted .284 and averaged about 80 walks and a dozen home runs per year. He was known as a hustling ballplayer who got the most out of his abilities. Center fielder Gee Walker (1931-45) was a .300 hitter with a line-drive stroke that produced a ton of doubles and a few home runs. He was a fiery player (“The Madman from Mississippi”) and very fast, but he had occasional lapses in judgment on the basepaths, such as getting thrown out trying to steal while the batter was being intentionally walked, or getting picked off base while trash talking with players in the opposing dugout. He was immensely popular in Detroit and the fans nearly rioted when he was traded after the 1937 season. Left fielder George “Dandy” Wood (1880-92), a Canadian gent who hailed from Prince Edward Island off the coast of Nova Scotia, played for several teams in the late 19th century. He appears to have been a good hitter with some speed and a little pop in his bat. He and George Wright will try to convince their teammates to grow ornate facial hair.
Catcher: George Williams (1995-2000) was a switch-hitting catcher for Oakland who had a good batting eye and a little bit of pop, but his time in the big leagues didn’t last long.
Rotation: Gus Weyhing (1887-1901) was an itinerant right-hander known as Rubber-Arm (or Rubber-Wing) Gus because he generally worked about 400-450 innings per year. Granted, it was the dead ball era when pitchers worked a lot of innings, and no, he never actually led the league, but still, the guy was a workhorse, and he did win 30 games in four straight seasons (though he never led the league in that category either). He did once throw 56 wild pitches in a season, and he holds the all-time career record for hit batsmen with 277. (That’s almost 100 more than the active leader, Tim Wakefield.) George Lovington “Sassafrass” Winter (1901-08) came along just as Gus Weyhing was departing. A diminutive righty (5-8, 155 pounds) and a teammate of Hall of Famer Eddie Plank at Gettysburg College, Winter had a solid career with the Red Sox, winning 83 games. Gene Wright (1901-04) arrived on the scene the same year as George Winter, but they didn’t have much in common. Wright was much bigger (6-2, 185, known as “Big Gene”) and wasn’t nearly as good (14 career wins). George Wheeler (1896-99) spent his whole career pitching for the Phillies, going 21-20. He was a righty who would occasionally switch things up and pitch lefty. Gary Wheelock (1976-80) had a couple of very brief callups, sandwiched around 17 ineffective starts for the expansion Mariners. He is the only pitcher in this rotation who does not date back to the turn of the 20th century. He’ll wear a high collared jersey just to fit in.
Bullpen: Lefty Gabe White (1994-2005) spent most of his career in a setup role, but his 570 innings with a 17 saves and a reasonble 4.51 ERA makes him the closer on this squad. He had his best years in Cincinnati and spent the second half of his career moving around the majors. He earned his niche in baseball trivia history by giving up the final hit of Tony Gwynn’s career. Gary Wagner (1965-70) pitched for the Phillies and wasn’t terrible. Gary Wayne (1989-94) was an effective lefty who spent most of his career with the Twins. Gary Waslewski (1967-72) actually holds a major-league record – fewest career wins for a pitcher making a World Series start. He went 2-2 as a rookie for the Red Sox in 1967 and then started Game 6 against the Cardinals. He finished his career with an 11-26 record, mostly in relief, pitching for five teams in six seasons. Gene Walter (1985-88) was a very ordinary lefty. George “Breezy” Winn (1919-23) is another lefty, ensuring that this bullpen will tilt southward. Gene Woodburn (1911-12) put too many people on base. As a rookie, he only gave up 22 hits in 38 innings, but he walked 40. So his second season, he really worked on his control, and in 48 innings he gave up 42 walks – but also allowed 60 hits. If you’re good at math, you can see that this means he finished his career having allowed 82 hits and 82 walks in just 76 innings. Woof.
Bench: Outfielder Glenn Wilson (1982-93) would generally hit about .270 with a dozen or so home runs. He drove in 102 runs in 1985 and made the all-star team, but that was an anomaly. He was best known for his cannon arm from right field. Outfielder Gary Ward (1979-90) was a similar hitter to Wilson, but a little bit better across the board, for which rearson he made the all-star team twice. Gerald “Ice” Williams (1992-2005) put together a long career as an outfielder who ran well but didn’t hit much. Infielder George Williams (1961-62) shall be known as George Williams the Elder, to differentiate from the catcher of the same name. Gil Whitehouse (1912-15) didn’t hit much, but he did log three games behind the plate, and we do need a backup catcher.
Manager: George Wright will be player-manager. He managed Providence in 1879 at age 32 and took the team to a 59-25 record and a league championship. Good enough to get this job.
No comments:
Post a Comment