Infield: First baseman Eddie Murray and third baseman Eddie Mathews give this team a pair of Hall of Famers on the corner, and in doing so, in the absence of a designated hitter, they relegate Edgar Martinez to the bench, making him almost certainly the best player to be denied a starting job in this whole Baseball Initially project. Murray (1977-97) was one of the most consistent sluggers of all time, and he finished his career with 3,255 hits, 504 home runs, 1,917 RBI and 1,627 runs. He had six seasons of 100 or more RBI, and another six with 90-99 RBI, plus the 1981 season in which he had a league-leading 78 RBI despite the season being shortened by the strike. For good measure, he also won three Gold Gloves. Mathews (1952-68) was the greatest third baseman of all time before Brett and Schmidt arrived on the scene. He was actually a similar player to Schmidt, a .270 hitter who walked 100 times a year and hit 512 home runs. He wasn’t as good as Schmidt with the glove, but he was good, and he teamed with Hank Aaron for a decade to form one of baseball’s great power-hitting duos. Shortstop Ed McKean (1887-99) was a small, speedy guy who batted .302 for his career. He was a fine, durable player – first man ever with 600 at-bats in a season – and he finished his career with 2,084 hits, 1,124 RBI and 1,227 runs. Second baseman Eric “Boob” McNair (1929-42) came up at age 20 with Connie Mack’s powerhouse Philadelphia A’s and was a part-time player with the championship teams of 1930-31. He moved into a full-time job in 1932 and led the American League with 47 doubles, and while he never developed into a star, he was good enough to hang around the majors until his mid-30s.
Outfield: Center fielder Eddie Milner (1980-88) had great speed and was a terrific defensive outfielder. He had a little bit of pop and a good batting eye. He wasn’t a great player, but he had enough skills to be a valuable piece of a good team under the right circumstances. Left fielder Elmer Miller (1912-22) was a fine minor-league hitter who never did much in the majors, though he did lead the AL by getting hit by pitches nine times in 1917, the only time in his career that he ever appeared in more than 100 games. Right fielder Honest Eddie Murphy (1912-26) also led the league in being hit by a pitch – 14 times in 1914, the same year he also led the league by getting thrown out stealing 32 times. That said, he was a better hitter than either Milner or Miller – a .287 career average with a very good batting eye, but no power at all. Given the chance to bat in the 2-hole, behind McKean and ahead of Murray and Mathews, he could score 100 runs.
Catcher: Ed McFarland (1893-1908) was a .270 hitter with decent defensive skills who put together a respectable career in the deadball era.
Rotation: Ed “Cannonball” Morris (1884-90) was one of those short-career workhorse types from the 1880s. He arrived on the scene at age 21 and proceeded to win 114 games in his first three seasons, starting 59 games and working 522 innings per season. He had a good run but a relatively short one, posting one more good season after age 23 and finishing his career with 171 victories. Earl Moore (1901-14) was known as “Crossfire,” which suggests that he was probably a sidearmer, and he was also known as “Steam Engine in Boots,” which suggests that he either threw hard or had breathing difficulties. He won 163 games in his career and led the AL in ERA in 1903 (20-8, 1.74 for Cleveland). He led the league in walks twice and losses once, but also led in strikeouts once. In 1908, he set a record that still stands – most innings pitched in a season with a 0.00 earned-run average (26 innings). He did give up four unearned runs that year, leading to his 2-1 record. Eric Milton (1998-2009) was a first-round draft pick and big-name prospect with the Yankees before he was traded to the Twins as part of a four-player package for Chuck Knoblauch. Milton had a decent career, tossing a no-hitter in 1999 and winning 13-15 games four times between 2000-04, but his career was cut short by back surgery. Erskine Mayer (1912-19) had a couple of fine years for the Phillies, winning 21 games in 1914 and then matching that total the following season. In 1915, he pitched in the first World Series game attended by the president of the United States (Woodrow Wilson), and he finished his major-league career in 1919 with an inning of mop-up relief in the World Series for the Black Sox. Elmer Myers (1915-22) wasn’t a great pitcher, and he didn’t pitch for great teams. He went 55-72 for his career.
Bullpen: This will absolutely be a “committee” bullpen, in the worst sense of the word. Euel “Chief” Moore (1934-36) saved three games for the Phillies, but his career record (9-16, 5.48 ERA) suggests that he might have problems closing games. Edward Mujica (2006- ) is a Venezuelan righty who has emerged as a decent middle reliever for the Padres. He might actually take over the closer role here. Big Ed Morris (1922-31) came up with the Cubs at age 22 and got lit up a few times before returning to the minors. He resurfaced with the Red Sox six years later and was an average pitcher for a few seasons. Ernie McAnally (1971-74) was primarily a starter for the Expos, but he will most likely work as an inning-eating workhorse out of the pen here. Ed Moyer (1910) is no relation to Jamie, though they are roughly the same age. Ha ha, just kidding. Ed Moyer worked three games with the Senators in 1910, and his career ERA of 3.24 looks much better today than it did back then (the league-wide ERA that year was 2.52). Ed Murphy (1898-1903) pitched mostly for the Cardinals at the turn of the century, and similar to Moyer, he had a career ERA (3.64) that looks a lot better today than it does in the context of his time. Earl Moseley (1913-16) led the upstart Federal League in ERA (1.91) in 1915. He played for four teams in four seasons, jumping around three leagues, and finished with a 49-48 career record.
Outfield: Center fielder Eddie Milner (1980-88) had great speed and was a terrific defensive outfielder. He had a little bit of pop and a good batting eye. He wasn’t a great player, but he had enough skills to be a valuable piece of a good team under the right circumstances. Left fielder Elmer Miller (1912-22) was a fine minor-league hitter who never did much in the majors, though he did lead the AL by getting hit by pitches nine times in 1917, the only time in his career that he ever appeared in more than 100 games. Right fielder Honest Eddie Murphy (1912-26) also led the league in being hit by a pitch – 14 times in 1914, the same year he also led the league by getting thrown out stealing 32 times. That said, he was a better hitter than either Milner or Miller – a .287 career average with a very good batting eye, but no power at all. Given the chance to bat in the 2-hole, behind McKean and ahead of Murray and Mathews, he could score 100 runs.
Catcher: Ed McFarland (1893-1908) was a .270 hitter with decent defensive skills who put together a respectable career in the deadball era.
Rotation: Ed “Cannonball” Morris (1884-90) was one of those short-career workhorse types from the 1880s. He arrived on the scene at age 21 and proceeded to win 114 games in his first three seasons, starting 59 games and working 522 innings per season. He had a good run but a relatively short one, posting one more good season after age 23 and finishing his career with 171 victories. Earl Moore (1901-14) was known as “Crossfire,” which suggests that he was probably a sidearmer, and he was also known as “Steam Engine in Boots,” which suggests that he either threw hard or had breathing difficulties. He won 163 games in his career and led the AL in ERA in 1903 (20-8, 1.74 for Cleveland). He led the league in walks twice and losses once, but also led in strikeouts once. In 1908, he set a record that still stands – most innings pitched in a season with a 0.00 earned-run average (26 innings). He did give up four unearned runs that year, leading to his 2-1 record. Eric Milton (1998-2009) was a first-round draft pick and big-name prospect with the Yankees before he was traded to the Twins as part of a four-player package for Chuck Knoblauch. Milton had a decent career, tossing a no-hitter in 1999 and winning 13-15 games four times between 2000-04, but his career was cut short by back surgery. Erskine Mayer (1912-19) had a couple of fine years for the Phillies, winning 21 games in 1914 and then matching that total the following season. In 1915, he pitched in the first World Series game attended by the president of the United States (Woodrow Wilson), and he finished his major-league career in 1919 with an inning of mop-up relief in the World Series for the Black Sox. Elmer Myers (1915-22) wasn’t a great pitcher, and he didn’t pitch for great teams. He went 55-72 for his career.
Bullpen: This will absolutely be a “committee” bullpen, in the worst sense of the word. Euel “Chief” Moore (1934-36) saved three games for the Phillies, but his career record (9-16, 5.48 ERA) suggests that he might have problems closing games. Edward Mujica (2006- ) is a Venezuelan righty who has emerged as a decent middle reliever for the Padres. He might actually take over the closer role here. Big Ed Morris (1922-31) came up with the Cubs at age 22 and got lit up a few times before returning to the minors. He resurfaced with the Red Sox six years later and was an average pitcher for a few seasons. Ernie McAnally (1971-74) was primarily a starter for the Expos, but he will most likely work as an inning-eating workhorse out of the pen here. Ed Moyer (1910) is no relation to Jamie, though they are roughly the same age. Ha ha, just kidding. Ed Moyer worked three games with the Senators in 1910, and his career ERA of 3.24 looks much better today than it did back then (the league-wide ERA that year was 2.52). Ed Murphy (1898-1903) pitched mostly for the Cardinals at the turn of the century, and similar to Moyer, he had a career ERA (3.64) that looks a lot better today than it does in the context of his time. Earl Moseley (1913-16) led the upstart Federal League in ERA (1.91) in 1915. He played for four teams in four seasons, jumping around three leagues, and finished with a 49-48 career record.
Bench: Edgar Martinez (1987-2004) was one of the best hitters of his generation but never became a household name because he played in Seattle, was overshadowed by Griffey and the Big Unit, and had a quiet demeanor. He came up as a third baseman and was alright defensively but had injury problems, which prompted the Mariners to make him a full-time designated hitter. He thrived in that role, winning two batting titles and leading the AL in on-base percentage three times, doubles twice, and runs and RBI once apiece. He was a .312 career hitter who averaged, per 162 games, 41 doubles, 24 home runs and 101 walks. There are fans in Seattle who give him credit for keeping the franchise there.The team was on the verge of moving out of town in 1995, when the Mariners made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. In the ALDS against the Yankees, Martinez batted .571, drove in 10 runs in five games and came up with the game-winning hit in the bottom of the 11th inning of the decisive fifth game, electrifying the fan base and renewing interest in the team. On the E.M. team, shoved to the bench by two Hall of Famers, he looks to be one hell of a pinch-hitter. Elliot Maddox (1970-80) was a valuable role player – a decent outfielder and an average hitter who could be stretched to play third base and who, in fact, played every position but pitcher and catcher at some point in his career. Eddie Miller (1936-50) was a brilliant defensive shortstop who could hit a dozen home runs a year. He was picked for seven all-star teams and received MVP votes in eight different seasons (though he only finished in the top 10 in the voting once). Eli Marrero (1997-2006) came up as a catcher with the Cardinals. He missed most of the 2000 season while recovering from thyroid cancer, and when he returned he was used a utility man who could play outfield, first or catch. He was never a very good hitter, but he was occasionally effective in a platoon role. Earl McNeely (1924-31) was an outfielder who, as a rookie, gave the Washington Senators their only World Series title, delivering a walk-off double in the bottom of the 12th in Game 7 to defeat the Giants. That was the highlight of his career.
Manager: Earle Mack, born Earle Thaddeus McGillicuddy, had bloodlines in his favor. The son of Connie Mack, he had a brief playing career and then became one of his dad’s coaches. Twice, in 1937 and 1939, he filled in for his dad as manager of the Philadelphia A’s. His career record was 45-77. Earle looks forward to the schedule dates when the Eddie Moneys take on the Cornbread Maxwells.
Manager: Earle Mack, born Earle Thaddeus McGillicuddy, had bloodlines in his favor. The son of Connie Mack, he had a brief playing career and then became one of his dad’s coaches. Twice, in 1937 and 1939, he filled in for his dad as manager of the Philadelphia A’s. His career record was 45-77. Earle looks forward to the schedule dates when the Eddie Moneys take on the Cornbread Maxwells.
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