DF: The Dennis Farinas

Infield: Shortstop Davy Force (1871-86), known as Wee Davy for his 5-foot-4 frame, was a slap-hitting dandy with a handlebar mustache. It’s hard to decipher fielding statistics from the 1870s, but while he was active Force had a reputation as a fine fielder. Nothing is remarkable about his statistics, but he was highly thought of when he was playing. Duke Farrell (1888-1905) was primarily a catcher but will move to his secondary position, third base, on this team. The rare 19th-century player who tipped the scales past 200 pounds, he was a big, strapping guy who led the American Association in home runs and RBI in 1891. He had a long, reasonably productive career – 1,500 hits, almost 1,000 RBI – and he hung around long enough to be a role player on the Boston Americans team that won the first World Series in 1903. First baseman Dee Fondy (1951-58) played for the Cubs for several years and was a decent hitter. He had no power to speak of but above-average speed. He has the distinction of being the last player to bat in Ebbets Field. Second baseman Doug Flynn (1975-85) was a fine glove and a good bunter, but he couldn’t hit his way out of a taco shell. He batted .238, had no power, no speed and wouldn’t take a walk. He was a backup for The Big Red Machine and won two World Series rings, but he did not appear in a World Series game.


Outfield: Center fielder Dexter Fowler (2008- ) hits a ton of triples. He’s a fast outfielder for the Colorado Rockies who is just now hitting his prime. He has yet to break through with a truly great season, but he’s awfully exciting to watch. Right fielder Disco Dan Ford (1975-85) was good for a dozen home runs per year, and he ran well enough. He hit 121 home runs for the Orioles, Angels and Twins. He was known as Disco Dan, in accordance with the fashions of the time, because he apparently enjoyed the night life and was a snappy dresser. Left fielder Doug Frobel (1982-87) just couldn’t hit. He looked like a pretty fair player in the minors, but at the big-league level he struggled mightily to hit his weight. When Willie Stargell played his last game, it was Doug Frobel who was sent in to pinch-run so that Pops could get one last ovation. The truth is, while Frobel is nominally listed as the starting left fielder, look for Dave Foutz to get a lot of action in left when he’s not pitching. (More on him later.)

Catcher: Darrin Fletcher (1989-2002) hit 124 career home runs. He spent most of his career north of the border, playing six years in Montreal and five in Toronto. He was known as one of the slowest baserunners of his time. He never scored 50 runs in a season, and he stole two bases during his career and was thrown out six times, though why any team would attempt to steal, or even hit-and-run, with Darrin Fletcher on base is beyond us. He will be known as Fletcher the Catcher.

Rotation: Dave Foutz (1884-96) won 147 games as a pitcher and also played regularly in the outfield and at first base. He had good speed and decent power, scoring 100 runs twice and driving in 100 runs twice as well. He was a tall, skinny guy – nicknamed “Scissors” because that’s what he looked like – and he played his whole career while suffering from asthma. It didn’t seem to affect him. His career winning percentage (147-66, .690) is among the top five of all time. Dick Fowler (1941-52) was born in Oneonta, New York, and lived there his whole life, just a stone’s throw from Cooperstown, but that’s as close as he would ever get to the Hall of Fame. He did have some pretty good years for the Philadelphia A’s, but his career record was a not-exactly-Foutzian 66-79. David “Boo” Ferriss (1945-50) served in World War II and then came back and went 21-10 and 25-6 for the Red Sox in his first two seasons in the majors. He appeared to be on the verge of a great career, but arm injuries set in and he was done before he turned 30. (Like Foutz, he had asthma, and his career winning percentage was .684, so if you know an asthmatic kid with the initials D.F., buy him an inhaler and teach him to throw.) Ferriss went on to a legendary coaching career at Delta State University, winning more than 600 games. Doug Fister (2009- ) came up with the Mariners but currently pitches for Detroit. He has excellent control, keeps the ball in the park and generally doesn’t hurt himself. Daniel Sebastian Friend (1895-98) won 32 games for the Chicago Colts/Orphans late in the 19th century.

Bullpen: Closer Danny Frisella (1967-76) was a pretty fair reliever who started out with the Mets and then became a journeyman. He had 57 saves and was in the prime of his career when he died in a dune buggy accident on New Year’s Day 1977. Don Ferrarese (1955-62) was a journeyman lefty swingman who won 19 games. Dave Freisleben (1974-79) went 34-60, mostly for the San Diego Padres. Dave Ford (19778-81) was a role player out of Earl Weaver’s Baltimore bullpen for a few years. Dave Fleming (1991-95) was a tall lefty who won 17 games for the Mariners in 1992 but flamed out pretty quickly. Those 17 wins represented almost half of his career wins. He’ll be a long reliever and spot starter here. Dave Frost (1977-82) was a 6-foot-6 righty who spent most of his career with the Angels. His 16 wins in 1979 represent almost half of his career total, so he and Fleming are like bookends. Lefty Don Florence (1995) pitched a handful of games for the Mets. He did not pitch particulary well – 17 hits in 12 innings, with five strikeouts and six walks – but his career record was 3-0 with a 1.50 ERA.

Bench: David Freese (2010- ) is pressing hard for the third base job, which would turn Duke Farrell into a super-utility player. He is a remarkably consistent .295-.300 hitter with mid-range power, and his heroics in the 2012 postseason have already made him a St. Louis legend. Freese batted .545 with three home runs in the NLCS, and then batted .348 in the World Series and hit the walk-off home run that capped the incredible theatrics of Game 6. In 18 postseason games he batted .397 with 21 RBI. If Freese takes over the starting job at third, that would make Farrell the primary backup catcher. That would mean even less playing time for catcher Dan Firova (1981-88), who went 0-for-7 in his big-league career. Utility infielder Doc Farrell (1926-35), a 5-foot-8 man who worked as a dentist in the offseason, is the only guy who ever played for the New York Yankees, New York Giants, Boston Braves and Boston Red Sox. Dickie Flowers (1871-72) was an infielder who played regularly at age 21 and then disappeared from baseball after a few games the next season. Darren Ford (2010- ) is a speed-burning outfielder in the Giants organization who has yet to gain a foothold in the majors. He has stolen more than 300 bases in the minors.

Manager: Dave Foutz will serve as player-manager, since we figure he’s not already busy enough as the ace of the rotation and the starting left fielder. He had a winning record in four seasons as player-manager of the Brooklyn Grooms. He will receive considerable assistance from Dave Ferriss.