Infield: First baseman Brad Eldred (2005- ) is a big, hulking slugger who has banged out more than 200 minor-league home runs but has never been able to stick in the majors. Eldred is 6-foot-6 and 270 pounds, and he can hit the ball a long, long way, but he strikes out way too much and has no real concept of the strike zone. He’s in his early 30s and could still conceivably make it back to the majors, but his chance at a sustained career has passed. Shortstop Bones Ely (1884-1902) was a tall (6-foot-1), skinny (155 pounds) guy who never hit much but was a decent enough fielder. He stuck around long enough to put up 1,300 hits but never did the things that put a lot of runs on the board. Third baseman Barry Evans (1978-82) showed some promise in the minors but got rushed to the big leagues with San Diego and never did much. Second baseman Bill Eagan (1891-98) about whom little is known, other than that he was known as “Bad Bill.” Either he was a tough guy or a counterfeiter.
Outfield: Bob Elliott (1939-53) was really a third baseman, but there is a tremendous shortage of B.E. outfielders, and since Elliott played more than 500 games in the outfield, he’ll start in right field here. Elliott was a very fine player who drove in more runs than any other major leaguer during the 1940s, in part because he played the whole decade without being drafted for military service (due to a head injury sustained in a beaning). He starred for the Pirates throughout his prime years. The Pirates traded him to the Boston Braves after the 1946 season and he immediately went out and won the NL MVP award. A line drive hitter who walked more than he struck out, Elliott finished his career with 1,195 RBI and 1,064 runs. Center fielder Bobby Estalella (1935-49) was a Cuban who played for three teams in the majors, rankling some observers who thought he was a black man. He was actually a terrific player who probably should have scored 1,000 runs in his career, but he played in an era when no one recognized the value of a good batting eye and the ability to get on base. His career batting average was .282, and on-base was .383. Every time he was given a chance to play, he got on base. Every time he got sent back to the minors, he tore them up. Even so he was not given regular playing time in the majors until his early 30s, and even then it was with terrible teams. Who knows what kind of career he might have had under different circumstances? He’ll bat leadoff on this team, and we’re looking for Bob Elliott to drive him in quite a bit. Left fielder Wild Bill Everitt (1895-1901) was a speedy singles hitter who played for the Cubs in the years before they got really good. He’ll bat second, in between Estalella and Elliott.
Catcher: Hall of Famer Buck Ewing (1880-97) was one of the earliest major stars in baseball, a man who commanded immense respect among those who played alongside him. He was primarily a catcher, but he moved all around the field and played literally even position at one time or another. A .300 hitter with good speed, he was a smart, tough competitior and a respected gentleman.
Rotation: Long Bob Ewing (1902-12) spent most of his career in Cincinnati, and in fact if he made it to the majors just a few years earlier he would have played for Buck Ewing (apparently no relation). Bob Ewing came to professional baseball late, did not arrive in the maors until he was 29, but still won 124 games. Bob Emslie (1883-85) had a 32-17 record for Baltimore in 1884, sandwiched between 9-13 and 3-14 records in his other two seasons, which you’ll have to admit is an innovative way to finish with a .500 record. Arm troubles ended his career early, but he spent more than three decades as an umpire (and was a key figure in the on-field confusion that led to the infamous play that involved Fred Merkle failing to touch second base). Barry Enright (2010- ) is a young starter with the Diamondbacks. He’s shown some ability buth as yet to prove he belongs in a major-league rotation. Bill Evans (1916-19) went 2-13 for the Pirates in parts of three seasons. Butch Edge (1979), no relation to that guy in U2, went 3-4 for the Blue Jays.
Bullpen: Brian Edmondson (1998-99) had a 4.98 career ERA, but he did have a save, so that makes him the closer here. Yeah, he was 9-12 and he walked almost as many batters as she struck out and he gave up a lot of home runs, but he still gets the job. Had a long, decent career in the minors. Lefty Bryan Eversgerd (1994-98) went 2-5 with a 5.16 ERA. Bill Edgerton (196-69) worked a handful of games for the Kansas City A’s and the Seattle Pilots. Bruce Ellingsen (1974) had a 3.21 ERA in 42 innings for the Indians. Cleveland had acquired him before the 1974 season in a trade with the Dodgers in a straight-up exchange for a young infield prospect. Some guy named Pedro Guerrero. That deal didn't work out so well for Cleveland. Bill Evans (1949-51), no relation to the starting pitcher of the same name, won 128 games in the minors but none in his brief time in the majors. Bart Evans (1998) appeared in eight games for the Royals, totaling nine innings. His career ERA was 2.00, and he struck out seven with no walks. His minor-league record gives no indication that he was any great shakes, but still, it would have been nice to see him get another shot in the bigs. Bruce Egloff (1991) pitched in a half-dozen games for the Indians.
Bench: Infielder Babe Ellison (1916-20) was a minor-league star – he once had 307 hits in a Pacific Coast League season – but never did much in the majors. He can play all over the field, and he will get plenty of playing time on this team. Outfielder Bob Edmondson (1906-08) was a decent minor-league hitter who didn’t do anything in the majors. He also pitched a little, which might come in handy out of this bullpen. Bruce Edwards (1946-56) was a talented young catcher on the Brooklyn Dodgers around the time of the “Boys of Summer.” He had a couple of good years in his early 20s, but then he never really developed and Roy Campanella arrived. Edwards played in a couple of all-star games and a couple of World Series before leaving the Dodgers and wandering around the majors for a few years. The other backup catcher, Bobby Estalella (1996-2004), was the grandson of the outfielder. He was a power hitter who struck out way too much. Bobby Etheridge (1967-69) was a third base prospect who didn’t pan out.
Manager: Buck Ewing will be the player-manager. He was a manger for six full seasons (all with winning records) and one partial season. His career record was 489-395. We expect him to be manuevering various outfielders and corner infielders around in an attempt to find the best possible lineup.
Outfield: Bob Elliott (1939-53) was really a third baseman, but there is a tremendous shortage of B.E. outfielders, and since Elliott played more than 500 games in the outfield, he’ll start in right field here. Elliott was a very fine player who drove in more runs than any other major leaguer during the 1940s, in part because he played the whole decade without being drafted for military service (due to a head injury sustained in a beaning). He starred for the Pirates throughout his prime years. The Pirates traded him to the Boston Braves after the 1946 season and he immediately went out and won the NL MVP award. A line drive hitter who walked more than he struck out, Elliott finished his career with 1,195 RBI and 1,064 runs. Center fielder Bobby Estalella (1935-49) was a Cuban who played for three teams in the majors, rankling some observers who thought he was a black man. He was actually a terrific player who probably should have scored 1,000 runs in his career, but he played in an era when no one recognized the value of a good batting eye and the ability to get on base. His career batting average was .282, and on-base was .383. Every time he was given a chance to play, he got on base. Every time he got sent back to the minors, he tore them up. Even so he was not given regular playing time in the majors until his early 30s, and even then it was with terrible teams. Who knows what kind of career he might have had under different circumstances? He’ll bat leadoff on this team, and we’re looking for Bob Elliott to drive him in quite a bit. Left fielder Wild Bill Everitt (1895-1901) was a speedy singles hitter who played for the Cubs in the years before they got really good. He’ll bat second, in between Estalella and Elliott.
Catcher: Hall of Famer Buck Ewing (1880-97) was one of the earliest major stars in baseball, a man who commanded immense respect among those who played alongside him. He was primarily a catcher, but he moved all around the field and played literally even position at one time or another. A .300 hitter with good speed, he was a smart, tough competitior and a respected gentleman.
Rotation: Long Bob Ewing (1902-12) spent most of his career in Cincinnati, and in fact if he made it to the majors just a few years earlier he would have played for Buck Ewing (apparently no relation). Bob Ewing came to professional baseball late, did not arrive in the maors until he was 29, but still won 124 games. Bob Emslie (1883-85) had a 32-17 record for Baltimore in 1884, sandwiched between 9-13 and 3-14 records in his other two seasons, which you’ll have to admit is an innovative way to finish with a .500 record. Arm troubles ended his career early, but he spent more than three decades as an umpire (and was a key figure in the on-field confusion that led to the infamous play that involved Fred Merkle failing to touch second base). Barry Enright (2010- ) is a young starter with the Diamondbacks. He’s shown some ability buth as yet to prove he belongs in a major-league rotation. Bill Evans (1916-19) went 2-13 for the Pirates in parts of three seasons. Butch Edge (1979), no relation to that guy in U2, went 3-4 for the Blue Jays.
Bullpen: Brian Edmondson (1998-99) had a 4.98 career ERA, but he did have a save, so that makes him the closer here. Yeah, he was 9-12 and he walked almost as many batters as she struck out and he gave up a lot of home runs, but he still gets the job. Had a long, decent career in the minors. Lefty Bryan Eversgerd (1994-98) went 2-5 with a 5.16 ERA. Bill Edgerton (196-69) worked a handful of games for the Kansas City A’s and the Seattle Pilots. Bruce Ellingsen (1974) had a 3.21 ERA in 42 innings for the Indians. Cleveland had acquired him before the 1974 season in a trade with the Dodgers in a straight-up exchange for a young infield prospect. Some guy named Pedro Guerrero. That deal didn't work out so well for Cleveland. Bill Evans (1949-51), no relation to the starting pitcher of the same name, won 128 games in the minors but none in his brief time in the majors. Bart Evans (1998) appeared in eight games for the Royals, totaling nine innings. His career ERA was 2.00, and he struck out seven with no walks. His minor-league record gives no indication that he was any great shakes, but still, it would have been nice to see him get another shot in the bigs. Bruce Egloff (1991) pitched in a half-dozen games for the Indians.
Bench: Infielder Babe Ellison (1916-20) was a minor-league star – he once had 307 hits in a Pacific Coast League season – but never did much in the majors. He can play all over the field, and he will get plenty of playing time on this team. Outfielder Bob Edmondson (1906-08) was a decent minor-league hitter who didn’t do anything in the majors. He also pitched a little, which might come in handy out of this bullpen. Bruce Edwards (1946-56) was a talented young catcher on the Brooklyn Dodgers around the time of the “Boys of Summer.” He had a couple of good years in his early 20s, but then he never really developed and Roy Campanella arrived. Edwards played in a couple of all-star games and a couple of World Series before leaving the Dodgers and wandering around the majors for a few years. The other backup catcher, Bobby Estalella (1996-2004), was the grandson of the outfielder. He was a power hitter who struck out way too much. Bobby Etheridge (1967-69) was a third base prospect who didn’t pan out.
Manager: Buck Ewing will be the player-manager. He was a manger for six full seasons (all with winning records) and one partial season. His career record was 489-395. We expect him to be manuevering various outfielders and corner infielders around in an attempt to find the best possible lineup.
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