Infield: Albert Pujols (2001- ) will likely rival Jimmie Foxx for the title of the second-best first baseman of all time, behind the Iron Horse. For most of his career in St. Louis he was a .300-30-100 machine with 90-100 walks a year. Actually that sells him short - in his prime he was more like a .330-45-120 batter, with fine defense. Now a shell of the player he was in his prime, he is still a powerful slugger for the Angels. He probably won't reach 700 home runs, but he's a good bet to become the sixth player in history with 2,000 career RBI. In the first 11 years of his career, he scored 100 runs 10 times and drove in 100 runs 10 times. The only year he didn't score 100, he scored 99. The only year he didn't drive in 100, he drove in 99. He has won three MVP awards and finished second in the voting four times. As a bonus, he plays Gold Glove defense. On top of it all, he is a respected, soft-spoken man who has not had a hint of controversy in his career. Third baseman Art Phelan (1910-15) was a speedy third baseman who hit a lot of triples. He was a regular for one year with the Reds and one year with the Cubs, and a semi-regular in another season, but he never hit enough to nail down a full-time job. Second baseman Arquimedez Pozo (1995-97) had some spectacular seasons as a young minor-leaguer, establishing himself as a hot prospect. He never got things together in the majors, struggling in a few dozen games with the Red Sox, and he never made it back to the majors after age 23. By his mid-20s, he was playing in Japan and Mexico. Shortstop Al Pedrique (1987-89) batted .300 in a partial season with Pittsburgh but he struggled to hit .200 after that.
Outfield: Center fielder A.J. Pollock (2012- ) is right in the middle of his career with the Diamondbacks, and it's hard to say with any certainty how that career will turn out. He's got lots of talent, as evidenced by a 2015 season when he batted .315 with 20 home runs and 111 runs, stealing 39 bases and winning the Gold Glove. But he's battled injuries since then. If he gets back on track and stays healthy, he could be a second-line star in his 30s. Right fielder Angel Pagan (2006-16 ) was a speedster, a pretty fair hitter, and a good defensive center fielder. He's a very useful player and could even see some starting time on this roster. Left fielder Andy Pafko (1943-59) had a long career with the Cubs and the Braves, with a couple of years in Brooklyn in between (he was the left fielder who watched Bobby Thomson’s “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” sail over his head). Pafko was a good player, a .285 career hitter with 213 career home runs and 976 RBI.
Catcher: A.J. Pierzynski (1998-2016) wasn’t great, but he was consistent enough to play regularly into his late 30s, pushing past the 2,000-hit mark that, for catchers, is generally reserved for much greater players than he. He hit for a decent average and was good for double-digit home runs. He was a pepperpot type who gets under the skin of opposing players and fans, but he gets the job done. (In truth, "pepperpot" is probably a euphemism for the type of word we don't use in this family-friendly blog.) In perhaps the most famous play of his long career, he literally stole an ALCS game from the Angels in 2005. somehow convincing the confused umpiring crew - several seconds after he had struck out to end the ninth inning in a tie game - that the pitch had bounced in the dirt. He would score the winning run, a key moment in the White Sox's road to the World Series championship that year.
Rotation: Lefty Andy Pettitte (1995-2010) was the right guy with the right team in the right era. He was a durable, dependable pitcher who arrived with the Yankees at the same time as Jeter, Rivera, Bernie, Posada and Co. He never won an ERA title and was only in the top 10 three times, but he was always good, and he played for good teams. As a result, he won 240 games with a .635 winning percentage, and he played for eight pennant winners and five World Series champs. He won 19 postseason games and developed a reputation as a big-game pitcher. That reputation, as well as his image as a soft-spoken and well-liked ballplayer, made him one of the few players to remain popular even after admitting to steroid use. Arlie Pond (1895-98) – real name Erasmus Arlington Pond – went 16-8 for the Baltimore Orioles in 1896 and 18-9 in 1897. He had earned a medical degree from University of Vermont before signing with the Oriole, and he did his residency and studied surgery at Johns Hopkins while in Baltimore. He pitched a 5-hit shutout in his final game before leaving to become acting assistant surgeon of the U.S. Army during the Spanish-American War. He eventually founded a hospital in the Phillippines to treat lepers and became a hero in that country. Ariel Prieto (1995-2001) was a Cuban star who defected to the U.S., signed with the Oakland A’s and was expected to be an instant sensation. It didn’t happen. He was never more than an average pitcher in the majors, and he finished with a 15-24 record and a 4.85 ERA for his career. Arnie Portocarrero (1954-60) went 15-11 for the 1958 Orioles; in the rest of his career his record was 23-46. Al Pratt (1871-72) had a career record of 12-26. His full name was Albert, and his nickname was Uncle Al, so we’ll play Paul McCartney while he warms up.
Bullpen: Closer Alejandro Pena (1981-96) was a terrific pitcher who won the N.L. ERA title at age 25 before a shoulder injury forced his move to the bullpen. He was outstanding there, working in mostly set-up relief but logging enough time as a closer to save 74 games in his career. His work as a fill-in closer was critical to the Atlanta Braves’ stretch drive in 1991. He won World Series titles in Los Angeles and Atlanta, and his career postseason ERA was 2.03. Aaron Poreda (2009-14) was a 6-foot-6 lefty taken in the first round of the 2007 draft by the White Sox. He bounced around a bit, had Tommy John Surgery, got hit hard in a few outings for the Rangers in 2014, and later spent a year pitching in Japan. Adam Peterson (1987-91) got several shots with the White Sox but generally got clobbered. Lefty Ambrose Puttman (1903-06) had a couple of 20-win seasons in the minors but never had much success in the majors; the best thing about him is that if you see his photograph at baseballreference.com, he actually looks like an Ambrose Puttman. Alfonso Pulido (1983-86) was a Mexican lefty who pitched a few games for the Pirates and the Yankees. Al Pierotti (1920-21) pitched well for the Boston Braves in 1920, with a 2.88 ERA in 25 innings at age 25. The following season he got hit hard in two outings and went back to the minors and won 22 games. And then he was out of pro baseball a year later. Abner Powell (1884-86) was not a good pitcher. His career ERA of 4.00 was pretty weak in the era when he pitched, and then there’s the little detail that he gave up almost as many unearned runs as earned, which helps to explain his career record of 8-18.
Bench: Outfielder Adolfo Phillips (1964-72) arrived in the majors as a hot power-speed prospect. When the Chicago Cubs acquired Phillips from the Astros, future Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins was a throw-in. Leo Durocher, who had developed a young Willie Mays with the Giants, thought he had hit the jackpot again with Phillips – but it wasn’t to be. He stole 30 bases a couple of times, he could reach 15-20 home runs and he played solid defense. But he didn’t like the expectations that were heaped upon him, and he preferred to bat at the bottom of the order. He faded fast and was done at age 30. Infielder Ace Parker (1937-38) batted .179 for the Philadelphia A's, but he is a legend here in Southeastern Virginia - a multi-sport star at Duke University (later baseball coach there for more than a decade), an NFL Hall of Famer and an outstanding golfer. Ace lived to be 101 years old, and in his late 90s was still hitting 'em straight down the fairway at the country club he founded. A truly fine man. Outfielder Albie Pearson (1958-66) was a tiny little slap hitter who almost never struck out. He was listed at 5-foot-5 and 140 pounds, and he used that small frame to draw tons of walks. He played mostly center field but he’ll shift to right to accommodate Adolfo Phillips. Antonio Perez (2003-06) was a quick utility infielder who didn't hit much. Backup catcher Angel Pena (1998-2001) batted .209 for the Dodgers.
Manager: Hall of Famer Alex Pompez was never formally a manager, but his resume is sufficient for him to get the job here. A Cuban immigrant and an operator of illegal gambling operations, he was an influential owner and promoter in the Negro Leagues for many years. After the demise of the Negro Leagues, he worked as a scout for the New York (and later San Francisco) Giants, and he played a key role in bringing Caribbean and Latin American players to the majors. We think he’ll do a good job here, and we’re hoping he’ll get some more production out of Ariel Prieto.
Outfield: Center fielder A.J. Pollock (2012- ) is right in the middle of his career with the Diamondbacks, and it's hard to say with any certainty how that career will turn out. He's got lots of talent, as evidenced by a 2015 season when he batted .315 with 20 home runs and 111 runs, stealing 39 bases and winning the Gold Glove. But he's battled injuries since then. If he gets back on track and stays healthy, he could be a second-line star in his 30s. Right fielder Angel Pagan (2006-16 ) was a speedster, a pretty fair hitter, and a good defensive center fielder. He's a very useful player and could even see some starting time on this roster. Left fielder Andy Pafko (1943-59) had a long career with the Cubs and the Braves, with a couple of years in Brooklyn in between (he was the left fielder who watched Bobby Thomson’s “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” sail over his head). Pafko was a good player, a .285 career hitter with 213 career home runs and 976 RBI.
Catcher: A.J. Pierzynski (1998-2016) wasn’t great, but he was consistent enough to play regularly into his late 30s, pushing past the 2,000-hit mark that, for catchers, is generally reserved for much greater players than he. He hit for a decent average and was good for double-digit home runs. He was a pepperpot type who gets under the skin of opposing players and fans, but he gets the job done. (In truth, "pepperpot" is probably a euphemism for the type of word we don't use in this family-friendly blog.) In perhaps the most famous play of his long career, he literally stole an ALCS game from the Angels in 2005. somehow convincing the confused umpiring crew - several seconds after he had struck out to end the ninth inning in a tie game - that the pitch had bounced in the dirt. He would score the winning run, a key moment in the White Sox's road to the World Series championship that year.
Rotation: Lefty Andy Pettitte (1995-2010) was the right guy with the right team in the right era. He was a durable, dependable pitcher who arrived with the Yankees at the same time as Jeter, Rivera, Bernie, Posada and Co. He never won an ERA title and was only in the top 10 three times, but he was always good, and he played for good teams. As a result, he won 240 games with a .635 winning percentage, and he played for eight pennant winners and five World Series champs. He won 19 postseason games and developed a reputation as a big-game pitcher. That reputation, as well as his image as a soft-spoken and well-liked ballplayer, made him one of the few players to remain popular even after admitting to steroid use. Arlie Pond (1895-98) – real name Erasmus Arlington Pond – went 16-8 for the Baltimore Orioles in 1896 and 18-9 in 1897. He had earned a medical degree from University of Vermont before signing with the Oriole, and he did his residency and studied surgery at Johns Hopkins while in Baltimore. He pitched a 5-hit shutout in his final game before leaving to become acting assistant surgeon of the U.S. Army during the Spanish-American War. He eventually founded a hospital in the Phillippines to treat lepers and became a hero in that country. Ariel Prieto (1995-2001) was a Cuban star who defected to the U.S., signed with the Oakland A’s and was expected to be an instant sensation. It didn’t happen. He was never more than an average pitcher in the majors, and he finished with a 15-24 record and a 4.85 ERA for his career. Arnie Portocarrero (1954-60) went 15-11 for the 1958 Orioles; in the rest of his career his record was 23-46. Al Pratt (1871-72) had a career record of 12-26. His full name was Albert, and his nickname was Uncle Al, so we’ll play Paul McCartney while he warms up.
Bullpen: Closer Alejandro Pena (1981-96) was a terrific pitcher who won the N.L. ERA title at age 25 before a shoulder injury forced his move to the bullpen. He was outstanding there, working in mostly set-up relief but logging enough time as a closer to save 74 games in his career. His work as a fill-in closer was critical to the Atlanta Braves’ stretch drive in 1991. He won World Series titles in Los Angeles and Atlanta, and his career postseason ERA was 2.03. Aaron Poreda (2009-14) was a 6-foot-6 lefty taken in the first round of the 2007 draft by the White Sox. He bounced around a bit, had Tommy John Surgery, got hit hard in a few outings for the Rangers in 2014, and later spent a year pitching in Japan. Adam Peterson (1987-91) got several shots with the White Sox but generally got clobbered. Lefty Ambrose Puttman (1903-06) had a couple of 20-win seasons in the minors but never had much success in the majors; the best thing about him is that if you see his photograph at baseballreference.com, he actually looks like an Ambrose Puttman. Alfonso Pulido (1983-86) was a Mexican lefty who pitched a few games for the Pirates and the Yankees. Al Pierotti (1920-21) pitched well for the Boston Braves in 1920, with a 2.88 ERA in 25 innings at age 25. The following season he got hit hard in two outings and went back to the minors and won 22 games. And then he was out of pro baseball a year later. Abner Powell (1884-86) was not a good pitcher. His career ERA of 4.00 was pretty weak in the era when he pitched, and then there’s the little detail that he gave up almost as many unearned runs as earned, which helps to explain his career record of 8-18.
Bench: Outfielder Adolfo Phillips (1964-72) arrived in the majors as a hot power-speed prospect. When the Chicago Cubs acquired Phillips from the Astros, future Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins was a throw-in. Leo Durocher, who had developed a young Willie Mays with the Giants, thought he had hit the jackpot again with Phillips – but it wasn’t to be. He stole 30 bases a couple of times, he could reach 15-20 home runs and he played solid defense. But he didn’t like the expectations that were heaped upon him, and he preferred to bat at the bottom of the order. He faded fast and was done at age 30. Infielder Ace Parker (1937-38) batted .179 for the Philadelphia A's, but he is a legend here in Southeastern Virginia - a multi-sport star at Duke University (later baseball coach there for more than a decade), an NFL Hall of Famer and an outstanding golfer. Ace lived to be 101 years old, and in his late 90s was still hitting 'em straight down the fairway at the country club he founded. A truly fine man. Outfielder Albie Pearson (1958-66) was a tiny little slap hitter who almost never struck out. He was listed at 5-foot-5 and 140 pounds, and he used that small frame to draw tons of walks. He played mostly center field but he’ll shift to right to accommodate Adolfo Phillips. Antonio Perez (2003-06) was a quick utility infielder who didn't hit much. Backup catcher Angel Pena (1998-2001) batted .209 for the Dodgers.
Manager: Hall of Famer Alex Pompez was never formally a manager, but his resume is sufficient for him to get the job here. A Cuban immigrant and an operator of illegal gambling operations, he was an influential owner and promoter in the Negro Leagues for many years. After the demise of the Negro Leagues, he worked as a scout for the New York (and later San Francisco) Giants, and he played a key role in bringing Caribbean and Latin American players to the majors. We think he’ll do a good job here, and we’re hoping he’ll get some more production out of Ariel Prieto.
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