AW: The Andy Williamses

Infield: Shortstop Artie Wilson was a Negro League star who hit for a high average, mostly singles, and stole a lot of bases. He was a such a great opposite-field hitter that some opposing teams began using exaggerated defensive shifts against him. After the color line fell, the Yankees bought Wilson’s contract but he refused to report because New York was offering him less than he was getting paid in Birmingham. Instead, he ended up playing for several years in the International League. Third baseman Art Whitney (1880-91) – not to be confused with Pinky Whitney, whose real first name was Arthur – played for eight teams in three leagues and batted .223. Second baseman Aaron Ward (1917-28) was the Yankees second baseman before Tony Lazzeri. He played on three pennant winners and a world champion, and he batted .417 in the 1923 World Series. First baseman Art Williams (1902) batted .228 in a brief trial with the Cubs.

Outfield: Center fielder Alan Wiggins (1981-87) was a slap-hitting speed burner for the San Diego Padres. He didn’t get on base enough to bat leadoff, but he stole up to 70 bases in a season (242 in his career). He had a drug problem and ultimately died of AIDS at age 32. His daughter Candice was an All-American basketball player at Stanford. Left fielder Absalom Wingo (1919-28) – how much fun is it to say that name? – was a .320 hitter in a long minor-league career and a .308 hitter in 493 games in the majors. He drew a good number of walks, pushing his on-base percentage over .400. In his best season, he batted .370 for the 1925 Tigers. That placed him third among Detroit outfielders – Cobb hit .378 and Heilmann .393. Right fielder Albert Wickland (1913-19) was a 5-foot-7 sprite who batted .270 and drew a ton of walks. He hit some doubles and triples.

Catcher: Art “Dutch” Wilson (1908-21) spent most of his career as a backup, but he was pretty good. He hit for a decent average, walked as often as he struck out, and had some line drive pop. He won three pennants with the New York Giants.

Rotation: Adam Wainwright (2005- ) won 19 games for the Cardinals in 2009 and finished third in the Cy Young voting, and then he won 20 games in 2010 and finished second in the voting. Before had had a chance to win 21 and a Cy Young in 2011, he blew out his elbow and had the Tommy John surgery. He came back strong, however, and in a neat bit of symmetry, he won 19 games in 2013 and 20 in 2014, finishing third and second again in the Cy voting. A stalwart of the Cardinals staff, with more than 140 career victories - and before he established himself in the rotation, he was the lights-out closer in the 2006 World Series run, famously buckling Carlos Beltran's knees to finish off the NLCS victory over the Mets. Lefty Alex Wood (2013- ) has been a consistently strong pitcher ever since he came up with the Braves at age 22. He went to the Dodgers in a huge three-team trade and has continued to pitch well, though  he has missed considerable time with elbow issues. When he's healthy, he is a nice complement to Wainwright atop this staff.   Al Widmar (1947-52) won 169 games in the minors but just 13 in the majors. He went on to a long career coaching in the minors and majors. Lefty Allen Watson (1993-2000) had a career record of 51-55 with a 5.03 ERA. Albert Williams (1980-84) won 35 games for the Twins.

Bullpen: Closer Al Worthington (1953-69) won 75 games and saved 110 for five teams. He held onto his value for a long time, and he led the AL in saves at age 39. Adam Warren (2012- ) has been a fine middle reliever, mostly for the Yankees. He was traded to the Cubs after the 2015 season for Starlin Castro, and then seven months later the Cubs shipped him back to the Yankees as part of a package of players in exchange for Aroldis Chapman. Alex Wilson (2013- ) has been a dependable set-up man for the Red Sox and the Tigers without ever attracting a lot of attention. Almon Williams (1937-38) had a career ERA of 6.24 and a 1-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Not 2-1, but 1-2. Augie Walsh (1927-28) had a career ERA of 6.05, which wasn’t helped none by pitching in the Baker Bowl in the late 1920s. Lefty Ace Williams (1940-46) – whose real name was Robert Fulton Williams – must have been a poker player, because he sure didn’t get his nickname on the mound. He pitched five games for the Boston Braves in 1940, neatly totaling nine innings. In those nine innings, he gave up (drumroll, please) 21 hits, a dozen walks, 17 runs (one of them unearned). No home runs, so at least he was keeping the ball in the park. He then went into the Navy during World War II, much to the chagrin of NL batters. In 1946 he returned to the Braves and made one appearance. He faced two batters, giving up one hit and one walk. That was it for his major-league career. He had a losing record in the minors, too. Alan Wirth (1978-80) was a young prospect with the A’s who struggled with the concept of the strike zone.

  Bench: Infielder Al Weis (1962-71) was a light-hitting glove man (light, as in, anorexic) who is best known for batting .455 during the 1969 World Series for the Amazin’ Mets. Al Woods (1977-86) was an outfielder with the expansion Blue Jays. He batted .271 in his career and had some line drive pop. Outfielder Ab Wright (1935-48) was a great minor-league star – 2,330 hits including 317 home runs – but he had little success in the majors during extended trials with the 1935 Indians and the 1944 Braves. Third baseman Andy Woehr (1923-24) batted .341 in a brief trial with the Phillies in 1923. Given more playing time in 1924, he batted .217 and was released. Backup catcher Art Weaver (1902-08) batted .183 for four teams. Arthur Coggshall Weaver was 6-foot-1 and 160 pounds, so skinny that someone decided he looked like the hands of a clock and nicknamed him “Six O’Clock.”

Manager: Alfred Wright managed the Philadelphia A’s to a 14-45 record in 1876. We’ll see what he can do with this assortment of talent.