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Men Among Giants

by Kent Krause

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Reflections from a Cardinals Fan

“It’s hard to explain how this happened.” – Tony LaRussa.

I agree. I’m a Cardinal fan, but I admit I did not see this coming. Certainly not in August when St. Louis dropped two of three to the Cubs and then got swept at home by the Dodgers. Milwaukee’s lead had reached double digits and there was no way my beloved birds were going to catch them. But they did catch Atlanta for the Wild Card after the Braves dropped their last five games of the season. The Cards then vanquished the Phillies, Brewers, and Rangers to win their 11th world championship. It was an improbable conclusion to one of baseball’s most memorable seasons. Below are some reflections and random thoughts about what happened:

David Freese truly deserved his World Series MVP. In 2007, the Cardinals traded Jim Edmonds to get him from San Diego. Four years later, that move is paying big dividends. Edmonds was one of the all-time Cardinal greats, and in retirement he is the gift that keeps on giving.

Tony LaRussa (and baseball managers in general) usually receive too much credit for victories and too much blame for defeats. It’s the players who decide the outcome of the games. That said, TLR made some nice moves to help his team win this postseason. Most notably, the relief pitchers he deployed in the NLCS did an outstanding job of neutralizing the Brewers big bats. On the other hand, Game 5 against the Rangers was one of the worst managed games in WS history. Had St. Louis not eventually prevailed in the Series, the dark cloud of those poor decisions could have lingered over Busch Stadium all winter. As it is, Phonegate is now little more than a footnote.

I never liked Lance Berkman much when he was with the Astros all those years. Now that he is wearing the Birds on the Bat, he’s one of my favorite players. Funny how that goes.

That was really nice of Prince Fielder to give the Cardinals home field advantage in the World Series. Thank you, Mr. Fielder.

Wonder how many analysts picked the Cards to win the World Series after they lost their best pitcher Adam Wainwright for the entire season.

Rangers pitcher C.J. Wilson reminds me of Garret Dillahunt from Raising Hope.

I’m glad the World Series ended in October. That’s the way it should be. Baseball in November is just not right. Abner Doubleday would agree with me. I know he did not invent baseball, but still, he and most other Civil War generals would not want to see World Series games played in the same month as Thanksgiving. I don’t like the Super Bowl in February either.

Football may be more popular and basketball has a faster pace, but baseball is the best sport. The drama, the tension, the moves and countermoves, the duels, the plots and the subplots—there’s just nothing like baseball. It’s true today, just as it was true a hundred years ago. The only time it’s not true is when teams I don’t like win the World Series.

I’ve seen it a hundred times, but that Taco Bell chalupa commercial with Brian Wilson still cracks me up. “Because I’m Black Ops!”

I feel bad for the Rangers, even more so after seeing the images of a forlorn Nolan Ryan late in Game 7. Hopefully Ron Washington and his team will someday win a title for this organization. The Rangers lineup is loaded, so it could happen next year.

With the Cardinals overcoming such insurmountable odds to win the championship, I may have to abandon the usual pessimism I harbor when watching baseball. This pessimism, I should point out, was cultivated by Cardinal postseason failures in 1985, 1987, 1996, 2000-2002, 2004-2005, and 2009. Does this season make up for all those disappointments? Yeah, it kinda does. Especially when factoring in their other improbable world championship in 2006.

Pujols belongs in a Cardinals uniform.

Wow, it was a lot of fun watching baseball this October.

Spring Training is less than four months away!

Men Among Giants Book Tour

On Saturday, October 15th, I will be signing copies of Men Among Giants from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm at Barnes & Noble SouthPointe (2910 Pine Lake Road) in Lincoln, Nebraska.

On Saturday, December 3rd, I will be signing Men Among Giants from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at James Arthur Vineyards in Raymond, Nebraska.

Hope to see you there!

All-Time Greatest Baseball Players

Have you ever thought about your favorite team’s all-time greatest players? Of course you have. Me too. In fact, I have selected the best ballplayers, by position, for all 30 of the major league franchises. Click on the links below to view the teams.

NATIONAL LEAGUE                                          AMERICAN LEAGUE

Arizona Diamondbacks                                     Baltimore Orioles/St. Louis Browns
Atlanta/Milwaukee/Boston Braves                    Boston Red Sox
Chicago Cubs                                                     Chicago White Sox
Cincinnati Reds                                                  Cleveland Indians
Colorado Rockies                                              Detroit Tigers
Florida Marlins                                                    Kansas City Royals
Houston Astros                                                    Los Angeles/Anaheim/California Angels
Los Angeles/Brooklyn Dodgers                        Minnesota Twins/Washington Senators
Milwaukee Brewers/Seattle Pilots                    New York Yankees
New York Mets                                                    Oakland/KC/Philadelphia Athletics
Philadelphia Phillies                                           Seattle Mariners
Pittsburgh Pirates                                               Tampa Bay Rays
St. Louis Cardinals                                             Texas Rangers/Washington Senators
San Diego Padres                                              Toronto Blue Jays
San Francisco/New York Giants
Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos

When selecting players, I followed the following rules:

1. To be eligible for inclusion on a team, a player had to play at least FIVE seasons for that team.
2. Player statistics from before 1900 were not considered. Baseball was a different game in the 19th century (e.g. no foul strike rule until 1901). My apologies to fans of Cap Anson and Wee Willie Keeler.
3. A team may include no more than one pitcher who played more than half his career before 1920.
4. To be eligible for the DH spot, a player had to have been a DH for at least 20 games for that team.
5. The Bench spot is not for players who spent much time on the bench. It’s actually more like a "best-of-the-rest" position that allowed me to include one more great player on a team’s roster.
6. Only one team per franchise. So, for example, the Baltimore Orioles and St. Louis Browns are the same team. 

Exceptions to the five-year requirement in Rule # 1:

• For expansion teams that joined the league in 1977 or later, I dropped the requirement to 4 years; for the most recent arrivals to MLB, the Rays and Diamondbacks, I had to drop the requirement to 3 years.
• For closers the requirement is only 4 years; it’s a relatively new position and closers tend to move around a lot.

Arizona Diamondbacks

1B  Chad Tracy – Batted over .280 three consecutive seasons; hit 27 HRs in ’05; drove in 80 in ’06.
2B  Jay Bell – Decent power; drew 70+ walks three times for AZ; batted .289 with 38 HRs and 112 RBI in 1999.
SS  Tony Womack – Batted over .270 three times for AZ; led NL with 72 steals in ’99; led league with 14 triples in 2000.
3B  Matt Williams – Still had some pop in his bat when he joined the Snakes; batted .303 with 35 HR and 142 RBI in ’99; beats out Mark Reynolds and his mighty strikeouts.
OF  Luis Gonzalez – Hit 24+ HRs six times for AZ (57 in 2001); five straight 100-RBI seasons; knocked home the winning run in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series.
OF  Steve Finley – Batted .280 or better three times for AZ; hit HRs, stole bases, and drove in 89+ runs three times; Gold Glove winner in CF.
OF  Danny Bautista – Hit .296 over five seasons with AZ; batted .583 in 2001 World Series.
C  Damian Miller – Batted .270 or better four consecutive seasons for the Diamondbacks; hit 10+ HRs four times.
Bench  Stephen Drew – Batting over .270 for his career with four 12+ HR seasons (21 in ’08).
Pitcher  Randy Johnson – Won FOUR straight Cy Young Awards; led the NL in ERA three times; led NL in Ks five times; won three games in the 2001 World Series.
Pitcher  Curt Schilling – Led NL with 22 wins in ’01; won 23 a year later; went 4-0 in the 2001 postseason.
Pitcher  Brandon Webb – NL Cy Young winner in ’06; twice led the NL in wins; ERA never topped 3.60 in any of his six full seasons with AZ.
Closer  Jose Valverde – Led NL with 47 saves in ’07; three seasons with an ERA below 2.70.

Players from the 2001 World Series champs comprise the core of this team.

Atlanta/Milwaukee/Boston Braves

1B  Joe Adcock – Belted 25+ HRs five times for the Braves; McGriff didn’t play five seasons in Atlanta.
2B  Felix Millan – Gold Glove fielder; batted .289 or better three times for Atlanta.
SS  Rabbit Maranville – Excellent fielder for Boston with six 20+ SB seasons; a Hall of Famer, though he got more attention for his practical jokes than his hitting.
3B  Eddie Matthews – Ten seasons with 30+ HRs; drove in 90 or more runs 10 times; drew plenty of walks to boost the OBP.
OF  Hank Aaron – Career .305 BA; MLB’s all-time RBI leader with 2,297; won three Gold Gloves; still the real home run king.
OF  Dale Murphy – Back-to-back NL MVP Awards (1982-83); five seasons with 36+ HRs; won five straight Gold Gloves.
OF  Andruw Jones – Big RBI producer with seven 30+ HR seasons (51 in ’05); TEN straight Gold Gloves.
C  Javy Lopez – Dangerous hitter; topped 20 HRs five times for Atlanta (43 in ’03).
Bench  Chipper Jones – Nine 100+ RBI seasons; batted over .300 ten times; won MVP in ’99 when he hit 45 HRs and stole 25 bases.
Pitcher  Warren Spahn – Won 20+ games THIRTEEN times; led NL in ERA four times; tossed 63 shutouts.
Pitcher  Greg Maddux – Top NL pitcher of the ’90s; led league in ERA four times; won 15+ games all 11 years in Atlanta; perennial Gold Glover.
Pitcher  Phil Niekro – Recorded 15+ wins eleven times; ERA below 3.00 six times (1.87 in ’67); won four Gold Gloves; barely edges out Glavine for this spot.
Closer  John Smoltz – Averaged 48 saves a season in 2002-2004; won over 200 games for Atlanta as a starter.

Question: Which one of these all-time Braves greats played for the franchise in all three cities?
Answer: Eddie Matthews

Chicago Cubs

1B  Mark Grace – MLB’s hit leader for the ’90s; batted over .300 nine times; hit .647 in the ’89 NLCS; four Gold Gloves.
2B  Ryne Sandberg – Outstanding fielder (nine straight Gold Gloves) with speed and power; NL MVP in ’84; stole 30+ bases five times.
SS  Ernie Banks – Two-time NL MVP; hit 40+ HRs five times; drove in 100+ RBI eight times (143 in ’59); ready to play two.
3B  Ron Santo – Power hitter with eight 90+ RBI seasons; twice led the NL in OBP; won five straight Gold Gloves.
OF  Hack Wilson – Led the NL in HRs four times; hit over .300 and drove in 100+ runs in five of his six years in Chicago; his 191 RBI in ’30 remains the MLB single-season record.
OF  Billy Williams – Consistent hitter with 13 seasons of 20+ HRs for Chicago (42 in 1970); drove in 90 or more runs ten times; won NL batting title in ’72 with .333 mark.
OF  Sammy Sosa – Became a disciplined and dangerous hitter as a Cub; PEDs inflated his stats, but even without the ’roids, he still would’ve put up outstanding numbers.
C  Gabby Hartnett – Hit the “Homer in the Gloamin’” to help win the NL flag for Chicago in ’38; a great catcher, offensively and defensively; batted .299 or better seven times; NL MVP in ’35.
Bench  Kiki Cuyler – Batted .330 or better four times as a Cub; led the NL in steals three seasons in a row (1928-30); decent power.
Pitcher  Mordecai Brown – Devastating curveball; won 25 or more games four times; posted an ERA below 2.00 five straight seasons (1.04 in ’06).
Pitcher  Ferguson Jenkins – Won 20+ games for Chicago six consecutive years (1967-72); workhorse with four 300-inning seasons as a Cub; led NL in Ks in ’69.
Pitcher  Lon Warneke – Won 20 games three times; led NL in wins, ERA, and winning pct. in 1932; posted an ERA of 2.00 the following year; won two games in the ’35 World Series.
Closer  Lee Smith – Led NL with 29 saves in ’83; recorded 30+ saves for Chicago in the four seasons that followed.

Some great ballplayers here ... and one of them even won a world championship with the Cubs.

Cincinnati Reds

1B  Ted Kluszewski – Batted over .300 seven times; averaged 43 HRs a season from ’53 to ’56; drove in 100 or more runs five times.
2B  Joe Morgan – One of the best ever at 2B; two-time MVP; OPB topped .400 six straight years; stole 50+ bases five times; won five consecutive Gold Gloves.
SS  Barry Larkin – Batted over .300 nine times; three Gold Gloves; NL MVP in ’95; 379 SBs.
3B  Pete Rose – Won three batting titles; scored 100+ runs ten times; got a few hits too.
OF  Edd Roush – Batted over .320 ten times; won two NL batting titles; good glove in CF.
OF  Frank Robinson – Hit 30+ HRs seven times for Cincy; led the NL in slugging three straight seasons; scored 100+ runs six times.
OF  George Foster – NL MVP in ’77 (.320, 52, 139); batted .300 or better 4 times; 90+ RBI six straight seasons.
C  Johnny Bench – Greatest catcher in NL history; two-time MVP; six 100+ RBI seasons; 389 HRs; TEN consecutive Gold Gloves.
Bench  Vada Pinson – Topped 200 hits four times (batted .343 in ’61); five 20-20 seasons; scored 90+ runs eight times; Gold Glove winner.
Pitcher  Bucky Walters – Led the NL in wins 3 times; posted an ERA below 3.00 seven times; won 2 games in the ’40 World Series.
Pitcher  Paul Derringer – Four-time 20-game winner; led NL in winning pct. in ’39; also won 2 games for Cincy in the ’40 World Series.
Pitcher  Eppa Rixey – Won 19+ games five times as a Red (25 in ’22); tossed 280 innings or more five times.
Closer  John Franco – Averaged 34 saves a season from 1986 to 1989; Danny Graves saved more games for the Reds, but Franco’s ERA is much lower.

A Very Big Red Machine.

Colorado Rockies

1B  Todd Helton – Six straight seasons with 30+ HRs (49 in ’01); batted .372 with 147 RBI in 2000; OBP topped .400 nine times; three Gold Gloves.
2B  Eric Young – Batted .295 and stole 30+ bases four times for Colorado; led NL with 9 triples in ’95.
SS  Troy Tulowitzki – Power hitter with three 90-RBI seasons for the Rockies; won Gold Glove in 2010.
3B  Vinny Castilla – Hit 40 or more HRs three times; drove in 100-RBI five times (144 in 1998).
OF  Larry Walker – Won three NL batting titles; MVP in ’97 (.366, 49, 130); Gold Glove defense in RF.
OF  Matt Holliday – Batted over .300 four times for Colorado (.340 in ’07); led NL with 137 RBI in ’07; stole 28 bases in ’08.
OF  Dante Bichette – Drove in 118 or more runs 5 straight years (141 in ’96); led NL with 40 HRs in ’95; batted .316 during seven seasons with Colorado.
C  Jeff Reed – Batted .286 for Colorado (1996-99); hit 17 HRs in 90 games in ’97.
Bench  Andres Galarraga – An offensive force in Denver; won batting title in ’93 with .370 mark; led NL with 47 HRs and 150 RBI in ’96.
Pitcher  Ubaldo Jimenez – Posted three straight sub-4.00 ERA seasons for Colorado; went 19-8 with a 2.88 ERA in 2010.
Pitcher  Pedro Astacio – Won 42 games from ’98 to 2000; don’t ask about the ERA, this is Colorado.
Pitcher  Jeff Francis – Won 13+ games three times for Colorado; helped the Rockies capture the NL flag in ’07 with 17 wins during the season and two in the playoffs.
Closer  Brian Fuentes – Posted three sub-3.00 ERA seasons for the Rockies; saved at least 30 games three times.

True to form, this team would score lots of runs and give up lots of runs.

Florida Marlins

1B  Derrek Lee – Four straight seasons with a .270+ BA and 20+ HRs; contributed 92 RBI, 21 SBs, and a Gold Glove during Florida’s ’03 championship season.
2B  Luis Castillo – Led NL in steals twice; batted .293 in 10 seasons with the Fish; won three straight Gold Gloves.
SS  Hanley Ramirez – Hits for power and average; led NL with .342 mark in ’09; scored 100+ runs 4 straight years.
3B  Mike Lowell – Home run hitter with four 90+ RBI seasons in Florida; won Gold Glove in ’05.
OF  Gary Sheffield – Provided power during the Marlins’ early years; crushed the ball in ’96 (.314, 42 HR, 120 RBI, 118 R).
OF  Miguel Cabrera – Four straight 100+ RBI seasons for the Fish; batted .313 during his five years in Florida; hit 33+ HRs three times.
OF  Jeff Conine – Mr. Marlin; batted .290 or better five times for Florida; averaged 25 HRs and 100 RBI in 1995-96 seasons.
C  Charles Johnson – Won four straight Gold Gloves behind the plate; decent power.
Bench  Dan Uggla – Slugged 30+ HRs four straight years; delivered at least 88 RBI all five of his seasons in Florida.
Pitcher  Josh Johnson – One of the NL’s top pitchers; led league with 2.30 ERA in 2010.
Pitcher  Dontrelle Willis – Won 10+ games all five of his seasons in Florida; led NL with 22 wins in ’05.
Pitcher  Josh Beckett – Emerged as a star during ’03 season; won World Series MVP; went 15-8 in ’05.
Closer  Robb Nen – Saved 108 games for Florida from 1994-97; posted 1.95 ERA in ’96.

For a young franchise, the Marlins boast an impressive roster of star players. Most of them didn't stay in Florida very long though.

Houston Astros

1B  Jeff Bagwell – Slugged 39+ HRs six times; eight 100-RBI seasons; NL MVP in ’94 (.368, 39, 116 in strike-shortened season).
2B  Craig Biggio – OBP topped .380 eight straight years; hit 20+ HRs eight times; 414 career SBs; won four consecutive Gold Gloves.
SS  Craig Reynolds – Known more for his fielding than hitting, though he did lead the NL in triples in ’81.
3B  Doug Rader – Excellent fielder (five straight Gold Gloves) with decent power.
OF  Lance Berkman – Power-hitting Killer B; six 100-RBI seasons; drew loads of walks to push his OBP over .400 seven times.
OF  Cesar Cedano – Stole 50+ bases six straight years; slugged over .450 eight times; won five Gold Gloves.
OF  Jose Cruz – Batted .300 or better six times; RBI-producer with five seasons of 30+ SBs.
C  Brad Ausmus – Reached postseason four times with Houston; excellent defensive catcher with three Gold Gloves.
Bench  Jimmy Wynn – The Toy Cannon boomed 20+ HRs eight times (37 in ’67); could steal a base and drew 100+ walks three times in Houston.
Pitcher  Nolan Ryan – Twice led the NL in ERA (1.69 in ’81); twice led the NL in Ks; posted an ERA of 3.52 or lower in eight of nine years in Houston.
Pitcher  J.R. Richard – Dominating during four straight 18+ win seasons; led the NL in Ks twice and ERA once; was nearly unhittable in ’80 before a stroke ended his career.
Pitcher  Roy Oswalt – Won 17+ games four times; playoff wins in ’05 propelled Houston to the World Series; won ERA title in ’06; Mike Scott or Joe Niekro would also be a strong choice.
Closer  Billy Wagner – Five seasons with 30+ saves (44 in ’03); twice posted a sub-2.00 ERA for Houston.

And this team would take the field wearing the greatest uniforms in Astros history. Yes, I’m talking about the bright orange, yellow, and red stripes of the late ’70s.

Los Angeles/Brooklyn Dodgers

1B  Gil Hodges – Power hitter with seven consecutive 100-RBI seasons; drew a lot of walks and won 2 Gold Gloves.
2B  Jackie Robinson – Career .311 hitter who scored 99+ runs seven times; NL MVP in ’49 (.342, 16, 124); OBP topped .400 six straight years; twice led the NL in steals.
SS  Pee Wee Reese – Leadoff hitter who got on base and scored runs; OBP topped .370 seven times; led NL in steals in ’52; good fielder too.
3B  Ron Cey – The Penguin hit 23+ HRs seven times for LA; drove in runs and drew walks.
OF  Zack Wheat – Hit .335 or better five times; won batting title in 1918; Dodgers career leader in doubles and triples.
OF  Duke Snider – An offensive force; slammed 40+ HRs five consecutive seasons; produced 100+ RBI six times (136 in ’55); led NL in runs scored 3 times.
OF  Carl Furillo – Drove in 90 or more runs six times; won NL batting title in ’53 (.344); hit 18+ HRs seven times.
C  Roy Campanella – Three-time MVP; hit 30+ HRs four times; threw out 51% of would-be base stealers for his career.
Bench  Steve Garvey – Batted .300 or better seven times; five seasons with 100+ RBI; won four Gold Gloves; MVP in ’74.
Pitcher  Sandy Koufax – Dominant lefty; won five straight ERA titles; led NL in Ks four times; tossed four no-hitters; posted 111-34 record from 1962-66.
Pitcher  Don Drysdale – Won 17+ games six times (25 in ’62); led NL in Ks 3 times; career 2.95 ERA.
Pitcher  Dazzy Vance – Led NL in Ks seven straight years; won 18+ games five times (28 in 1924); led NL in ERA three times.
Closer  Jim Brewer – Posted a sub-3.00 ERA seven times for the Dodgers (1.26 in ’72); saved 125 games for LA.

The Boys of Summer still comprise the offensive core of this team.

Milwaukee Brewers - Seattle Pilots

1B  Cecil Cooper – Batted .300 or better seven straight seasons (.352 in ’80); slugged over .500 four times for Milwaukee; two Gold Gloves.
2B  Jim Gantner – Good fielder who batted over .280 six times; twice stole 20 bases.
SS  Robin Yount – Could hit for power and steal a base; two-time MVP (.331, 29, 114 in ’82); won a Gold Glove at SS that same year.
3B  Paul Molitor – Ignited many a rally while batting over .300 eight times as a Brewer (.353 in ’87); stole 30+ bases eight times.
OF  Jeromy Burnitz – Hit 30+ HRs in four of his five seasons as a Brewer; averaged 105 RBI a year in Milwaukee.
OF  Ben Oglive – Batted .280 or better six times for Milwaukee; led AL with 41 HRs in ’80.
OF  Ryan Braun – Four 100+ RBI seasons in his first five years; twice led NL in slugging; 30-30 man in 2011; topped league with .994 OPS that same year.
C  Charlie Moore – Hit .261 during his 14 seasons in Milwaukee; batted .290 or better four times.
DH  Gorman Thomas – Twice led the AL in HRs; three 100-RBI seasons; low BA, but drew a few walks to help the OBP.
Bench  Prince Fielder – Mammoth power (led league with 50 HRs in ’07); drove in 100+ RBI three straight years; draws plenty of walks.
Pitcher  Teddy Higuera – Won 15+ games four times (20 in 1986); posted 2.45 ERA in ’88.
Pitcher  Mike Caldwell – Finished 22-9 in 1978 and 16-6 in ’79; won 11+ games the next four seasons.
Pitcher  Jim Slaton – Won 13+ games five times for Milwaukee; tossed at least 210 innings six times for the Crew; edges out Ben Sheets.
Closer  Rollie Fingers – Won the AL MVP and Cy Young in ’81 with a ridiculous 1.04 ERA and AL best 28 saves; helped Brewers win AL flag in ’82, but had to miss the World Series.

Harvey's Wallbangers are well represented on this team.

New York Mets

1B  Keith Hernandez – A productive bat, multiple Gold Gloves, and appearances on Seinfeld push him past the legendary Ed Kranepool.
2B  Edgardo Alfonzo – Batted over .300 four times; decent power; drew a few walks too.
SS  Jose Reyes – Mets all-time leader in triples and SBs (led NL three times); batted .280 or better five times.
3B  David Wright – Career .300 hitter with good power; drove in 100+ RBI five times; won two Gold Gloves.
OF  Darryl Strawberry – Clubbed 26+ HRs all eight years with the Mets (led NL with 39 in ’88); drove in 90+ runs five times for NY; 30-30 season in ’87.
OF  Carlos Beltran – Though oft injured, he drove in 112+ runs three times as a Met; slugged .500 or better 4 times; won 3 straight Gold Gloves.
OF  Cleon Jones – Career .281 hitter (.340 in ’69); decent speed and power; helped polish off the Orioles in ’69 World Series.
C  Mike Piazza – One of the top hitting catchers in baseball history; hit 30+ HRs four times for the Mets; OPS topped .900 five straight years in NY.
Bench  Howard Johnson – Led NL with 38 HRs and 117 RBI in ’91; three other seasons with 90+ RBI; stole 30+ bases four times.
Pitcher  Tom Seaver – Four-time 20-game winner for NY; led NL in ERA three times (1.76 in ’71); nine straight seasons with 200+ Ks.
Pitcher  Dwight Gooden – Phenomenal first five seasons; won Cy Young in ’85 (24-4, 1.53 ERA, 268 Ks); slowed by a shoulder injury at age 24, though he did win 19 games the following year.
Pitcher  Jerry Koosman – Posted a sub-3.00 ERA four times; won 14+ games six times for NY; won both starts in ’69 World Series.
Closer  John Franco – Saved 30+ games five times for NY; NL saves leader in ’90 and ’94.

Too bad there’s no room for Art Shamsky on this team ... but Shamsky is a great name for a bulldog.

Philadelphia Phillies

1B  Ryan Howard – Four straight years with 45+ homers (58 in ’06); averaged 143 RBI those same four seasons; NL MVP in ’06.
2B  Chase Utley – Drove in 100+ runs four straight years; slugging avg. topped .500 in five straight seasons (2005-09).
SS  Jimmy Rollins – Three-time Gold Glove winner; stole 40+ bases and led NL in triples four times; hit 30 HRs and won MVP in ’07.
3B  Mike Schmidt – Possibly the best 3B of all time; eight HR titles; ten 100-RBI seasons; TEN Gold Gloves; 1,507 career walks.
OF  Chuck Klein – Top NL power hitter of the early 30s; four HR titles; hit .386 in 1930; won Triple Crown in 1933.
OF  Richie Ashburn – Solid fielder and frequent .300 hitter; won two batting titles; led league in walks 3 times for the Phillies.
OF  Sherry Magee – Good glove in LF; led NL in RBI three times; won batting title in 1910 with .331 avg.
C  Bob Boone – Gold Glove backstop; not known for his bat, though he did hit over .280 three times for the Phils.
Bench  Gavy Cravath – Led NL in homers six times in the 1910s; batted .341 in 1913 and again in 1919.
Pitcher  Grover Alexander – Led NL in wins five times with the Phillies, including three straight seasons with 30+ victories (1915-17); tossed 16 shutouts in 1916.
Pitcher  Steve Carlton – Five 20-win seasons for Philly; led NL in Ks five times; posted a 1.97 ERA in ’72.
Pitcher  Robin Roberts – Won 20+ games six years in a row (1950-55); twice led NL in Ks and shutouts.
Closer  Tug McGraw – Five seasons with an ERA below 3.00 (1.46 in ’80) for Philadelphia; saved two games in 1980 NLCS and two more in the World Series.

Three of the four infielders are still playing for the Phillies.

Pittsburgh Pirates

1B  Willie Stargell – Power-hitting family member; nine seasons with 90+ RBI; NL MVP in ’79, also MVP of NLCS and World Series.
2B  Bill Mazeroski – Perhaps the best defensive 2B of all time (8 Gold Gloves); hero of the ’60 World Series.
SS  Honus Wagner – Brilliant with the bat and glove; eight batting titles; slugged over .500 seven times for Pirates; stole 722 bases.
3B  Pie Traynor – One of the best hitting 3B; career .320 BA with seven 100+ RBI seasons.
OF  Roberto Clemente – A complete player; won four batting titles; hit 10+ triples nine times; 240 HRs; outstanding glove and throwing arm (12 straight Gold Gloves!); MVP in ’66.
OF  Ralph Kiner – Led league in HRs seven straight years (no one, not even Ruth, did that); drew 100+ walks five times.
OF  Paul Waner – Big Poison batted over .350 six times (.380 in ’27) and scored 100+ runs nine times.
C  Manny Sanguillen – Free swinger who batted .290 or better six times; threw out at least 40% of runners attempting to steal in five seasons (51% in ’71).
Bench  Arky Vaughan – Batted .300 or better all ten of his years in Pittsburgh (.385 in ’35); drew lots of walks to further elevate the OBP.
Pitcher  Sam Leever – Posted ERA below 2.50 six times; career .656 winning pct.; led Pirates to the first World Series with 25-7 mark in 1903.
Pitcher  Bob Friend – Won 14+ games eight times (22 in 1958); led NL with 2.83 ERA in ’55.
Pitcher  Doug Drabek – Won 14 or more games five straight seasons; won NL Cy Young in 1990 with a 22-6 record.
Closer  Roy Face – Forkball master who led NL in saves three times; set winning pct. record with 18-1 mark in 1959.

Aside from Drabek, who last pitched for Pittsburgh in 1992, the most recent Pirate on this team is Stargell who retired in 1982.

St. Louis Cardinals

1B  Albert Pujols – Ten straight seasons of .300+ BA, 30+ HRs, and 100+ RBI; twice led NL in HRs; won batting title in ’03; three-time MVP; two Gold Gloves.
2B  Rogers Hornsby – Six straight batting titles (.424 in 1924); won NL Triple Crown twice; best hitting 2B in baseball history.
SS  Ozzie Smith – Defensive wizard with ELEVEN straight Gold Gloves in St. Louis; stole 30+ bases nine times for the Cards; hit .280 or better six times.
3B  Ken Boyer – Hit .300 or better five times; consistent power hitter with eight 90+ RBI seasons; won five Gold Gloves; NL MVP in ’64.
OF  Joe Medwick – Won NL Triple Crown in ’37 (.374, 31, 154); led league in RBI three straight years; batted .350 or better three times.
OF  Lou Brock – Led NL in steals eight times (118 in ’74); career .293 hitter with 100 runs scored in seven seasons.
OF  Stan Musial – The Man won seven batting titles and drove in 100+ runs ten times; career .331 BA with 475 HRs.
C  Ted Simmons – Batted .300 or better six times for the Cards; consistent RBI producer with five 20+ HR seasons; I may put Molina here in a couple years.
Bench  Jim Edmonds – Bottomley, Hafey, McGee, and Mize are also strong choices, but I’ll take Jimmy Ballgame’s power, high OBP, and Gold Glove defense.
Pitcher  Bob Gibson – Five-time 20-game winner; unhittable in ’68 (1.12 ERA; 13 shutouts); twice won Game 7 of the World Series.
Pitcher  Dizzy Dean – Won 18 or more games five straight years (30 in 1934); led NL in Ks four consecutive seasons.
Pitcher  Chris Carpenter – Posted winning pct. of .750 or better three times; won NL Cy Young in ’05; almost won another in ’09 (17-4, 2.24 ERA); Jesse Haines is also a good choice.
Closer  Bruce Sutter – Many candidates for this spot; Sutter led the NL in saves three times (1.45 ERA in ’84) for St. Louis and played a key role in the ’82 Series victory.

Greatness at every position. This team would provide Jack Buck with many opportunities to close out his broadcasts with "That’s a winner!"

San Diego Padres

1B  Adrian Gonzalez – Slugged .500 or better all five seasons in San Diego; drove in 100 runs three times; led NL with 119 walks in ’09.
2B  Bip Roberts – Batted .298 as a Padre; stole 20+ bases five times for San Diego (46 in 1990).
SS  Garry Templeton – Though his best years were as a Cardinal, Templeton lasted nine seasons as San Diego’s SS.
3B  Phil Nevin – Power hitter with three 100+ RBI seasons; twice batted over .300 for San Diego; Caminiti was a Padre for only four seasons.
OF  Tony Gwynn – Best Padre ever; won eight batting titles while tallying 3,141 hits (career .338 hitter); stole 25+ bases five times; won five Gold Gloves.
OF  Ryan Klesko – Drove in 90+ runs three straight years; OBP topped .380 four times for San Diego.
OF  Dave Winfield – Hit 20+ HRs five times as a Padre; drove in 90 or more runs three times (118 in ’79); won two Gold Gloves in SD.
C  Benito Santiago – Hit at least 10 HRs all six years as Padre; batted .300 and stole 21 bases as a rookie in ’87; won three Gold Gloves behind the plate.
Bench  Brian Giles – Drove in 80+ runs three times; decent power; drew enough walks to push the OBP over .370 four times.
Pitcher  Jake Peavy – Twice led the NL in ERA and Ks; topped the league with 19 wins in 2007.
Pitcher  Randy Jones – Twenty-game winner in back-to-back seasons; led NL with 2.24 ERA in ’75.
Pitcher  Ed Whitson – Won 13+ games four times for SD; posted a sub-2.70 ERA in back-to-back seasons (1989-90).
Closer  Trevor Hoffman – MLB’s all-time saves leader (601); used a wicked change-up to save 40+ games nine times.

This team might even look good in the mustard and brown Padres uniforms of the 1970s. Maybe not.

San Francisco/New York Giants

1B  Willie McCovey – Led league in HRs three times; NL MVP in ’69 (.320, 45, 126); OPS topped .900 ten times as a Giant.
2B  Jeff Kent – Drove in 100+ runs in each of his six years as a Giant; slugged over .500 five times; NL MVP in 2000 (.334, 33, 125).
SS  Travis Jackson – Batted over .300 six times (.339 in ’30); occasional power with three 90+ RBI seasons.
3B  Freddie Lindstrom – Hit .300 or better six straight years (.379 in ’30); scored 90+ runs five times; drove in 90+ runs four times.
OF  Mel Ott – Led league in HRs six times; nine seasons with 100+ RBI (151 in ’29); career .304 BA and .414 OBP.
OF  Willie Mays – Could do it all; six seasons with 40+ HRs; led NL in SBs 4 times; ten 100-RBI seasons; won TWELVE straight Gold Gloves.
OF  Barry Bonds – Put up Hall of Fame numbers even before the steroids.
C  Roger Bresnahan – An innovator and the best catcher of his day; could hit (.350 in 1903) and steal bases; posted a .403 OBP during seven years as a Giant.
Bench  Bill Terry – Career .341 hitter; led NL with .401 BA and 254 hits in 1930; six consecutive seasons with 100 RBI and 100 runs scored; Frisch and Cepeda aren't bad choices either.
Pitcher  Christy Mathewson – Perhaps the best right hander in NL history; won 30 or more games four times; led NL in ERA five times (2.13 career); tossed 80 shutouts.
Pitcher  Carl Hubbell – Won 20+ games five straight seasons; led NL in ERA three times (1.66 in ’33); two-time NL MVP.
Pitcher  Juan Marichal – Six-time 20-game winner (26 in ’68); career .631 winning pct.; posted an ERA below 2.50 six times.
Closer  Robb Nen – Averaged 41 saves a season during his five years with SF.

Outstanding pitchers and hitters. If these all-time teams could play each other, this Giants squad would be tough to beat, especially with John McGraw at the helm.

Washington Nationals - Montreal Expos

1B  Andres Galarraga – Drove in at least 85 runs four straight years for Montreal; won two Gold Gloves.
2B  Jose Vidro – Batted .300 or better five straight years; decent power; two 96+ RBI seasons.
SS  Orlando Cabrera – Drove in 96 and won a Gold Glove in ’01; batted .297 with 17 HRs in ’03; twice stole 24+ bases for the Expos.
3B  Ryan Zimmerman – Gold Glove fielder with four 20+ HR seasons (33 in ’09); twice drove in more than 100 runs.
OF  Vladimir Guerrero – Batted .300 or better seven times in Montreal; five straight seasons with 34+ HR and 100+ RBI; stole 40 bases in ’02.
OF  Andre Dawson – Possessed power and speed; hit 32 HR with 113 RBI in ’83; six straight Gold Gloves.
OF  Tim Raines – OBP topped .390 seven times for the Expos; won the NL batting title in ’86; stole 70+ bases five consecutive years.
C  Gary Carter – Gold Glove backstop who drove in runs; hit 20+ HRs six times for Montreal.
Bench  Larry Walker – Averaged 20 HRs a season for Montreal; batted .290 or better 3 times; stole a few bases and won 2 Gold Gloves; Alou or Grissom could fit here too.
Pitcher  Steve Rogers – Won 158 games with a 3.17 ERA in 13 seasons with Montreal (led NL with a 2.40 mark in ’82).
Pitcher  Dennis Martinez – El Presidente posted a sub-3.00 ERA in four of his seven full seasons in Montreal (led NL in ’91); won 15+ games 4 times.
Pitcher  Bryn Smith – Won 10+ games six straight years (18-5 in ’85); ERA was below 3.00 three times.
Closer  Jeff Reardon – Saved 20+ games five straight years for Montreal; led league with 41 saves in ’85.

Yep, they're all Expos except for Zimmerman. That should change in a few years ...

Baltimore Orioles - St. Louis Browns

1B  George Sisler – .340 career BA; twice batted over .400; rapped 257 hits in 1920; led AL in SBs four times.
2B  Bobby Grich – Won four straight Gold Gloves; could hit for power and steal a base.
SS  Cal Ripken Jr. – Outstanding arm, 3,184 hits, two-time MVP, and of course the Streak.
3B  Brooks Robinson – Without peer as a fielder (16 straight Gold Gloves!); hit 20 HRs six times.
OF  Frank Robinson – Reached the World Series in four of his six years in Baltimore; won Triple Crown in 1966.
OF  Ken Singleton – Power hitter who drew a lot of walks; no, I don’t want to hear about Brady Anderson’s 50 HRs in ’96.
OF  Ken Williams – Batted over .320 five straight years for the Browns; bested Ruth for the HR and RBI crowns in 1922.
C  Hank Severeid – Topped .300 four straight seasons (1921-1924) while catching for the Browns.
DH  Eddie Murray – Played primarily at 1B, but his 500 HRs and 3,000 hits still don’t top Sisler.
Bench  Boog Powell – If you want defense, go with Paul Blair; I’ll take Powell’s HRs and RBI.
Pitcher  Jim Palmer – Posted EIGHT 20-win seasons in the 1970s.
Pitcher  Mike Mussina – Ace of the Orioles staff during the 1990s.
Pitcher  Mike Cuellar – Won 18+ games for six straight seasons (1969-1974).
Bullpen  Gregg Olson – Saved 160 games for Baltimore between 1989 and 1993.

Only three Browns made this roster. Not a surprise, considering their many years of futility. On the other hand, St. Louis did have Eddie Gaedel and his 1.000 OBP.

Boston Red Sox

1B  Jimmie Foxx – Drove in 100+ runs with a .500+ slugging avg. all six seasons in Boston; MVP in ’38 (.349, 50 HRs, 175 RBI).
2B  Bobby Doerr – Great fielder who batted .288 in 14 seasons with the Sox.
SS  Nomar Garciaparra – His six productive seasons as Boston’s SS edge out Cronin and Pesky.
3B  Wade Boggs – Won five batting titles and rapped 200 hits in seven straight seasons; ate chicken before every game.
OF  Carl Yastrzemski – Finished with 3,419 hits and 452 HRs; won AL Triple Crown in ’67.
OF  Jim Rice – Eight 100-RBI seasons; 382 HRs; AL MVP in 1978.
OF  Ted Williams – Lifetime .344 BA, 521 HRs, 2,000+ walks; last player to hit .400 in a season.
C  Carlton Fisk – Excellent defensive catcher who hit 162 HRs for the Sox; hit famous HR to end Game 6 of the ’75 World Series.
DH  David Ortiz – Five straight 100-RBI seasons; played a key role in ending the Curse.
Bench  Manny Ramirez – Batted .300 five times and topped 40 HRs three times for Boston.
Pitcher  Roger Clemens – Won at least 18 games six times and three Cy Young Awards for the Sox.
Pitcher  Cy Young – Averaged 24 wins a season during his eight years in Boston (1901-08).
Pitcher  Pedro Martinez – Led the AL in ERA four times, winning pct. three times, and Ks three times.
Closer  Jonathan Papelbon – Saved at least 35 games for five straight seasons (2006-2010).

I would love to watch this team battle the all-time greatest Yankees in a best of seven series.

Chicago White Sox

1B  Frank Thomas – Two-time MVP; five seasons with 40+ HRs; drew 100+ walks ten times.
2B  Eddie Collins – One of the best 2B ever; batted over .300 ten times for the Sox; led the AL in SBs three times for Chicago.
SS  Luke Appling – Franchise leader in games played; won two batting titles (.388 in 1936).
3B  Robin Ventura – Claimed five Gold Gloves in Chicago; hit 20+ HRs five times for the Sox.
OF  Harold Baines – Four-time All Star in the ’80s; drove in 90+ runs six times for Chicago.
OF  Minnie Minoso – Led AL in steals three straight years (1951-53); topped .300 six times for the Sox.
OF  Jermaine Dye – World Series MVP in 2005; hit 44 HRs and drove in 120 the following year.
C  Carlton Fisk – Joined the White Sox in 1981 at age 32, still catching for them a decade later.
DH  Paul Konerko – Power hitter with five 100+ RBI seasons; reached 40-HR mark in ’04 and ’05.
Bench  Nellie Fox – Led the AL in hits four times; won 3 Gold Gloves at 2B; 1959 AL MVP.
Pitcher  Eddie Walsh – Career ERA of 1.82 is best in baseball history; won 40 games in 1908.
Pitcher  Ted Lyons – Won 260 games, all of them with Chicago; led AL in ERA at age 41 (1942); great fielder.
Pitcher  Red Faber – Four-time 20-game winner; led the AL in ERA in back-to-back seasons (1921-1922).
Closer  Hoyt Wilhelm – Five straight seasons (1964-68) with an ERA below 2.00; others had more saves, but Wilhelm was the better relief pitcher.

Why is Joe Jackson not in the outfield? The shoeless one played a little less than four and a half seasons with the Sox, and thus falls short of my five-year longevity requirement. Rules are rules. I think Charlie Comiskey would agree.

Cleveland Indians

1B  Hal Trosky – Batted .330 or better four times; six 100-RBI seasons, including 162 in ’36.
2B  Napoleon Lajoie – Lifetime .339 hitter with 3,251 hits; team was renamed “Naps” in his honor.
SS  Lou Boudreau – Excellent fielder; hit for a high average despite no speed; won AL MVP in ’48; player-manager from 1942-50.
3B  Al Rosen – Five straight 100-RBI seasons; twice led the league in HRs.
OF  Joe Jackson – Hit .408, .395, and .373 in his first three full seasons with the Tribe.
OF  Tris Speaker – Batted over .380 four times and led the league in doubles six times for Cleveland; led Indians to 1920 World Series victory.
OF  Albert Belle – Led AL in RBI three times; hit 50 HRs in ’95, and 48 HRs the following season.
C  Sandy Alomar – Jim Hegan was the best defensive catcher of his day, but delivered little offense; I’ll take Alomar’s bat.
DH  Jim Thome – Monster power hitter with six 100-RBI seasons for the Tribe.
Bench  Earl Averill – Career .318 hitter with nine 92+ RBI seasons; barely edges out Larry Doby.
Pitcher  Bob Feller – Led AL in wins six times; led AL in Ks seven times; lost nearly 4 seasons to WWII.
Pitcher  Addie Joss – Four straight 20-win seasons; posted a career 1.88 ERA before meningitis claimed his life at age 31.
Pitcher  Bob Lemon – Won 20+ games seven times; led the league in innings pitched four times.
Closer  Doug Jones – Saved 112 games in the 1988-1990 seasons.

Outstanding hitters and dominating pitchers leave no room for Pedro Cerrano and Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn on this roster.

Detroit Tigers

1B  Hank Greenberg – Led league in HRs and RBI four times; drove in 183 runs in ’37; career .313 avg.
2B  Charlie Gehringer – Seven seasons with 200+ hits; scored 100+ runs 12 times; good glove.
SS  Alan Trammell – Four-time Gold Glove winner; batted .300 or better seven times; hit 185 HRs.
3B  George Kell – Hall of Famer with eight straight .300 seasons; won batting title in ’49.
OF  Sam Crawford – From Wahoo, Nebraska; lifetime .309 hitter; career triples leader.
OF  Ty Cobb – Won nine straight batting titles, 12 overall; 4,189 hits and 892 SBs; highest lifetime BA in MLB history.
OF  Harry Heilmann – Best righty hitter in the AL in the ’20s; batted .390 or better four times (.403 in ’23), with eight 100-RBI seasons.
C  Bill Freehan – Excellent defensive catcher (five straight Gold Gloves) with decent power.
DH  Kirk Gibson – Gritty competitor; hit 20+ HRs for Tigers five times; 284 career SBs.
Bench  Al Kaline – Great defensive RF; hit .300 or better nine times; slugged 399 HRs, all for Detroit. 
Pitcher  Hal Newhouser – Won 25+ games three years in a row (1944-46); career 3.06 ERA.
Pitcher  Jack Morris – Workhorse of the ’80s with six 17+ win season for the Tigers; barely edges out Lolich.
Pitcher  George Mullin – Five-time 20-game winner; helped Tigers win three consecutive AL pennants (1907-09).
Closer  Mike Henneman – Todd Jones has more career saves for Detroit, but Henneman’s ERA is better by a full run.

This team would keep the scoreboard operators busy at Navin Field.

Kansas City Royals

1B  Mike Sweeney – Five-time All-Star; drove in a bunch of runs (144 in 2000) for some bad KC teams.
2B  Frank White – Excellent range; won eight Gold Gloves; hit a few HRs late in his career.
SS  Freddie Patek – Good glove; stole 30+ bases 8 times for KC (led league with 53 in ’77).
3B  George Brett – One of the best 3B ever; 3,154 hits, 317 HRs, three batting titles; Gold Glove; came through in the clutch.
OF  Willie Wilson – Incredible speed; led AL in triples five times; stole over 600 bases for KC; won AL batting title in ’82.
OF  Amos Otis – A complete player; could field (three Gold Gloves), hit, and steal bases (52 in ’71).
OF  Danny Tartabull – RBI producer who hit 26+ HRs three times for the Royals.
C  Mike Macfarlane – Decent hitting catcher with power; penchant for getting HBP boosted his OPS numbers; Porter played only four seasons in KC.
DH  Hal McRae – The first great DH; finished with nearly 1,100 RBI and a .290 lifetime BA.
Bench  Carlos Beltran – Power and speed; drove in 100 runs in four of his five full seasons in KC.
Pitcher  Bret Saberhagen – Two-time Cy Young Award winner; 1985 World Series MVP.
Pitcher  Dennis Leonard – Workhorse who won 20 games three times for the Royals.
Pitcher  Paul Splittorff – Holds the franchise record with 166 wins; won 15+ games four times.
Closer  Dan Quisenberry – Led the AL in saves five times; provided the missing piece KC needed to reach the World Series.

The Royals won or contended for the AL West title nearly every year between the mid-1970s and late 1980s. Since then, not so much. Why did Schuerholz have to leave?

Los Angeles Angels

1B  Rod Carew – Still a great hitter when he moved to California; batted .300 five straight seasons for the Angels (1979-83).
2B  Bobby Grich – Slugging average topped .400 seven times for the Angels; led AL in HRs in ’81.
SS  Jim Fregosi – Six-time All-Star for California; won Gold Glove in ’67; led AL in triples in ’68.
3B  Troy Glaus – Led AL with 47 HRs in 2000; three consecutive 100+ RBI seasons; 2002 World Series MVP.
OF  Tim Salmon – RBI producer with five 30+ HR seasons; drew 90+ walks six times.
OF  Jim Edmonds – Batted .290 or better with 25+ HRs in 4 straight seasons for the Angels; Gold Glove defense in CF.
OF  Garret Anderson – Four consecutive 100-RBI seasons; slugged over .500 four times.
C  Bob Boone – Excellent defensive catcher (won four Gold Gloves for Angels); not a great hitter, though he did bat .295 in ’88.
DH  Vladimir Guerrero – Power hitter with five seasons above .300 and four seasons with 100+ RBI for the Angels; AL MVP in ’04.
Bench  Darin Erstad – Batted .295 or better four times (.355 in 2000); won three Gold Gloves.
Pitcher  Nolan Ryan – Won 19+ games four times; led AL in Ks seven times; tossed four no-hitters for the Halos.
Pitcher  Frank Tanana – Five straight seasons with 14+ wins; led AL with 2.54 ERA and seven shutouts in ’77.
Pitcher  Dean Chance – Led AL with 20 wins, 1.65 ERA, and 11 shutouts in ’65; delivered four other decent seasons to barely edge out Mike Witt.
Closer  Francisco Rodriguez – Five dominant seasons in the Angels pen; led AL in saves three times (62 in ’08); Percival (eight seasons with 30+ saves) is also a strong choice.

One of these guys was just hired as the head baseball coach for the University of Nebraska.

Minnesota Twins - Washington Senators

1B  Kent Hrbek – Key part of both Twins world championship teams; ten seasons with 20+ HRs.
2B  Rod Carew – Won seven batting titles; career .328 hitter with 353 SBs.
SS  Joe Cronin – Slugging average topped .420 six straight years for Washington; led team to 1933 World Series as player manager.
3B  Harmon Killebrew – Bashed 40+ homers eight times during a pitching-dominant era; drew 90+ walks in ten seasons.
OF  Goose Goslin – Batted .334 or better with 100+ RBI in 5 straight seasons; twice led the AL in triples.
OF  Kirby Puckett – Led AL in hits four times; career .318 hitter with ten straight 80+ RBI seasons; six Gold Gloves.
OF  Tony Oliva – Five seasons with 20+ HRs; led AL in hitting three times; Gold Glove winner.
C  Joe Mauer – Won three batting titles in four years; three Gold Gloves; 2009 AL MVP.
DH  Torii Hunter – Outstanding fielder (7 Gold Gloves for Twins); hit 23+ HRs six times for Minnesota; didn’t DH very often, but belongs in this lineup.
Bench  Sam Rice – Batted .330 or better six times; eight straight 20-SB seasons (63 in ’20); hit 10+ triples ten consecutive seasons.
Pitcher  Walter Johnson – Probably the best pitcher of all time; won 416 games (110 shutouts!) with a lifetime 2.17 ERA; led AL in Ks 12 times.
Pitcher  Jim Kaat – Posted 16+ wins five times for the Twins (25 in ’66); won 12 straight Gold Gloves in Minnesota.
Pitcher  Bert Blyleven – Five straight seasons with an ERA of 3.00 or lower (1971-75); won 15+ games seven times for Minnesota
Closer  Firpo Marberry – A closer before closers were cool; first to record 100 saves (led AL five times); also made 187 starts for Washington.

RIP, Killer

New York Yankees

1B  Lou Gehrig – The Iron Horse hit 40+ HRs five times and finished with a .340 career BA; tallied more than 100 RBI and 100 runs scored in THIRTEEN consecutive seasons.
2B  Robinson Cano – Batting over .300 and slugging over .500 for his career; won a Gold Glove in 2010; edges out Lazzeri.
SS  Derek Jeter – All-time Yankee hit leader; stole 30+ bases four times and hit 20+ HRs three times.
3B  Graig Nettles – Gold Glove defender with four straight 90+ RBI seasons; led the league in HRs in 1976.
OF  Babe Ruth – Twelve HR titles, .342 lifetime BA, 2,211 RBI; the Bambino is still the best ever to play the game.
OF  Joe DiMaggio – .325 lifetime BA, 361 HRs, and a 56-game hit streak; missed three seasons during WWII.
OF  Mickey Mantle – Four HR titles; won the AL triple crown in ’56; played in 12 World Series.
C  Yogi Berra – A key part of the Yankee juggernaut that dominated baseball from the late 40s through the early ’60s.
DH  Hideki Matsui – Drove in at least 90 runs in five of his seven seasons with the Yankees.
Bench  Don Mattingly – Lifetime .307 hitter; one of the few Yankee greats to not win a World Series.
Pitcher  Whitey Ford – Ace of the NY staff during the ’50s and ’60s; led AL in wins three times and ERA twice; .690 lifetime winning pct.
Pitcher  Red Ruffing – Posted four straight 20-win seasons (1936-39); won 15+ games six other times; could handle the bat too; Lefty Gomez is another strong choice for this spot.
Pitcher  Ron Guidry – Lifetime .651 winning pct.; dominated the AL with a 25-3 mark in 1978; led the league in ERA again the following season.
Closer  Mariano Rivera – Best closer in baseball history? Hard to argue against Mo, especially when you consider his postseason numbers.

It’s no surprise that this team is loaded with firepower. If a pitcher dies and goes to hell, this is the lineup he has to face.

Oakland/KC/Philadelphia Athletics

1B  Jimmie Foxx – The Beast; seven seasons with 115+ RBI for Philadelphia; hit 58 HRs in ’32; won AL Triple Crown a year later.
2B  Eddie Collins – Batted .344 or better five times for the As; stole 55+ bases five times; led AL in runs scored three straight years.
SS  Miguel Tejada – Four consecutive years with 27+ HRs and 100+ RBI for Oakland; AL MVP in 2002.
3B  Frank Baker – World Series hero in 1911; led AL in HRs 3 times; stole 20+ bases five times.
OF  Reggie Jackson – Provided the power for Oakland’s championship teams of ’70s; AL MVP in ’73.
OF  Rickey Henderson – High walk totals frequently pushed his OBP above .400; led AL in steals eight times for Oakland; AL MVP in 1990.
OF  Al Simmons – Power hitter with nine straight 100+ RBI seasons for Philadelphia; batted .380 or better four times.
C  Mickey Cochrane – Helped Athletics win 3 straight pennants (1929-31); batted .330 or better five times.
DH  Jose Canseco – Put up juicy numbers; baseball’s first 40-40 man; six 100+ RBI seasons in Oakland
Bench  Mark McGwire – A great power hitter even before the steroids; slammed 30+ HRs for Oakland eight times.
Pitcher  Lefty Grove – Maybe the best southpaw of all time; while in Philly he led the AL in wins four times, ERA 5 times, and Ks 7 times.
Pitcher  Catfish Hunter – Workhorse ace of the great ’70s teams in Oakland; won 21+ games four straight years.
Pitcher  Eddie Plank – Seven-time 20-game winner with 59 shutouts for Athletics; Chief Bender and Rube Waddell are also strong choices.
Closer  Dennis Eckersley – Baseball’s top closer from 1988-92; posted a 0.61 ERA in ’90; won Cy Young and AL MVP in ’92 after saving 51 games.

Outstanding all-around. Connie Mack could win a few games with this team.

Seattle Mariners

1B  Alvin Davis – Three seasons with 20+ HRs and 95+ RBI; drew 90+ walks four times; Sexson and Olerud didn’t play 5 seasons in Seattle.
2B  Harold Reynolds – Won three consecutive Gold Gloves (1988-90); stole 25+ bases six times (60 in ’87).
SS  Alex Rodriguez – Won 1996 AL batting title (.358); 40-40 man in '98; hit 41+ HRs his last three years in Seattle; and yet, the Mariners won 116 games the year after he left Seattle.
3B  Adrian Beltre – Drove in 87+ runs three times in Seattle; won back-to-back Gold Gloves (2007-08).
OF  Jay Buhner – Three straight 40-homer, 100-RBI seasons; four other seasons with 20+ HRs; won Gold Glove in ’96.
OF  Ken Griffey, Jr. – Best player in MLB during the ’90s; six seasons in Seattle with 40+ HRs; seven seasons with 100+ RBI; 10 straight Gold Gloves; AL MVP in ’97.
OF  Ichiro Suzuki – Masterful since joining Seattle in 2001; ten straight seasons with 200+ hits; ten seasons with 30+ SBs; ten straight Gold Gloves; still adding to these numbers.
C  Dan Wilson – Decent productivity (except in the postseason) during his 11 full seasons in Seattle; All-Star in ’96.
DH  Edgar Martinez – Greatest DH ever; six 100+ RBI seasons; 309 career HRs; two AL batting titles; drew 93+ walks seven straight years.
Bench  Raul Ibanez – Batted .280 or better 5 straight years in Seattle (2004-08); three straight 100-RBI seasons.
Pitcher  Randy Johnson – Dominant force on the mound; led AL in Ks four straight years; won AL Cy Young in ’95 with an 18-2 record.
Pitcher  Jamie Moyer – Two-time 20-game winner; posted a winning percentage .625 or above seven times for the Mariners.
Pitcher  Freddy Garcia – Won 16+ games three times in Seattle; AL ERA leader in 2001.
Closer  Kazuhiro Sasaki – Saved 129 games for Mariners in 2000-2003 seasons.

A nice collection of talent for one of Major League Baseball’s younger franchises.

Tampa Bay Rays

1B  Carlos Pena – Slugged 144 HRs for Tampa Bay from 2007 to 2010.
2B  Ben Zobrist – Back to back seasons with 90+ walks (2009-10); batted .297 in ’09.
SS  Jason Bartlett – Batted .320 with 14 HRs in 2009.
3B  Evan Longoria – Three-time All-Star; won 2008 AL Rookie of the Year.
OF  Randy Winn – An All-Star in 2002 when he batted .298 with 14 HRs and 27 SBs.
OF  Carl Crawford – Batted .296 for Tampa; stole 50+ bases 5 times; led the AL in triples 4 times.
OF  B.J. Upton – Hit .300 in 2007; stole 40+ bases 3 years in a row (2008-2010).
C  Toby Hall – Decent hitting catcher for Tampa Bay from 2001-2006.
DH  Aubrey Huff – Twice batted .300 for Tampa; drove in 100+ runs in 2003 and 2004.
Bench  Fred McGriff – Drove in 291 runs and hit 78 HRs from 1998 to 2000.
Pitcher  David Price – Won 19 games in 2010 with a 2.72 ERA.
Pitcher  Scott Kazmir – Compiled a 55-44 record in five and a half years with the Rays.
Pitcher  James Shields – Won 14 games for the 2008 AL pennant winners; won 16 and led the AL in complete games in 2011.
Closer  Roberto Hernandez – Somehow saved 101 games during the franchise’s first three years (1998-2000).

If the Rays continue as a perennial contender in the AL East, this roster will likely see a few new names in the coming years.

Texas Rangers - Washington Senators

1B  Rafael Palmeiro – PEDs helped produce six seasons with 35+ HRs and 100+ RBI for Texas.
2B  Ian Kinsler – Hit .319 in ’08; a 30-30 man in ’09 and ’11; helped Rangers win the pennant in 2010.
SS  Michael Young – Batted over .300 six times (.331 in ’05); Gold Glove in ’08
3B  Buddy Bell – Won six straight Gold Gloves (1979-84); batted over .290 five times for Texas.
OF  Frank Howard – The Capital Punisher slammed 44+ HRs three straight seasons (1968-70) for Washington.
OF  Ruben Sierra – Solid power numbers; five straight 90+ RBI seasons (1987-91); Josh Hamilton may take this spot in a couple years.
OF  Juan Gonzalez – Hit 40+ HRs five times during the power-crazy ’90s; AL MVP in ’96 and ’98.
C  Ivan Rodriguez – Peerless behind the plate (TEN straight Gold Gloves); power hitter with eight straight .300 seasons; MVP in ’99.
DH  Pete Incaviglia – Five straight seasons with 20+ HRs for Texas (1986-90); challenged the single-season record for Ks
Bench  Julio Franco – Three-time All-Star; hit .341 in ’91 to win AL batting title; Teixeira didn’t complete five seasons with the Rangers.
Pitcher  Ferguson Jenkins – Won 25 games in ’74; solid starter for Texas four other seasons.
Pitcher  Charlie Hough – Knuckleballer who won 14+ games seven straight seasons (1982-1988).
Pitcher  Kenny Rogers – Won 13+ games six times for the Rangers; Gold Glove fielder with an effective pickoff move; sang a lovely duet with Dolly Parton.
Closer  John Wetteland – Four straight seasons with 30+ saves for the Rangers (1997-2000).

Power hitters and Gold Glove fielders abound on this team.

Toronto Blue Jays

1B  Carlos Delgado – Six straight 100-RBI seasons; hit 30+ HRs for the Jays eight times.
2B  Roberto Alomar – Won five Gold Gloves in Toronto; batted .307 as a Blue Jay and twice stole 50+ bases.
SS  Tony Fernandez – A fine hitter with speed (17 triples in ’90); won 4 straight Gold Gloves (1986-1989).
3B  Kelly Gruber – Tallied 31 HRs and 118 RBI in 1990; also won the Gold Glove.
OF  Jesse Barfield – Strong arm helped win 2 Gold Gloves; topped 20 HRs four times in the 1980s.
OF  Lloyd Moseby – Stole 30+ bases five straight years (1984-88); decent power.
OF  Joe Carter – Six seasons in Toronto with 100+ RBI; walk-off HR ended the ’93 World Series.
C  Ernie Whitt – Blue Jay backstop of the 1980s; hit 15+ HRs six times.
DH  George Bell – Hit 47 HRs during his MVP season in 1987.
Bench  John Olerud – Several good years in Toronto and one great one in ’93 (.363, 24, 107).
Pitcher  Roy Halladay – Dominant starter for nearly a decade in Toronto before leaving in 2009.
Pitcher  Dave Stieb – Blue Jay ace of the ’80s; won ERA crown in 1985.
Pitcher  Jimmy Key – Barely edges out Hentgen; posted 17 wins and a league best 2.76 ERA in ’87.
Closer  Tom Henke – Saved 217 games for the Jays from ’85 to ’92.

The Blue Jays won back-to-back titles in ’92 and ’93, but haven't done much since. I wonder if NAFTA had anything to do with that.

A Cardinal Day

On April 27, 1896, Rogers Hornsby was born in Winters, Texas. Arguably the greatest hitting second-baseman in baseball history, Hornsby won six straight batting titles for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1920 to 1925. He twice won the NL triple crown, and in 1924 he batted .424, the highest single-season mark for the twentieth century. Hornsby's .358 lifetime batting average is second only to Ty Cobb.

Other Cardinals with birthdays on this date include Hall of Famer Enos Slaughter and current St. Louis ace Chris Carpenter. April 27 has been a good day for the Redbirds.

Classic Ballparks

On this date three venerable stadiums hosted their first major league baseball games:

Tiger Stadium: 1912
Fenway Park: 1912
Wrigley Field: 1916*

Tiger Stadium (originally called Navin Field)

Fenway Park

Wrigley Field (originally called Weeghman Park)

*In 1914 and 1915, the Chicago Whales of the Federal League (recognized as a major league) played at the stadium now called Wrigley Field. April 20, 1916 is the first day the Chicago Cubs played at Wrigley. 

Jackie Robinson Day

On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers, thereby integrating major league baseball. At ballparks across the nation, players are wearing the number 42 today in honor of Robinson's pioneering achievement.

Dottie Schroeder

Dorothy "Dottie" Schroeder was born on this date in 1928. At the age of fifteen, she became the youngest player in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She remained in the league for all twelve years of its existence, playing shortstop for the South Bend Blue Sox, Kenosha Comets, Fort Wayne Daisies, and Kalamazoo Lassies. Schroeder was one of the league's best fielders and ranks as the AAGPBL's all-time leader in games played (1,249), RBI, and walks. She also tallied the second highest total of hits, while becoming one of the AAGPBL's most popular players.

Learn more about Dottie and the AAGPBL at http://www.aagpbl.org/

One Tough Dominican

On this date 35 years ago, pitcher Joaquin Andujar made his major league debut with Houston. The Astros traded him to St. Louis a few years later. In the second half of the 1982 season, Andujar emerged as the Cardinals ace, finishing the season at 15-10 with a 2.47 ERA. He played a vital role in St. Louis's title run that October by winning Game 3 of the NLCS and two games (including Game 7) in the World Series. In 1984 and 1985, Andujar posted back-to-back 20-win seasons. He was to the Cardinals then, what Chris Carpenter is to the Cardinals now. Hopefully in 2011 Carpenter will match Andujar's achievement by notching his second 20-win season as a Cardinal.

You never know.

kentkrause.com

With my second novel soon to be released, I've changed the design of my Web site. Check it out at http://kentkrause.com/

America's Game

"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball, the rules and realities of the game -- and do it by watching first some high school or small-town teams."

Jacques Barzun