Twenty-five incredibly awesome baseball player names
Image: Studio-Annika/Getty Images
Baseball players are notorious for nicknaming their teammates. These standouts, however, are the names listed on the players’ birth certificates.
- Bowie Kent Kuhn: Kuhn was MLB’s legal counsel for 20 years before serving as baseball’s fifth commissioner.
- Branch Rickey: This MLB executive signed the first African-American player (Jackie Robinson) and the first Afro-Hispanic player (Roberto Clemente) to professional baseball.
- Burleigh Arland Grimes: Grimes enjoyed a 19-year career as a pitcher, winning 270 games and pitching in four World Series.
- Covelli Loyce “Coco” Crisp: Coco is an outfielder for the Oakland A’s. He throws right-handed and is a switch hitter.
- Cumberland Willis “Cum” Posey, Jr.: Posey was a player, manager and team owner in the Negro leagues. He was also a talented basketball player.
- Denton True “Cy” Young: The hall of famer pitched for five teams during his 21-year career. His record of 511 wins has yet to be broken.
- Dorrel Norman Elvert “Whitey” Herzog: Whitey is best known for managing the Kansas City Royals as they went to three consecutive playoffs from 1976 to 1978. He later helped the St. Louis Cardinals win the 1982 World Series.
- Early “Gus” Wynn, Jr.: This hall of famer was a pitcher for the Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox during the course of his 23-year career.
- Enos Bradsher “Country” Slaughter: Throughout his 19-year career, Country played on four teams but is best remembered for scoring the winning run for the St. Louis Cardinals in game 7 of the 1946 World Series.
- Eppa “Jephtha” Rixey, Jr.: The left-handed pitcher played 21 seasons for the Phillies and the Reds. He died just one month after being elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1963.
- Gaylord Jackson Perry: In a career spanning from 1962 to 1983, this hall of famer pitched for eight different teams.
- Harmon Clayton Killebrew: Also known as “The Killer” and “Hammerin’ Harmon,” Killebrew hit 40 home runs in a season eight times.
- Hazen Shirley “Kiki” Cuyler: Kiki played right field from 1921 until 1938 and was later inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
- Hilton Lee Smith: Smith was a pitcher for the Kansas City Monarchs from 1932 to 1948 in Negro League baseball.
- Huston Lowell Street: After a successful college baseball career as a Longhorn, Street played for the Oakland A’s, Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres. He currently plays for the Los Angeles Angels.
- Joc R. Pederson: The son of Dodger Stu Pederson, Joc was drafted by his father’s team in 2010, right out of high school.
- King Solomon “Sol” White: Before becoming an influential sportswriter, White was a professional infielder, manager and executive. In 1907, he wrote the first definitive history of black baseball.
- Melky Astacio Cabrera: Cabrera signed with the Yankees as an amateur free agent. He then played for the Braves, Royals, Giants and Blue Jays before moving to his current team, the Chicago White Sox.
- Napoléon “Nap” Lajoie: “The Frenchman” was first signed to a major league team, the Phillies, in 1896. He continued his career with various teams until 1916.
- Nestor George Chylak, Jr.: Chylak was an MLB umpire from 1954 to 1978 and called five World Series and six All-Star Games.
- Ryne Dee “Ryno” Sandberg: Ryno played second base for 16 years before becoming the manager of the Phillies. He is the only hall of fame player currently managing in the league.
- Tristram E. “Tris” Speaker: “The Grey Eagle” holds the MLB record for career doubles: 792.
- Urban Clarence “Red” Faber: “Red” pitched for the Chicago White Sox for his entire career: 1914 through 1933.
- Urban James Shocker: From 1916 to 1928, Shocker was a pitcher for the New York Yankees and St. Louis Browns. His given name was Urbain Jacques Shockcor.
- Waite Charles Hoyt: Brooklyn native Hoyt was winningest pitcher for the Yankees during the 1920s. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969.
More:Baby boy names with serious swagger
Leave a Comment