What’s in a Name?

By Norm O:

So what’s in a name? Some are very memorable others aren’t. Some are fun to say and roll off the tongue. Others not so easily. In this week’s blog I will talk about some of my favorites. And there might be a history lesson about some of the players.

In Salem-Keizer we have had our share of “unique” names roll through. This past season we had one of my favorites come to Volcanoes Stadium. Rodrick Shoulders other wise know as “Rock” played for the Boise Hawks. Rock was the winner of MiLB.com Moniker Madness for 2012. Rock was every part of his name. He was built like a rock.

Another player we saw this past season was Jamodrick McGruder playing for the Everett AquaSox.

A few more that we saw this past season were Yogey Perez-Ramos of the Yakima Bears and Balbino Fuenmayor of the Northwest League champs Vancouver Canadians. When the Volcanoes stadium address announcer Michael Trevino says his name it’s pretty sweet.

So let’s take a look back in history at some great names. 

Al Kaline was a great baseball player. And yet, even after tossing his name around for 50 years, we either have not noticed or haven’t bothered to mention his name is Alkaline. Nobody talks about it, but he has a battery name.

James Baby- The humor of this name is the sequence. I think if his name was Baby James we would think it was a nickname. I chuckled after I saw his name. I mean come on! The Baby family.

Vineger Bend Mizell- Vinegar Bend was named that because of where he was from, Vineger Bend, Alabama. He later became a U.S. Representative.

Wonderful Terrific Monds- The Braves were loaded with Chipper Jones, Andrew Jones, Ryan Klesko and Javy Lopez at the time Monds came through.

Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd- In Mississippi where Boyd is from an “Oil Can” was a can of beer. And apparently Boyd could put quite a few of them away.

Now the next one is questionable. I do know that he was a Phillie. Ugly Dickshot is next on the list. No need to say more about him.

Razor Shines- Former Expo. Now I think a man named Razor Shines shouldn’t be playing baseball. Maybe he should be sitting on a wooden barrel firmly planted in a Bayou marsh strumming his banjo and mumbling lyrics through his corn-cob pipe.

Cannonball Titcomb- At 5’6 Titcomb was one of the shortest pitchers in history. He won 30 games in his career.

Shooty Babbitt-Played for the A’s and last I heard was a scout with the Diamondbacks.

What would a game between the best names and other best names sound like? I found this link and thought it was pretty funny.

http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/22/as-far-as-baseball-names-go-these-are-all-stars/

Here is that game

We are in the bottom of the ninth with Best Names leading Other Best Names, 6-3. Blue Moon Odom has walked the bases loaded with two out. Sparky Anderson has Oil Can Boyd and Heathcliff Slocumb warming up in the bullpen. Sparky, also known as Captain Hook, has already used seven pitchers. Catfish Hunter started the game.

He was followed by Bobo Newsom, Boof Bonser, Tug McGraw, Goose Gossage and Dizzy Dean.

There is great speed on the bases. Coco Crisp is on first, Mookie Wilson on second and Pokey Reese on third.

Boog Powell is playing behind the runner on first, Bip Roberts is even with the bag at second, Bump Wills is playing toward the hole at short, and Homer Bush hugs the line at third.

With Bombo Rivera at the plate, the outfield is deep. Tuffy Rhodes is in left, Duke Snider is in center and Chili Davis is in right. Bud Weiser is on deck. Other Best Names is playing without some of their best players.

Chipper Jones, Prince Fielder and Trot Nixon are on the disabled list.

Blue Moon looks in for the sign from Biff Pocoroba.

Choo Choo Coleman started behind the plate but left with an injury.

And the pitch. Bombo drills it into the gap in right.

Duke and Chili chase it. Pokey scores! Mookie scores!

Coco’s coming around third. Bip cuts off the throw. The play at the plate! He is out! Yogi Berra comes out to argue with the home plate umpire, Jocko Conlon. Yogi is not going to win this one. The final score, Best Names 6, Other Best Names 5.