There isn’t any sport extra American than baseball, with properly over 100 years of historical past, and that historical past has introduced a few of the greatest participant nicknames. These 25 nicknames from the sport’s historical past ought to go away you feeling nostalgic.
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The Babe (George Ruth)
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For the final century, “The Babe” has been thought-about one of the best baseball participant who ever lived. He additionally might need essentially the most recognizable and longest sequence of nicknames, together with The Babe, Nice Bambino, Sultan of Swan, Colossus of Clout, and King of Crash, amongst others. His legend and lengthy record of nicknames had been affectionately acknowledged within the basic 1993 film The Sandlot.
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The Bash Brothers (Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco)
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The late Nineteen Eighties/early 1990’s Oakland Athletics had been one of the vital thrilling groups MLB has ever conceived, and the highly effective duo of Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco had been an enormous cause. From 1987-1992, McGwire hit 217 house runs, and Canseco had a equally spectacular 230 house runs from 1986-1992. A few years later we got here to search out out in Canseco’s tell-all guide that these lengthy balls might need been chemically aided, however the Oakland duo referred to as the Bash Brothers nonetheless excited many followers of their heyday.
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The Large Harm (Frank Thomas)
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Frank Thomas had a Corridor of Fame profession as one of the vital completed hitters of his period. His nickname “The Large Harm” is a nod to his large mass and highly effective, although it would not do his pure hitting capability justice. Thomas was additionally a profession .301 hitter along with his 521 house runs.
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Large Papi (David Ortiz)
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For all of time, there may not be a extra liked participant in Boston than Large Papi, David Ortiz. The designated hitter was as clutch as they arrive, serving to finish the lengthy World Collection drought in Boston to win three World Collection, however his enthusiasm and enthusiasm on the sector would have made him a fan favourite even when he did not have a Corridor of Fame profession.
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The Large Unit (Randy Johnson)
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Probably the most intimidating and gifted pitchers ever, The Large Unit was really distinctive. Standing rail skinny at 6-foot-10, Johnson threw upper-90s fastballs and depraved sliders earlier than high-90s velocity was a standard talent in MLB. An all-time nice, Johnson received 5 Cy Younger Awards in his Corridor of Fame profession.
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The Chicken (Mark Fidrych)
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Fidrych was nicknamed “The Chicken” as a minor leaguer due to his resemblance to Large Chicken in Sesame Avenue, however it turned out to be an acceptable title for a pitcher identified for his antics no the mound. He performed solely 5 MLB seasons due in celebration to harm, however made fairly a powerful in Detroit from 1976-1980, profitable AL Rookie of the 12 months and ending second within the Cy Younger race in 1976.
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The Captain (Derek Jeter)
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Few MLB gamers have been synonymous with profitable like Jeter, who received 5 World Collection in his 20-year profession with the Yankees. The shortstop appeared born to play the place in New York, and was the captain of many profitable playoff groups in pinstripes.
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Catfish (Jim Hunter)
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Nicknamed “Catfish” by Athletics proprietor Charlie Finley, Hunter had a Corridor of Fame profession pitching for the A’s and Yankees from 1965-1979. His profession accolades embrace 5 World Collection rings and eight All-Star appearances.
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Charlie Hustle (Pete Rose)
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Rose left all of it on the sector, with numerous examples of his all-out hustle throughout a 24-year storied MLB profession. The all-time hits chief received three World Collection and three Batting Titles, hitting .303 for his profession. Nonetheless, he is barred from the MLB Corridor of Fame after betting on baseball whereas enjoying for and managing the Reds.
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Crime Canine (Fred McGriff)
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McGriff had the right nickname on the excellent time, paying homage to McGruff the Crime Canine of the Nineteen Eighties and Nineties. The primary baseman had fairly a Corridor of Fame profession, making 5 All-Star appearances in 19 seasons.
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Donnie Baseball (Don Mattingly)
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Mattingly had a pure stroke and was elite each as a hitter and defender for the Yankees in his 14-year profession. He was a six-time All-Star and received 9 Gold Gloves, incomes the nickname “Donnie Baseball.” Following his enjoying profession, he is had stints because the supervisor of the Dodgers and Marlins.
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El Guapo (Wealthy Garces)
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Garces was identified extra for his physique than expertise throughout an MLB profession that spanned 10 years. Listed at six ft, 250 kilos, Garces was a specific fan favourite throughout his seven seasons in Boston from 1996-2002.
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Hammerin’ Hank (Henry Aaron)
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Aaron was one of many best hitters to ever take the sector and lengthy held the profession house run document. He nonetheless holds the profession document for RBI with 2,297 after an completed 23-year profession, incomes the nickname Hammerin’ Hank.
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The Human Rain Delay (Mike Hargrove)
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Hargrove earned his nickname as The Human Rain Delay for his routine throughout every at-bat, stepping out of the batter’s field to regulate his helmet, gloves, and uniform. The routine would not have survived in at the moment’s period of the pitch clock, however he performed on the proper time from 1974-1985. Following his enjoying profession, Hargrove spent 16 seasons as supervisor of Cleveland, Baltimore, and Seattle.
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Junior (Ken Griffey Jr.)
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Probably the most hyped MLB prospects ever, Griffey not solely lived as much as the hype but in addition received the chance to play along with his father early in his profession with Seattle. The legendary middle fielder earned his Corridor of Fame induction with 13 All-Star appearances and 10 Gold Gloves, together with 630 profession house runs.
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Kung Fu Panda (Pablo Sandoval)
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The chubby Sandoval was a wonderful pure hitter early in his profession with San Francisco and nicknamed the Kung Fu Panda along side the discharge of the child’s movie. Whereas Sandoval’s prime was comparatively quick, he was a two-time All-Star and received three rings with the Giants.
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The Mad Hungarian (Al Hrabosky)
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One of many nice characters within the historical past of pitching, Hrabosky espoused an intimidating demeanor staring down opposing batters as a reduction pitcher for the Cardinals, Royals, and Braves. The Mad Hungarian had a wonderful 13-year profession, with a 3.10 ERA and league-leading 22 saves in 1975.
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Man of Steal (Rickey Henderson)
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An apt nickname for the best base stealer of all of them, Henderson holds the document for many steals in a single season through the fashionable period (130), in addition to the profession document of 1,406 stolen bases. The Corridor of Famer can also be arguably the best leadoff hitter ever, with an unbelievable .401 on-base proportion over 25 seasons.
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Mr. October (Reggie Jackson)
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Jackson earned the nickname Mr. October for shining within the playoffs. He received 5 World Collection in 21 seasons and made playoff appearances in 11 seasons. For his profession, Jackson hit .278-18-48 over 318 profession playoff plate appearances.
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Oil Can (Dennis Boyd)
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Boyd was a well-liked participant throughout eight seasons with the Crimson Sox from 1982-1989, incomes the nickname Oil Can for his historical past of ingesting beer the place he grew up in Meridian, Mississippi. The precise-hander performed 10 seasons, profitable 78 video games with a 4.04 ERA.
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Rocket (Roger Clemens)
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Arguably one of the best pitcher of his period in a 24-year profession from 1984-2007, Clemens has a protracted record of honors that features seven Cy Younger Awards, one MVP, and two World Collection. “Rocket” received 354 video games with a profession 3.12 ERA, enjoying for 4 completely different groups. Clemens was alleged to have used anabolic steroids within the Mitchell Report, in line with his former coach, which has doubtless stored him out of the Corridor of Fame thus far.
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Sandman (Mariano Rivera)
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Maybe one of the best nearer in MLB historical past, Rivera made ending video games routine with a document 652 saves throughout his 19-year profession with the Yankees. The Sandman was much more dominant through the playoffs, with an unbelievable 0.70 ERA and 42 saves over 96 profession appearances.
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Satchel Paige (Leroy Paige)
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Paige earned the nickname “Satchel” as a toddler, and it caught throughout his unbelievable skilled profession within the Negro Leagues and MLB. The Corridor of Fame pitcher had a 2.73 profession ERA as a professional.
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Say Hey Child (Willie Mays)
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Few baseball gamers have proven extra expertise than Mays, who patrolled middle subject for the Giants over 21 seasons. The Say Hey Child was an All-Star a whopping 24 occasions, profitable two MVPs and 12 Gold Gloves. He completed his profession as a .301 hitter with 660 house runs.
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Shoeless (Joe Jackson)
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“Shoeless Joe” is sadly identified greatest for the Black Sox playing scandal by which Jackson and 7 White Sox teammates had been accused of accepting cash to throw the 1919 World Collection. Jackson was finally banned from baseball after his excellent 13-year profession as a .356 hitter, however his basic nickname lives on.
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Spaceman (Invoice Lee)
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Lee earned the nickname “Spaceman” early in his profession, an acceptable nickname for his off-color feedback and antics throughout his profession. The left-hander performed 14 seasons in MLB for Boston and Montreal.
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The Splendid Splinter (Ted Williams)
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Remembered by many as one of the best pure hitter in baseball historical past, the Splendid Splinter has an unbelievable resume over 19 seasons. He received six Batting Titles, along with his first coming in 1941 when he hit .406. Williams completed his profession as a .344 hitter and nonetheless holds the profession on-base proportion document of .482.
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Stan the Man (Stan Musial)
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Musial was the face of the profitable Cardinals franchise throughout 22 seasons, profitable three World Collection and three MVPs. He was not solely referred to as the most effective gamers of his period from 1941-1963, but in addition a very good Samaritan off the sector, making his nickname of Stan the Man much more relevant.
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Yogi (Lawrence Berra)
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Berra earned the nickname “Yogi” early in his historic baseball profession, and it caught all through his life. He had a Corridor of Fame 19-year profession, largely with the Yankees, however is remembered as a lot for his intelligent feedback or “Yogi-isms.”. His most well-known sayings embrace “It ain’t over ’til it is over,” “it is deja vu another time,” and “ninety p.c of the sport is half psychological.”
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The Wizard (Ozzie Smith)
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Smith’s nickname was a reference to The Wizard of Oz, however it was becoming with the unbelievable performs he made on the sector throughout his Corridor of of Fame profession. The shortstop received 13 Gold Gloves and had a number of clutch hits within the playoffs for the Cardinals.