Sweet Nicknames

For whatever reason, people around the game of baseball don’t like to call each other by their given names. Sometimes they shorten a long last name, or they add a –y to the end of a shorter last name. Really it seems like some of the time, they might not even know the real name of their teammates because these silly nicknames are so ingrained in the way a baseball player thinks.

I think it’s awesome. It’s definitely one of my favorite things about the game of baseball. The nicknames of baseball players become so much a part of the individual player; they may not escape the nickname for the rest of their life.

Do you think Randy Johnson’s teammates called him Randy? I’m sure they referred to him by some form of his actual nickname of “The Big Unit.” They may have switched that nickname around some to change the meaning a little bit when they were shooting the shit in the dugout. You see what I mean.

I’m positive David Ortiz’s teammates don’t call him David. His nickname is so well-known, it wouldn’t surprise me if Boston had “Papi” stitched on their away jerseys with the names on the back.

 

James Hunter was a pitcher for the Kansas City A’s when his crazy owner, Charlie O. Finley, thought he should have a flashy new nickname and called him “Catfish.” Catfish Hunter went on to become a Hall of Famer with one of the most popular and memorable nicknames of the 70’s.

For baseball players who aren’t fortunate enough to have a moniker separate from their given name, their baseball nickname usually takes some form of either their first or last name.

For example, my favorite team’s batting order last year read something like this:

LF. Gordo

CF. Melk Man

DH. Billy*

1B. Hoz

RF. Frenchy

3B. Moose

C. Sal

2B. Gia

SS. Esky

*Some Royals bloggers have taken to calling him Country Breakfast. I like that nickname a lot! I’m not sure how much it has caught on.

I think that line-up is proof that nicknames are so frickin cool. The B4B team needs nicknames that are equally awesome. So in between training, fundraising, promoting, and preparing for our epic ride this summer, we are brainstorming nicknames for the B4B crew. Let us know if you have any good ideas on facebook or twitter @Biking4Baseball.