Detroit Tigers (and Toledo Mud Hens) hurler Fernando Rodney is scheduled to have season-ending elbow surgery tomorrow. What does that have to do with anything on Da Box? Well ... nothing, really. Except ... that's right, kids, it's time for another exciting installment of Baseball's Hall of Names! Woohoo!
It's simple, really ... what's the best possible team of players who had two first names? No, not of the John Henry Johnson ilk. Rather, those players like Frank Thomas -- and Fernando Rodney -- whose last name is also a first name.
Now, you Brooks Kieschnick fans shouldn't get caught up in the fact that your boy's first name is a common last name; he obviously doesn't qualify. But former Met uber-prospect Hubie Brooks? Sure, welcome aboard!
This Hall of Names installment is a little different from past editions, as your Friendly Neighborhood Box is not providing a lineup to comment on, but rather is asking ... who should be on this team? Just looking at Da Box Roster -- come to think of it, "Joe Drew" and "Jonny Morton" should probably be the official Box Co-Sponsors of this team -- provides plenty of fodder. So, who's who in the first-names-twice lineup?
Hank Aaron?
Tommy John?
Gene Michael?
Jeff Kent?
Brian Jordan?
George Scott?
Roger Craig?
Tony Gwynn? (Or is that a reach, Gwyn?)
And just to keep it interesting, let's not stack the team into an "All-Thomas" edition or anything like it ... once a last name is used, it's out of play. Be sure to provide the position, and if the player is obscure, some key stats or a link to the appropriate baseballreference.com page.
The only current Jay who seems to qualify is Howie Clark. Who else?
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20040429102528999