Again ... that's initially speaking ...
We'll go off the beaten path for a moment in this double-ititial
odyssey for the Hall of Names (See the first four double-initial teams,
"AA" Through "CC", "DD" Through "FF", "GG" Through "JJ" and "KK"
Through "MM," here),
and see if we can't put together a full team, or even a full roster, of
players by combining the nine (there's a good baseball number omen)
letters which did not have at least nine players reach the bigs with
double initials.
Those letters, unfortunately, include II,
QQ, UU and XX, each of which contributed exactly zero double-initial
players; UU and YY, each of which produced just one; and NN (five), OO
(eight), VV (two) and ZZ (three). So that's a total of just 20 players,
eleven of whom were pitchers, but let's see what we can do anyway ...
... and what do you know, even with just nine position players
available, with a little creative movement by position, we can actually
get a full lineup on the field, along with a decent (if not
overwhleming) five-man rotation and a six-man bullpen fronted by the
team's best player.
Now, admittedly, we have to stretch the eligibility rules just a tiny
bit, allowing for common nicknames such as "Ozzie" Osborn to make the
lineup. We also have to start three shortstops, though Nelson Norman
and Ollie O'Mara actually did play at 2B and 3B, respectively -- Norman
only played the other side of the keystone twice in his 198 big league
games, but O'Mara manned the hot corner in 123 of his 387 big league
lineup appearances.
And yes, that's right, our starting 1B is also the second lefty out of
the bullpen; Orwall actually made slightly more appearances on the
mound (39) than he did at 1B (34), although his career OPS+ of 90 was a
hair better than his career ERA+ of 87. More notes follow, but first,
let's take time to meet ...
DOUBLE TROUBLE
LINEUP
C Clarence "Yam" Yaryan (.260, 1921-22 CHW)
1B/LHRP Ossie Orwoll (.294; 6-7, 4.05, 1928-29 PHA)
2B Nelson Norman (.221 in 198 games, 1978-87)
SS Norberto "Tito" Navarro (1-for-17 for '93 NYM)
3B Ollie O'Mara (.231, 1912-19)
LF Vince Ventura (.207, 1945 WSH)
CF Nyls Nyman (.238, 1974-77 CHW)
RF Al "Zeke" Zarilla* (.276, 1943-53)
DH Norihiro Nakamura (3B "hit" .128 for 2005 LAD)
ROTATION
RHSP Orval Overall (108-71, 2.23 1905-13)
RHSP Omar Olivares (77-86, 1990-2001)
RHSP George Washington "Zip" Zabel (12-14, 1913-15 CHC)
RHSP Nick Neugebauer (2-8, 2001-02 MIL)
RHSP Oliverio "Baby" Ortiz (0-2, 1942 WSH)
BULLPEN
CL-RH Ugueth Urbina* (237 saves through 2005)
RHRP Danny "Ozzie" Osborn (3-0, 1975 CHW)
RHRP Vito Valentinetti (13-14, 1954-59)
RHRP Ole Olsen (8-7, 1922-23 DET)
LHRP George "Zeke" Zackert (0-2, 1911-12 STL)
RHRP Oran "Skinny" O'Neal (13 games, 0-0, 1925, '27 PHI)
Double the Notes ... Osborn, who as far as we know never bit the
head off a bat (winged or wooden) while on the mound, was considered a
key part of the Decemeber 1975 trade of All-Star outfielders that sent
Ken Henderson to the Braves and Ralph Garr to the White Sox ... Garr
hit exactly .300 twice for the ChiSox, but Henderson lasted just one year
in Atlanta before being packaged with a number of other to Texas for
Jeff Burroughs ...
It's true that Ole Oleson's given first name was "Arthur," but believ
it or not, "Ole" was NOT a nickname, but his given middle name ...
After Overall and Olivares, the starting rotation compiled a career W-L
of just 14-24, so it's probably best that, even with literally NO bench
players, there are at least seven relievers around the call on when
Zabel, Neugebauer or Ortiz run a little short ... Seriously, the
rotation is all right. No, literally -- not a lefty to be found to take
the ball in the first inning ...
Speaking of "a little short," the designated "hitter" for this team is
Norihiro Nakamura, he of the .128 career batting average ... There are
two All-Stars, in Ugueth Urbina and Al "Zeke" Zarilla ... Did we miss
anyone?
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20060715233300867