Young Blue Jay OF (and future AL MVP) Alex Rios is 26 today, Feb. 18. He is one of no less than 49 big league ballplayers born on this day.
Not a single one of those four-dozen-plus-one is enshrined in Baseball's Hall of Fame (though there is at least one MVP already and a number of other All-Stars), but it is indeed possible that this is one of the most prolific Hall of Names birthdays in the entire calendar year.
What follows is a roster made up entirely of players born on Feb. 18. Let's see if this team would be any good as we we greet ...
His Name is Rios
(And He Dances on the Sand)
** indicates Hall of Fame (none so far)
* indicates All-Star
Nobody born on 2/18 has ever managed in MLB.
LINEUP
C Marc Hill (.223 over 14 years)
1B John Mayberry* (255 homers in 15 years)
2B Joe Gordon* (.268, 253 homers in 11 years; '42 AL MVP)
SS Rafael Ramirez* (.261 in 13 years)
3B John Valentin (mostly SS, .279, 124 homers, 11 years)
LF Jerry Morales* (.259 in 15 years)
CF Alexis Rios* (mostly RF, .283 through 2006)
RF Manny Mota* (.304 over 20 years)
DH Walter Young (1B was 10-for-33 with 2005 BAL)
BENCH
C Frank "Pig" House (.248 over 10 years)
IF Jamey Carroll (.280 through 2006)
IF Dal Maxvill (.217, 14 years)
IF Frank Fennelly (.257, 175 SB, 1885-90)
OF/UTIL Curt Bernard (.238, 1900-01 NYG)
OF/RHP Larry Twitchell (.263; 17-11 W-L, 1886-94)
ROTATION
RHSP Kevin Tapani (143-125, 1989-2001)
LHSP Shawn Estes* (99-90 through 2006)
RHSP Bruce Kison (115-88 in 15 years)
LHSP George Mogridge (132-131, 1911-27)
LHSP Sherry Smith (114-118, 1911-27)
BULLPEN
CL-LH Luis Arroyo* (15-5, 29 saves, 1961 NYY)
RH-SET Bob Miller (69 wins, 51 saves, 17 years)
LH-SET Kyle Abbott (4-17, 1991-96)
RHRP Huck Betts (61-68, 16 saves in 16 years)
RH-LONG Tyler Green* (18-25 career)
Apologies to Chad Moeller, Jeff McKnight, Rocky Childress, Herm Wehmeier, Walter Thornton, Zip Zabel, Dad Hale and the others of the two dozen born on this day who didn't crack the final roster ... If it weren't for the near-double-digit presence of backup catchers, we might even see if we could build two teams! But for now, just take a look at the 2/18 birthday boys and and feel free to offer suggestions on how this team could be better ...
Not a single one of those four-dozen-plus-one is enshrined in Baseball's Hall of Fame (though there is at least one MVP already and a number of other All-Stars), but it is indeed possible that this is one of the most prolific Hall of Names birthdays in the entire calendar year.
What follows is a roster made up entirely of players born on Feb. 18. Let's see if this team would be any good as we we greet ...
His Name is Rios
(And He Dances on the Sand)
** indicates Hall of Fame (none so far)
* indicates All-Star
Nobody born on 2/18 has ever managed in MLB.
LINEUP
C Marc Hill (.223 over 14 years)
1B John Mayberry* (255 homers in 15 years)
2B Joe Gordon* (.268, 253 homers in 11 years; '42 AL MVP)
SS Rafael Ramirez* (.261 in 13 years)
3B John Valentin (mostly SS, .279, 124 homers, 11 years)
LF Jerry Morales* (.259 in 15 years)
CF Alexis Rios* (mostly RF, .283 through 2006)
RF Manny Mota* (.304 over 20 years)
DH Walter Young (1B was 10-for-33 with 2005 BAL)
BENCH
C Frank "Pig" House (.248 over 10 years)
IF Jamey Carroll (.280 through 2006)
IF Dal Maxvill (.217, 14 years)
IF Frank Fennelly (.257, 175 SB, 1885-90)
OF/UTIL Curt Bernard (.238, 1900-01 NYG)
OF/RHP Larry Twitchell (.263; 17-11 W-L, 1886-94)
ROTATION
RHSP Kevin Tapani (143-125, 1989-2001)
LHSP Shawn Estes* (99-90 through 2006)
RHSP Bruce Kison (115-88 in 15 years)
LHSP George Mogridge (132-131, 1911-27)
LHSP Sherry Smith (114-118, 1911-27)
BULLPEN
CL-LH Luis Arroyo* (15-5, 29 saves, 1961 NYY)
RH-SET Bob Miller (69 wins, 51 saves, 17 years)
LH-SET Kyle Abbott (4-17, 1991-96)
RHRP Huck Betts (61-68, 16 saves in 16 years)
RH-LONG Tyler Green* (18-25 career)
Apologies to Chad Moeller, Jeff McKnight, Rocky Childress, Herm Wehmeier, Walter Thornton, Zip Zabel, Dad Hale and the others of the two dozen born on this day who didn't crack the final roster ... If it weren't for the near-double-digit presence of backup catchers, we might even see if we could build two teams! But for now, just take a look at the 2/18 birthday boys and and feel free to offer suggestions on how this team could be better ...
