Now, just off the top of your head, you're probably thinking "Zito, Zeile, Canada's own Zimmerman boys, former Jay Zosky ..." And you'd be right. But putting together the full 25-man roster is a little harder than you might think.
Well, let's, um, zee ..
Meet your
ZANESVILLE GRAYS
NOTE: Yes, this was actually a real minor league team, not just some literary pun from an underappreciated English major.
*indicates All-Star
** indicates Hall of Famer (there are none)
# indicates active player
Player/Manager: Don Zimmer* (885-858, one division champ -- '89 CHC)
LINEUP
C Chief Zimmer (.264, 1884-1903)
1B Norm Zauchin (started at 1B for '55 BOS; .233 in 6 seasons)
2B Heinie Zimmerman (,295, 1907-19, played more at 3B)
SS Frankie Zak* (played just 123 games, 1944-46, made '44 All-Star team)
3B Todd Zeile* (all-time Z homer leader with 256)
LF Gus Zernial* (.265, 237 homers)
CF Al Zarilla (.276, 1943-53)
RF Guy Zinn (.269, 1911-15)
DH Richie Zisk* (.287, 207 homers)
BENCH
C Gregg Zaun (.250 through 2004)
OF/1B/3B Bob Zupcic (.250, 1991-94)
MID IF Benny Zientara (.254, 1941-48)
OF Billy Zitzmann (.267, parts of 1919-29)
UTIL Rollie Zeider (.240, 1910-18, did everything but P, C)
UTIL Don Zimmer* (.235, 1954-65, started at SS for first LAD team in '57)
ROTATION
RHSP Tom Zachary (186-191, 1918-36)
LHSP Barry Zito* (72-40 through 2004)
RHSP George Zettlein (129-112, 1871-76; 92 wins, 1873-75)
LHSP Geoff Zahn (111-109, 1973-85)
RHSP Carlos Zambrano* (34-29 through 2004)
BULLPEN
CL Jeff Zimmerman* (RH, 28 saves in 2001)
LHRP Chad Zerbe (6-1, 2000-03)
RHRP Oscar Zamora (13-14, 23 saves, 1974-78)
LHRP Adrian Zabala (4-7, 1 save, 1945 & 1949)
LONG-RH Pat Zachry* (69-67, 1976-85)
So what do you say, Bauxites? Does this team wake you up and make you want to make it better, or are you left feeling ... ZZZzzzzz ....
