After struggling through the All-Z and All-Q teams recently, with what was actually a nice break for a Y squad that had 93 former major leaguers including three Hall of Famers to choose from, we now head over to the daunting task of forming a team from the 92 men (and just two Hall of Famers) whose last or family name begins with the letter "V."
Though this team features four men named Vaughn, all of whom put up numbers better than some players already in the Hall of Fame, only Arky is actually in Cooperstown among our V friends, along with Dazzy Vance.
This team may actually be easier to build than the Y team of recent vintage; there are an awful lot of really very good -- make that Very good ballplayers eligible. If you weren't watching TV in the early- to mid-1980s, you won't get this team name, but regardless, we are proud to present ...
V: THE FINAL BATTLE
**indicates Hall of Famer
* indicates All-Star
MGR Bobby Valentine (1117-1072 so far)
LINEUP
C Jason Varitek* (.271, 96 homers through 2004)
1B Mickey Vernon* (.286, 172 homers)
2B Jose Vidro* (.301, 101 homers though 2004)
SS Arky Vaughn** (.318, 1932-48)
3B Robin Ventura* (.257, 294 homers through 2004)
LF George Van Haltren (.316, 2532 hits, 1887-1903)
CF Bobby Veach (.310, 195 SB, 1912-25)
RF Ellis Valentine* (.278, 123 homers)
DH Mo Vaughn* (.293, 328 homers)
BENCH
C Ozzie Virgil Jr. (.243, 98 homers, better than his dad)
IF Zoilo Versalles* ('65 AL MVP SS)
UTIL Jose Vizcaino (.272, 1989-2004)
OF Elmer Valo (.282, 58 homers, 110 SB, 1940-61)
OF Andy Van Slyke* (.274, 164 homers)
PH/DH Greg Vaughn* (.242, 355 homers)
ROTATION
RHSP Dazzy Vance** (197-140)
LHSP Frank Viola* (176-140)
RHSP Bob Veale* (120-95)
LHSP Hippo Vaughn (178-137)
LHSP Fernando Valenzuela* (173-153)
BULLPEN
CL Dave Veres (RH; 36-35, 95 saves; only "V" with more than 22)
RHRP Jose Valverde (3-3, 18 saves through 2004)
LHRP Ed Vande Berg (25-28, 22 saves)
RHRP Ron Villone (47-49, 5 saves through 2004)
LHRP-LONG Johnny Vander Meer (two pretty good consecutive starts in '38)
Notes: Apologies to Javier Vazquez, Ismael Valdez, Todd Van Poppel and Elam Vangilder, among many other pitchers ... Dave Valle would make a nice third catcher if roster space permitted ... Jose Vizcaino's versatility and longevity earns him the last bench spot over the flashier middle infield names and All-Star resumes of Omar Vizquel and Fernando Vina ...
Elmer Valo just edges out Joe Vosmik for the last outfield spot on the bench, while Veach moves the SportsCenter-highlight-aided Van Slyke to the pine as well ... Only Van Haltren's early deadball-era career prevents this from being the first alphabet team to field an All-Star at each everyday position (asuming we re-flipped All-Star Van Slyke and pre-All-Star Veach), and given Van Haltren hit between .330 and .351 seven times, it seems likely that had there been a midsummer classic at the time, he would have made at least one appearance ...
On merit alone, Vander Meer and Veale could arguably swap places, but that would leave four lefties in the rotation behind Vance, so for the sake of balance, Veale lands in the rotation and Johnny No-No is the long man.
This team strikes me as being pretty good, but in the interest of staying true to the "letter" of the law, how can this team be Very good?
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20050522183940613