Apologies to the home of the Athletics, and Oakland has produced a number of fine diamond men, but today faithful Bauxite Anders Whist brings us this Hall of Names team composed entirely of San Francisco natives.
How good is this team? Here's a hint: Joe DiMaggio didn't make the roster. Let's see what that's all about as we meet a team that, even without Jim or Sam Rice, could only be called ...
The San Francisco Treats
By Anders Whist
This team can put a pretty decent lineup out, especially the strong outfield. Dom DiMaggio was one of the finest defensive centre fielders to play the game, and this quote, courtesy of Bill James, is a favorite: How can [Joe DiMaggio] be the greatest centre fielder of all time," asks Bill Deane, "if he’s the third best centre fielder in his family?"
Lefty O’Doul is a fantastic story, and maybe someone can explain it better than me, but he was a poor pitcher, washed out at 26, made a comeback as a hitter at 31, played 7 years and ended up a .349 hitter, with 1140 hits. The pitching though, can generously be described as awful. You win some you lose some.
Player/Manager: Joe Cronin (1236 wins, two pennants)
Player/Coach: Jim Fregosi (1028 wins, one pennant)
Lineup
C: Joe Ferguson (.240, 122 homers)
1B: Keith Hernandez* (.296, 162 homers, 1979 NL co-MVP)
2B: Tony Lazzeri** (.292, 178 homers)
3B: Willie Kamm (.281 in 13 seasons)
SS: Joe Cronin** (.301, 170 homers)
RF: Harry Heilmann** (.342, 183 homers, four batting crowns)
CF: Dom DiMaggio* (.298 in just 11 seasons)
LF: Lefty O'Doul* (.349 in second career as OF)
DH: George Kelly** (.297, 148 homers)
Bench
C: John Boccabella (.219 over 12 seasons)
INF: Dolph Camilli* (.277, 239 homers, 1941 NL MVP)
INF: Jim Fregosi* (.265, 151 homers)
OF: Willie McGee* (.295, 1985 NL MVP)
OF: Jackie Jensen* (.276, 199 homers, 1958 AL MVP)
UT: Gil McDougald* (.276, 112 homers)
Rotation
RHSP: Mike Norris* (58-59; 22-9 in 1980)
RHSP: Charlie Sweeney (64-52; 41-15 in 1882)
LHSP: Phil Knell (79-90; 50-38, 1890-91)
RHSP: Bill Posedel (41-43; 27-30 in 1939-40)
5SP-RH: Ryan Drese (34-37 through 2005)
Bullpen
CL-RH: Dick Tidrow (100-94, 55 saves)
RHRP: Danny Frisella (34-40, 57 saves)
LHRP: Bert Cole (28-32, 10 saves)
RHRP: Tyler Walker (12-5, 24 saves through 2005)
LHRP: Windy McCall (11-15, 12 saves)
Hall of Names Challenge: Can the Bay's "Second City" of Oakland put together a team to challenge or defeat this one? Contact me to stake your claim to this challenge (first come, first served, as always) ... and on a related note, what would an All-Bay Area team of SF AND Oakland (and other localities that I cannot name) look like?
P.S. I love this team, but seriously, Dom over Joe?
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20060108155029527