Pinch-Hit by Colin Jaffray (username: 5hoursahead)
I couldn't resist finding out if we could put up a team from over the pond here [Editor's Note: That'd be the British Isles, kids] and I'm surprised, but delighted to say that we can. I had to take advantage of a few multi-skilled players and it shouldn't surprise anyone that the majority racked up most of their playing time in the late 19th century.
That said, this team ain't too shabby considering their home nations ...
It has a HOF manager, who also comes off the bench AND out of the bullpen, and an All-Star outfielder who ended up at DH because he's the only guy who could hit the ball over the fence with any regularity (refer to the team name).
There may not be much power but check out the 13th and 76th all time SB leaders in the outfield. Throw in a guy nicknamed 'Pepper' with another 244 to his name, and a 'Dude' with 22 in one season on the bench, and we've definitely got some potential for speed on the basepaths.
The bulk of the rotation looks OK but the bullpen is a bit light, to say the least. The bench catcher looks better than the starter but he had less playing time there and was primarily an OF. They could always be flipped.
Finally, there are even a couple of old friends - one in the rotation and one in the bullpen. What more could you ask? I give you the...
ALL BRITS - NO POP
** indicates Hall of Famer
* indicates All-Star
Player/Manager: Harry Wright** - England (1225-885, 4 NA pennants, 2 NL pennants)
Lineup
C Harry Smith - England (.213/.262/.255 in 10 seasons)
1B Ed Cogswell - England (.294/.328/.349 in 3 seasons)
2B Tim Manning - England (.189/.256/.252 in 4 seasons)
SS Dave Brain - England (.252/.292/.363 in 7 seasons)
3B Jimmy 'Pepper' Austin - Wales (.246, 244 SB in 18 seasons)
OF Tom Brown - England (657 SB - 13th all time! - in 17 seasons)
OF Hugh Nicol - Scotland (383 SB - 76th all time! - in 10 seasons)
OF George Hall - England (.322/.337/.449 in 7 seasons)
DH Bobby Thomson* - Scotland (.270/.332/.462, 264 HR in 15 seasons)
Bench
C Dick Higham - England (.307/.314/.378 in 8 seasons)
IF Al Reach - England (.247/.264/.321 in 5 seasons)
IF Mike 'Dude' McCormick - Scotland (27 RBI, 22 SB in 1904)
OF Harry Wright (.272/.303/.338 in 7 seasons)
OF Charlie Hanford - England (.280/.323/.414 in 2 seasons)
UTIL Jim McCormick (2082 AB to go with his 4275 IP)
Rotation
RHSP Jim McCormick - Scotland (265-214, 2.43 in 10 years)
RHSP Ted Lewis - Wales (94-64, 3.53)
RHSP Danny Cox - England (74-75, 3.64, 1993-95 in TOR, ERA+ 140 in 1993 bullpen)
RHSP George Chalmers - Scotland (29-41, 3.41, six saves)
5SP-RH Mac MacArthur - Scotland (1-5, 5.02 in 1884)
Bullpen
CL-RH Tom Waddell - Scotland (15-11, 4.30, 15 saves)
RHRP Harry Wright (4-4, 3.81, eight saves)
LHRP Lance Painter - England (25-18, 5.24 (1½ seasons in TOR)
RHRP Tom Brown (49 IP to go with all those steals)
RHRP Paul Marak - England (1-2, 3.69 in seven starts for ATL 1990)
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20060111213502620