For Batter's Box readers Of A Certain Age, it's time to feel old ... today is Alfredo Griffin's 50th birthday. AG is one of 61 men born on Oct.6 who have played in the major leagues -- and while none have yet made the Hall of Fame -- oh, who am I kidding, none are ever getting there; the best of the lot is Ruben Sierra, a Hall of Fame talent who never quite sustained a Cooperstown career. But there is a "yet" worth mentioning -- or at least, that is ...
... a "Yett," as in Rich Yett, a middling RHS/RP who won 22 games from 1985-90 for the Twins and Indians. He would likely anchor the "conjunction" part of an all-Grammar/Parts of Speech team, and he will make this team, which I guess we'll dub ...
WHY WON'T ANYONE MANAGE US?
That's right, nobody born on this day has ever managed in the big leagues. Well, yet(t) anwyay. But take a look at this roster ... would you?
** indicates Hall of Famer (none)
* indicates All-Star
LINEUP
C Jerry Grote* (.252, parts of 1963-81)
1B Greg Walker (.260, 113 homers, 1982-90)
2B Dutch Meyer (.264, parts of 1937-46)
SS Alfredo Griffin* (.249, 1976-93; '85 Gold Glove)
3B John Knight (22/3B hit .239, 1905-13)
LF Pat Duncan (.307, 1915, '19-24)
CF Eddie Burke (.279, 1890-97)
RF Ruben Sierra* (.268, 306 homers, 1986-2006)
DH Ed "Jumbo" Cartwright (.295, 1890, '94-97; 196 RBI, 1894-95)
BENCH
C Tom Padden (.272, 1932-37, '43)
IF Benji Gil (.237, parts of 1993-2003)
IF/OF/RHP Jack Dunn (.245, 1897-1904; 64-59 as RHSP)
OF Joe Frazier (.241, 1947, '54-56)
OF Gene Clines (.277, 1970-79)
UTIL Archi Cianfrocco (.241, 1992-98)
ROTATION
RHSP Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd (78-77, 1982-91)
LHSP Darren Oliver (94-81 through 2007)
RHSP Jim McGlothlin* (67-77, 1965-73)
LHSP Ken Chase (53-84, 1936-43)
RHSP Gary Gentry (46-49, 1969-75)
BULLPEN
RHP Robert Person (51-42, 9 saves 1995-2003)
LHP Jerry Stephenson (8-19, parts of 1963-70)
RHP Rich Yett (22-24, 1985-90)
LHP George Riley (1-5, parts of 1979-86)
RHRP Jerry Bell (17-11, 1971-74)
FINAL CUTS ... We couldn't find room for C/UTIL Pop Snyder, who hit .235 from 1873-91 or OF Buddy Ryan, who was at .282 from 1912-13 -- the latter might make the Hall of Names roster of all-time NFL coach namesakes, though ... Also getting the red card in the locker were RHSP Steve Kline (43-45, 1973-77), young RHSP Joel Hanrahan (5-3 as '07 WSN rookie), RHRP Paul Calvert (9-22, 1942-45, '49-51) and the eminently cool-named RHRP Carlisle Littlejohn (5-2, 1927-28) ... Hanrahan seems likely to qualify for a roster spot in a few years, though ...
So that's right, Alfredo ... Happy 50th, and this is your team. We've only built about two dozen Hall of Names all-birthday teams to date -- so with 340 or so to go, this point may become moot -- but so far, this may be the worst yet(t)!
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20071006131648536