July 29, 2009 by Frank @ Beach Walk Reflections

All-Time Lukes

I haven’t seen Luke in 15-20 years, but through the Internet we’ve reconnected. He writes an interesting blog about various topics about the Bible and archeology. He’s participating as a volunteer in Israel on an archeological dig at Elah Fortress excavation and has posted reports. Keep up the good work Luke!

In honor of Luke and his work, I pursued an all-time team. Good news is that player nicknames include Old Aches and Pains, Buster, the Nashville Narcissus, Mongoose, and the Hot Potato. Sadly, only 18 Lukes have played in the bigs; thus I’ve been forced into creative mood to field a team – but this team is still not good enough to even compete with the All-Time Randys.

Ladies and Gentlemen. Now taking the field, the All-Time Lukes.

1B – Luke Easter
2B – Johnny Lucadello
SS – Luke Appling (HOF)
3B – Billy Lucas Lush
C – Luke Sewell (AS)
OF – Luke Scott
OF – Eddie Lukon
OF – Matt Luke
DH – Johnny Lucas

SP – Red Lucas
SP – Luke Hamlin
SP – Luke Walker
SP – Luke Hudson
SP – Luke Hochever

RP – Gary Lucas
RP – Luke Prokopec
RP – Ray Lucas

Mgr – Frank Lucchesi

To see more All-Time Teams, click the All-Time Teams link under Sports listed in the Category sidebar to the right.

June 13, 2009 by Frank @ Beach Walk Reflections

On Real Names in Baseball

As we know, baseball has an endless list of nicknames. On the other hand, sometimes the player is best known by either his nickname, middle name, or a modification of some sort.

Below is a list of 20 known players and 20 real names, so this is a matching exercise with each answer used once. A fair share of these are easy, so enjoy and good luck. Answers are below the video (a triple play on a ball hit by Chipper). Tell us how you did.

Players: Buck Ewing, Casey Stengel, Chipper Jones, Cool Papa Bells, Cy Young, Dizzy Dean, Duke Snider, Gabby Harnett, Goose Goslin, Hack Wilson, Honus Wagner, Lefty Gomez, Lefty Grove, Pee Wee Reese, Pie Traynor, Satchel Paige, Smokey Burgess, Sparky Anderson, Tug McGraw, Willie Stargell

First Names: Charles, Charles, Denton, Edwin, Forrest, Frank, George, Harold, James, Jay, John, Larry, Lawrence, Leon, Leroy, Lewis, Robert, Vernon, William, Wilver

Answers
Buck Ewing – William
Casey Stengel – Charles
Cool Papa Bell – James
Cy Young – Denton
Dizzy Dean – Jay
Duke Snider – Edwin
Gabby Hartnett – Charles
Goose Goslin – Leon
Hack Wilson – Lewis
Honus Wagner – John
Lefty Gomez – Vernon
Lefty Grove – Robert
Pee Wee Reese – Harold
Pie Traynor – Harold
Satchel Paige – Leroy
Smokey Burgess – Forrest
Sparky Anderson – George
Tug McGraw – Frank
Willie Stargell – Wilver
Yogi Berra – Lawrence

June 6, 2009 by Frank @ Beach Walk Reflections

On Baseball Nicknames

Earlier this year we lost Mark The Bird Fidrych and The Little Professor, Dom DiMaggio. Although nicknames for baseball players are endless, here’s a quiz about The Bird, Moose, Godzilla, Charlie Hustle, the Georgia Peach, and all the other nicknames in baseball.

Below is a list of 25 players and 25 nicknames, so this is a matching exercise with each answer used once. A fair share of these are easy, so enjoy and good luck. Answers are below the video (a triple play without batter contacting the ball). Let us know how you did.

Players: Adam Dunn, Brooks Robinson, Charlie Spikes, Chris Sabo, Christy Mathewson, Dave Parker, Dick Stuart, Early Wynn, Eddie Stanky, Enos Slaughter, Ernie Lombardi, Frank Viola, Frankie Frisch, Jeffery Leonard, Jim Palmer, Joe Medwick, Lenny Dykstra, Luke Appling, Orlando Cepada, Roy Halladay, Walt Williams, Walter Johnson, Whitey Ford, Willie McCovey, Willie Stargell

Nicknames: Big Donkey, Big Six, Big Train, Bogalusa Bomber, Cakes, Cha Cha, Chairman of the Board, Cobra, Country, Doc, Dr. Strangeglove, Ducky, Fordham Flash, Gus, Hoover, Nails, No Neck, Old Aches and Pains, Old Penitentiary Face, Pops, Schnozz, Spuds, Sweet Music, Stretch, The Brat

Answers
Adam Dunn – Big Donkey
Brooks Robinson – Hoover
Charlie Spikes – Bogalusa Bomber
Chris Sabo – Spuds
Christy Mathewson – Big Six
Dave Parker – Cobra
Dick Stuart – Dr. Strangeglove
Early Wynn – Gus
Eddie Stanky – The Brat
Enos Slaughter – Country
Ernie Lombardi – Schnozz
Frank Viola – Sweet Music
Frankie Frisch – Fordham Flash
Jim Palmer – Cakes
Jeffery Leonard – Old Penitentiary Face
Joe Medwick – Ducky
Lenny Dykstra – Nails
Luke Appling – Old Aches and Pains
Orlando Cepada – Cha Cha
Roy Halladay – Doc
Walt Williams – No Neck
Walter Johnson – Big Train
Whitey Ford – Chairman of the Board
Willie McCovey – Stretch
Willie Stargell – Pops

May 22, 2009 by Frank @ Beach Walk Reflections

On Bermanisms

Below are a list of 30 nicknames plus a list of 30 players with a line signifying the place for the nickname. See how you do. Answers are found below the player list.

A Bedtime Story, And Bear It, Babbling, Bay City, Be Home, Bomba, Brandy, Bunch, Eat Drink and, Good Housekeeping, Highway, If I had a, Junk, New kids on the, Life of, OK, Room and, Sergeant, Smallmouth, Snap Crackle, Sockeye, South of the, Supreme Court, Swimming, The Flying, Ticket, Win Place or, Winnie the, Wrap, Young Again

Answers
Albert Winnie the Pujols
Atlee If I had a Hammaker
Bert Be Home Blyleven
Brady Bunch Anderson
Chuck New Kids on the Knoblauch
Craig Reynolds Wrap
David Supreme Court Justice
Doyle Brandy Alexander
Eddie Eat Drink and Be Murray
Eric Win Place or Show
Franklin Ticket Stubbs
Gary Redus a Bedtime Story
Greg Life of Briley
Hubie Babbling Brooks
Joe Sergeant Carter
Kevin Smallmouth Bass
Mark Bay City Wohlers
Mike Room and Bordick
Oddibe Young Again McDowell
Pat OK Corrales
Pat South of the Borders
Rick Junk Mahler
Rob Bomba Deer
Robb the Flying Nenn
Robin Ventura Highway
Terry Swimming Puhl
Tim Sockeye Salmon
Todd Snap Crackle Van Poppel
Todd Good Housekeeping Ziele
Tony Gwynn and Bear It

So how did you do? Any favorites on the list or not listed?

May 16, 2009 by Frank @ Beach Walk Reflections

On BallPark Franks

Everyone has a sense of pride about their name. Given baseball’s rich history, thought I’d develop an all-time team with only Franks. I even got picky as I didn’t stretch into Francis, Franklins, Franciscos, Francos, or even middle names or last names; thus stuck with given first name and went-by names. Which means I passed on K-Rod, John Franco, Julio Franco, and even Herman Franks.

I think these guys could compete … Ladies and Gentlemen … presenting the All-Time BallPark Franks! (with links to their career)

1B: F. Chance (HOF)
2B: F. Frisch (HOF)
SS: F. Crosetti
3B: F. Baker (HOF)
C: F. Hayes
OF: F. Robinson (HOF)
OF: F. Howard
OF: F. Thomas (51-66)
DH: F. Thomas (90-08)