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Whatever happened to the great nicknames?

"Slinging" Sammy Baugh
Bobby "Blonde Bomber" Layne
Clyde "Bulldog" Turner
Dante "Glue Fingers" Lavelli
Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch
"Concrete" Charlie Bednarik
"Galloping Ghost" Red Grange
Charlie "Golden Boy" Trippi
Lou "The Toe" Groza


Football must have been so much more fun back then!
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Comments

  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,487 ✭✭✭✭✭
    It went by the wayside when mothers started naming their kids Shawn and Chad and Jamie instead of Vinnie and Pete and Joe and Sammy.

    On my block Vinnie was kickin' everyone's ass!

    image

    PS: I'm not pickin' on those names - this was right out of a George Carlin type monologue.
    Mike
  • BigDaddyBowmanBigDaddyBowman Posts: 1,896 ✭✭✭


    << <i>It went by the wayside when mothers started naming their kids Shawn and Chad and Jamie instead of Vinnie and Pete and Joe and Sammy.

    >>





    What do you mean, my wife and I named our first born Yelberton Abraham image
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,487 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>It went by the wayside when mothers started naming their kids Shawn and Chad and Jamie instead of Vinnie and Pete and Joe and Sammy.

    >>





    What do you mean, my wife and I named our first born Yelberton Abraham image >>

    No problem.

    After ya teach him how to pronounce his name...

    Teach him how to kick Vinnie's ass!

    image
    Mike
  • nightcrawlernightcrawler Posts: 5,110 ✭✭
    Fred "Cyclone" Tayler
    Maurice "The Rocket" Richard
    Lawrence "Gump" Worsely
    Dave "The Hammer" Shultz



    And best of all... Reggie "The Rifle" Leach


    Had to throw a few hockey names in. Still like "The Juice" for OJ.

  • ZixxZixx Posts: 228 ✭✭
    You're forgetting some guys!

    Do you remember the nicknames for:

    Kevin Mitchell
    Dave Hollins
    Garry Mathews
    Dennis Boyd
    Larry Jones
    Greg Minton
    Juan Gonzalez

    Not that they were great, but they were in the last 20-30 years or so. The biggest problem is when someone thought it "cute" to do the abbreviations from the full name, which really shouldn't be for everyone, but it seems every commentator doesn't want to feel left out. A-Rod, K-Rod, F-Mart, etc, etc,.

    But ya, the original nicknames were kinda cool image
  • good ole "Oil Can" Boyd
    White Whales:
    1996 Select Certified Mirror Gold Ozzie Smith
    2006 Bowman Chrome Orange Refractor Chris Carpenter
  • Maybe I am a bit partial, but Stan "The Man" Musial is a pretty darn cool nickname. image
  • GDM67GDM67 Posts: 2,526 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>You're forgetting some guys!

    Do you remember the nicknames for:

    Garry Mathews >>



    Ah, my man The Sarge image

    I was actually just thinking last night about how much I liked him when I was a kid, in his Braves days.

    I was watching the Phillies broadcast of their game with San Francisco and they had a great photo of Gary, Gary Maddox and Bobby Bonds in ther Giants days.

  • bigfischebigfische Posts: 2,252 ✭✭
    Crime Dog
    The Big Unit
    The Big Hurt
    Pronk
    THe Professor
    The Rocket
    Pudge


    There is still good ones out there, Its just the Arods, Irods, KRod, LT, TO, etc have become the lazy choice at times.
    My baseball and MMA articles-
    http://sportsfansnews.com/author/andy-fischer/

    imagey
  • Bosox1976Bosox1976 Posts: 8,568 ✭✭✭✭✭
    No Neck
    Polish Cannon
    Roadrunner
    Le Grand Orange
    Mike
    Bosox1976


  • << <i>You're forgetting some guys!

    Do you remember the nicknames for:

    Kevin Mitchell
    Dave Hollins
    Garry Mathews SARGE
    Dennis Boyd OIL CAN
    Larry Jones
    Greg Minton Honestly, I can't believe he had a nickname.
    Juan Gonzalez JUAN GONE

    Not that they were great, but they were in the last 20-30 years or so. The biggest problem is when someone thought it "cute" to do the abbreviations from the full name, which really shouldn't be for everyone, but it seems every commentator doesn't want to feel left out. A-Rod, K-Rod, F-Mart, etc, etc,.

    But ya, the original nicknames were kinda cool image >>



    And what about one of my favs:

    Dr. Strangeglove
    #10 PSA Set for Topps Baseball currently on eBay under seller deeppurple1.
  • nam812nam812 Posts: 10,602 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Greg "moon man" Minton.


  • << <i>Greg "moon man" Minton. >>



    Yes! I do remember that now. I wonder if he got it because he gave up so many "moon shots"?
    #10 PSA Set for Topps Baseball currently on eBay under seller deeppurple1.
  • nam812nam812 Posts: 10,602 ✭✭✭✭✭
    For some reason a lot of baseball players with the first name George had nicknames.

    George "Babe" Ruth, George "Buck" Weaver, George "Snuffy" Stirnweiss, George "Birdie" Tebbetts, George "Doc" Medich, George "Boomer" Scott, George "The stork" Theodore, George "Sparky" Anderson, etc....
  • they call roy halladay "doc" image
  • Dan "Wrench" Gladden.

    Because he reminded Hrbek of the guys in high school who took nothing but shop classes.
    There's a hole in my head where the rain comes in.
  • Dont forget..."The Bird" and "The Mad Hungarian" and " Spaceman"
    A collector of all things Braves
    Always looking for Chipper Jones cards.
    Im a very focused collector of cards from 1909 - 2012...LOL
  • Bill "spaceman" Lee
  • calaban7calaban7 Posts: 3,040 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Greg "moon man" Minton. >>



    Yes! I do remember that now. I wonder if he got it because he gave up so many "moon shots"? >>



    I don't think so. He had a "HEAVY" sinkerball that resulted in one of the lowest HR/9 innnings in the modern era.

    He was a space case just like Bill Lee.

    -------Dr. Strangeglove---Stanley Kubrick- I mean Dick Stuart.
    " In a time of universal deceit , telling the truth is a revolutionary act " --- George Orwell
  • detroitfan2detroitfan2 Posts: 3,366 ✭✭✭✭
    "Dr. J"
    "Magic" Johnson
    George "The Iceman" Gervin
    Darryl "Chocolate Thunder" Dawkins
    Walt "Clyde" Frazier
    Bob "The Dobber" Lanier
    Marvin "Bad News" Barnes
    "Slick" Watts
    John "Crash" Mengelt
  • Sleepy Floyd
    Mark "The Bird" Fidrych
    Jerone "the bus" Bettis
    John "the candyman' Candelaria
  • nam812nam812 Posts: 10,602 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>"Dr. J"
    "Magic" Johnson
    George "The Iceman" Gervin
    Darryl "Chocolate Thunder" Dawkins
    Walt "Clyde" Frazier
    Bob "The Dobber" Lanier
    Marvin "Bad News" Barnes
    "Slick" Watts
    John "Crash" Mengelt >>



    How could Earl "The Pearl" Monroe be left off of that list?
  • detroitfan2detroitfan2 Posts: 3,366 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>"Dr. J"
    "Magic" Johnson
    George "The Iceman" Gervin
    Darryl "Chocolate Thunder" Dawkins
    Walt "Clyde" Frazier
    Bob "The Dobber" Lanier
    Marvin "Bad News" Barnes
    "Slick" Watts
    John "Crash" Mengelt >>



    How could Earl "The Pearl" Monroe be left off of that list? >>



    Good call Nick. I'm sure there are more.
  • BlackborderBlackborder Posts: 2,797
    Paul "Big Poison" Waner
  • CDsNutsCDsNuts Posts: 10,092
    Al "Airplane" Edwards
  • bigfischebigfische Posts: 2,252 ✭✭
    Roger "Therapist" Clemens
    My baseball and MMA articles-
    http://sportsfansnews.com/author/andy-fischer/

    imagey


  • << <i>Paul "Big Poison" Waner >>


    Lloyd "Little Poison" Waner
  • thekid8thekid8 Posts: 1,499 ✭✭✭
    Jay "Bone" Buhner

    I gotta

    Gary "The Kid" Carter
    Gary Carter Fans check out www.thekid8.com

    image
  • CDsNutsCDsNuts Posts: 10,092
    Gordon "The Axeman" Shriver
  • perkdogperkdog Posts: 31,894 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I dont even like Basket Ball but I do rememer "The Mailman", Clyde "The Glide" Drexler, and "Big Country"????
  • bigfischebigfische Posts: 2,252 ✭✭
    How has Pistol Pete not been mentioned yet?
    My baseball and MMA articles-
    http://sportsfansnews.com/author/andy-fischer/

    imagey
  • perkdogperkdog Posts: 31,894 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>"Slinging" Sammy Baugh
    Bobby "Blonde Bomber" Layne
    Clyde "Bulldog" Turner
    Dante "Glue Fingers" Lavelli
    Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch
    "Concrete" Charlie Bednarik
    "Galloping Ghost" Red Grange
    Charlie "Golden Boy" Trippi
    Lou "The Toe" Groza


    Football must have been so much more fun back then! >>



    You forgot "Gorgeous" George McAffee!
  • Barry "Syringe" Bonds
  • CDsNutsCDsNuts Posts: 10,092
    Lenny "Spaghetti legs" Schwartz
  • bigfischebigfische Posts: 2,252 ✭✭
    Lets not forget the "Mad Hungarian"
    My baseball and MMA articles-
    http://sportsfansnews.com/author/andy-fischer/

    imagey
  • bigfischebigfische Posts: 2,252 ✭✭
    F0und this on BaseBallAlmanac.com ----->



    The List : Best Nicknames in Baseball History
    by ESPN Page 2 Editorial Staff

    Rank Nickname [Hover Over Name for Why] Name
    1st
    The Splended Splinter
    Ted Williams

    2nd
    The Sultan of Swat
    Babe Ruth

    3rd
    Willie "Hit 'em Where They Ain't" Keeler
    Willie Keeler

    4th
    "Hammerin' " Hank Aaron
    Hank Aaron

    5th
    The Big Unit
    Randy Johnson

    6th
    The Georgia Peach
    Ty Cobb

    7th
    Mordecai "Three Fingers" Brown
    Mordecai Brown

    8th
    The Yankee Clipper
    Joe DiMaggio

    9th
    Fred "Bonehead" Merkle
    Fred Merkle

    10th
    Walter "Big Train" Johnson
    Walter Johnson

    The List : Best Nicknames in Baseball History by ESPN Page 2



    The ESPN Page 2 editorial staff gave an honorable mention to: Mark "Big Mac" McGwire, Willie "The Say Hey Kid" Mays, Jimmie "Double X" Foxx, Paul "Poison" Waner and Lloyd "Little Poison" Waner, "Dizzy" and "Daffy" Dean, Don "Donny Baseball" Mattingly, "Rapid" Robert Feller, Whitey "The Chairman of the Board" Ford, Willie "Pops" Stargell, Ken Griffey "Junior", Roger "The Rocket" Clemens and Dwight "Dr. K" Gooden.

    The ESPN Page 2 editorial staff received more than two-thousand letters after they published their list of the best nicknames in baseball history. Some agreed. Some disagreed. Some made suggestions of their own. The Page 2 editorial staff then took those letters and made another baseball list based on the quantity of received letters:

    Top Ten Nicknames by Letters Received






    Rank
    Nickname
    Name
    Letters

    1st
    Charlie Hustle
    Pete Rose
    121

    2nd
    Stan the Man
    Stan Musial
    103

    3rd
    Shoeless Joe
    Joe Jackson
    96

    4th
    Sultan of Swat / The Babe
    Babe Ruth
    79

    5th
    Donnie Baseball
    Don Mattingly
    57

    6th
    Oil Can
    Dennis Boyd
    51

    7th
    The Splended Splinter
    Ted Williams
    48

    8th
    The Wizard of Oz
    Ozzie Smith
    39

    8th
    Hammerin' Hank
    Hank Aaron
    39

    10th
    Mr. October
    Reggie Jackson
    28



    The two lists (Best Nicknames in Baseball History & Top Ten Nicknames by Letters Received) were combined and a poll was taken. Here are the results of that particular poll.

    14,647 votes and from the poll came a new list of top ten baseball nicknames (no new entries were permitted).

    Do you agree with their choices? Do you have a favorite nickname? Share your opinion on Baseball Fever where there are thousands of topics about baseball nicknames...




    My baseball and MMA articles-
    http://sportsfansnews.com/author/andy-fischer/

    imagey
  • ymareaymarea Posts: 1,576 ✭✭✭
    Charlie Hustle
    The Express
    Pops
    Mad Dog
    The Capital Punisher (aka "Hondo")
    Killer
    Say Hey
    Brett
  • ymareaymarea Posts: 1,576 ✭✭✭
    A little dig at Dave Winfield, courtesy of Boss Steinbrenner:

    "Mr. May"

    A little tribute to board member "onefasttalon".....Spuds (perhaps the most apropos nickname ever)
    Brett
  • Fred "Bonehead" Merkle
  • Mordecai Peter Centennial "Three Finger" Brown
  • CDsNutsCDsNuts Posts: 10,092
    Wally "Funnybone" Charkanian
  • nam812nam812 Posts: 10,602 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Lee single-handedly ruins another thread.

    image


  • << <i>Lee single-handedly ruins another thread. >>



    It's enough to make a man want to quit the hobby.
  • detroitfan2detroitfan2 Posts: 3,366 ✭✭✭✭
    Lorne John "Gump" Worsley

    "Steady" Eddie Brinkman

    "Sweet" Lou Whitaker

    William James "Gates" Brown

    Rigoberto "Tito" Fuentes
  • CDsNutsCDsNuts Posts: 10,092
    Oh, did you guys mean real nicknames for people that actually existed? My mistake, I misunderstood.
  • ymareaymarea Posts: 1,576 ✭✭✭
    Oops, wrong button.

    The Baby Bull
    Bid D
    Gomer
    The Dominican Dandy
    The Toy Cannon (one of my favorite nicknames)
    Brett
  • The Whammer.
    There's a hole in my head where the rain comes in.
  • elsnortoelsnorto Posts: 2,012 ✭✭
    The liberal use of nicknames (on the card fronts even) are one of the big reasons I like the 1948/1949 Leaf football so much and went with it over 1948 Bowman.

    Obviously there is no shortage of nicknames in sports today, but the card companies don't seem to make use of them much. I think during Chris Berman's heyday one of the card companies made an insert set or subset with some of his better nicknames.

    Snorto~



  • AUPTAUPT Posts: 806 ✭✭✭
    Jeffrey "Penitentiary Face" Leonard
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