Join us on Episode 87 of the Beer Baseball Blogcast as we select our 2021 Beer Baseball Blog Diamond Icons.
Listed below are the 32 nominees that will be randomized and paired off so that the Beer Baseball Blogcast hosts can vote until there are 3 Finalists. The viewing audience will help break ties if necessary.
In addition, we will also present the 2021 Beer Baseball Blog Legacy Award and the 2021 Beer Baseball Blog Silver Chugger Awards.
Join us here on Tuesday, December 28 at 6 pm PDT for all the festivities.
Bob Watson – A first baseman/left fielder for the Houston Astros (1966–1979), Boston Red Sox (1979), New York Yankees (1980–1982), and Atlanta Braves (1982–1984). Most talked about moments: Watson was credited with scoring the 1,000,000th run in MLB on May 4, 1975, and won $10,000 and one million Tootsie Rolls provided by the event’s sponsor. And he also had a cameo appearance in the 1977 movie ‘The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training’ (Video)
Bob Uecker – A catcher for the Milwaukee Braves (1962–1963), St. Louis Cardinals (1964–1965), Philadelphia Phillies (1966–1967), and Atlanta Braves (1967) with a lifetime batting average of .200, 14 home runs, and 74 RBIs. Broadcaster for the Milwaukee Brewers (1971–present). Most talked about moments: Uecker also appeared in a series of Miller Lite commercials starting in the 1980s and was a guest commentator for WrestleMania III and WrestleMania IV (Video)
Bobby Valentine – A utility player for the Los Angeles Dodgers, California Angels, San Diego Padres, New York Mets, and Seattle Mariners. Later a manager for Texas Rangers (1985–1992), Chiba Lotte Marines (1995, 2004–2009), Mets (1996–2002), and Boston Red Sox (2012). Won the Japan Series in 2005. Most talked about moment: Valentine was ejected from a June 9, 1999, 14 inning game and returned to the dugout in a disguise. (Video)
Dave Winfield – A Hall of Fame player for the San Diego Padres (1973–1980), New York Yankees (1981–1988, 1990), California Angels (1990–1991), Toronto Blue Jays (1992), Minnesota Twins (1993–1994), Cleveland Indians (1995). Most talked about moment: Winfield, unfortunately, killed a bird with a warm-up toss in Toronto on August 4, 1983. But the police treated the incident as if he did it on purpose (Video)
Dock Ellis – A pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1968–1975, 1979), New York Yankees (1976–1977), Oakland Athletics (1977), Texas Rangers (1977–1979), and New York Mets (1979). On September 1, 1971, Ellis was part of the Pirates lineup that became the first Major League franchise to field an all-black and Latino starting nine. Most talked about moment: Pitching a no-hitter on June 12, 1970, under the influence of LSD (Video)
Earl Weaver – A Hall of Fame manager for the Baltimore Orioles (1968–1982, 1985–1986). In 11 of his 17 seasons, the Orioles won 90 or more games, winning the 1970 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. Most talked about moment: Weaver was known for his cigarette smoking habit in the dugout and fiery temper with umpires that was often captured on video (Video)
Eddie Gaedel – Weighing 60 pounds and standing 3 feet 7 inches tall, Eddie Gaedel gained recognition in the second game of a St. Louis Browns doubleheader on August 19, 1951. He made a single plate appearance and was walked with four consecutive balls before being replaced by a pinch-runner. Most talked about moment: Gaedel became the shortest player in the history of Major League Baseball (Video)
Fred Lynn – A center fielder for the Boston Red Sox (1974–1980), California Angels (1981–1984), Baltimore Orioles (1985–1988), Detroit Tigers (1988–1989), and San Diego Padres (1990). A 9× All-Star (1975–1983), AL MVP (1975), AL Rookie of the Year (1975), ALCS MVP (1982), 4× Gold Glove Award (1975, 1978–1980), and AL batting champion (1979). Most talked about moment: Kevin Lyon (Field Correspondent & Senior Research Analyst of the Beer Baseball Blog) once accidentally bumped Fred’s wife in the head with a bat at an autograph signing (Video)
Gaylord Perry – A Hall of Fame pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, Seattle Mariners, and Kansas City Royals. Perry has a 314–265 Win/Loss record and is a 2× Cy Young Award winner (1972, 1978). He pitched a no-hitter on September 17, 1968. Most talked about moment: Perry was widely considered to use the effective (yet illegal) spitball pitch. His 1974 autobiography was called ‘Me and the Spitter’. He was not ejected for the illegal pitch until August 23, 1982; the 21st season of his career (Video)
George Brett – A Hall of Fame player for the Kansas City Royals (1973–1993). He is a 13× All-Star (1976–1988), World Series champion (1985), AL MVP (1980), and 3× AL batting champion (1976, 1980, 1990). Brett’s 3,154 career hits are second-most by any third baseman in major league history and rank 18th all-time. He is one of four players in Major League Baseball history to accumulate 3,000 hits, 300 home runs, and a career .300 batting average. Most talked about moments: The Pine Tar Incident (Video) and this unfortunate incident (Video)
Hal McRae – McRae was an outfielder and designated hitter for the Cincinnati Reds (1968, 1970–1972) and Kansas City Royals (1973–1987). The manager for the Royals (1991–1994) and Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2001–2002). A 3× All-Star (1975, 1976, 1982), 2× World Series champion (1985, 2006), and in the Royals Hall of Fame. Most talked about moment: McRae was known as a VERY aggressive baserunner (Video) and an even MORE aggressive manager (Video)
Harry Caray – A Ford C. Frick Award winner as a broadcaster for the St. Louis Cardinals (1945–1969), St. Louis Browns (1945–1946), Oakland Athletics (1970), Chicago White Sox (1971–1981), and Chicago Cubs (1982–1997). Caray is credited with popularizing the singing of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the seventh-inning stretch of Cubs games at Wrigley Field. Most talked about moments: Caray would often announce the game from the outfield bleachers surrounded by beer cups and fans during his tenure with the White Sox. He also filmed commercials for Budweiser beer as a ‘Cub Fan, and a Bud Man’ (Video)
Joe Niekro – The younger brother of pitcher Phil Niekro, Joe played for the Chicago Cubs (1967–1969), San Diego Padres (1969), Detroit Tigers (1970–1972), Atlanta Braves (1973–1974), Houston Astros (1975–1985), New York Yankees (1985–1987), and Minnesota Twins (1987–1988). He is the Astros all-time leader in wins (144), walks (818), and wild pitches (128). Most talked about moment: during a game against the California Angels on August 3, 1987, Niekro was caught with an emery board and a piece of sandpaper that flew out of his pocket as he emptied it (Video)
Jose Canseco – An outfielder / designated hitter for the Oakland Athletics (1985–1992, 1997), Texas Rangers (1992–1994), Boston Red Sox (1995–1996), Toronto Blue Jays (1998), Tampa Bay Devil Rays (1999–2000), New York Yankees (2000), and Chicago White Sox (2001). He is a 6× All-Star, 2× World Series champion (1989, 2000), AL MVP (1988), AL Rookie of the Year (1986), and 2× MLB home run leader (1988, 1991). Most talked about moment: On May 26, 1993, against the Cleveland Indians, a fly ball that Canseco lost sight of as he was crossing the warning track hit him in the head and bounced over the wall for a home run (Video)
Kenny Rogers – A pitcher for the Texas Rangers (1989–1995, 2000–2002, 2004–2005), New York Yankees (1996–1997), Oakland Athletics (1998–1999), New York Mets (1999), Minnesota Twins (2003), and Detroit Tigers (2006–2008). A 4× All-Star (1995, 2004–2006), World Series champion (1996), and pitched a perfect game on July 28, 1994. Most talked about moment: His unprovoked attack of cameramen during pre-game warmups (Video)
Kevin Youkilis – The ‘Greek God of Walks’ was first and third baseman for the Boston Red Sox (2004–2012), Chicago White Sox (2012), New York Yankees (2013), and Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles (2014). Youkilis is a 3× All-Star (2008, 2009, 2011), World Series champion (2007), Gold Glove Award (2007), AL Hank Aaron Award (2008), and in the Red Sox Hall of Fame. Most talked about moment: Youkilis transitioned after retirement to owning a craft beer brewery called Loma Brewing Company in Los Gatos, California (Video)
Lars Nootbaar – Nootbaar is a rookie outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. He was a three-year starter for the USC Trojans and named the 2018 All-Pac-12 Conference as a sophomore after hitting .313 with 34 RBIs, 33 runs scored, and seven home runs. Most talked about moment: As documented in Ep. 55 of the Beer Baseball Blogcast, Angelo Trinidad (VP of Content Development of the Beer Baseball Blog) saw Lars play in Triple-A for the Memphis Redbirds against the Nashville Sounds on May 14th, 2021. Lars went from a heel to babyface in the course of a few innings (Video)
Lou Piniella – ‘Sweet Lou’ was a left fielder for the Baltimore Orioles (1964), Cleveland Indians (1968), Kansas City Royals (1969–1973), and New York Yankees (1974–1984). Piniella was manager of Yankees (1986–1987, 1988), Cincinnati Reds (1990–1992), Seattle Mariners (1993–2002), Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2003–2005), and Chicago Cubs (2007–2010). He was the AL Rookie of the Year (1969), 3× World Series champion (1977, 1978, 1990), and 3× Manager of the Year (1995, 2001, 2008). Most talked about moment: Like Hal McRae and Earl Weaver, Piniella has a fiery temper and short fuse with umpires (Video)
Mal Fichman – A minor league baseball manager notable for leading multiple championship teams in the Frontier League in the mid-to-late 1990s. Most talked about moment: On June 29, 1989, the Boise Hawks’ manager is suspended for one game for returning to the field after being ejected in the sixth inning disguised as the team’s mascot Humphrey the Hawk. The impostor gave instructions to his team for the remainder of the Northwest League contest against Salem (Story)
Morganna – Morganna the Kissing Bandit was an entertainer who disrupted sporting events from 1970 through the 1990s. She famously rushed the field on many occasions and kissed players from Major League Baseball, the NBA, and even the NHL. Most talked about moment: Morganna has too many great moments to list here. Suffice to say, she is a legend (Video)
Ozzie Smith – ‘The Wizard’ is a Hall of Fame shortstop for the San Diego Padres (1978–1981) and the St. Louis Cardinals (1982–1996). A 15× All-Star (1981–1992, 1994–1996), World Series champion (1982), NLCS MVP (1985), and a 13× Gold Glove Award winner (1980–1992). Most talked about moments: Ozzie was a part of the Beer Baseball Blogcast One Year Anniversary Gala and was a regular on The Baseball Bunch (Video)
Pete Rose – The ‘Hit King’ played outfield and infield for the Cincinnati Reds (1963–1978, 1984–1986), Philadelphia Phillies (1979–1983), and Montreal Expos (1984). And was the manager of the Reds (1984–1989). He was the NL Rookie of the Year (1963), NL MVP (1973), World Series MVP (1975), 17× All-Star, 3× World Series champion (1975, 1976, 1980). He is the all-time hits leader in Major League Baseball with 4,256. Most talked about moment: Rose also has too many accomplishments to list here and is a constant source of baseball inspiration (Video)
Phil Niekro – ‘Knucksie’ pitched for the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves (1964–1983, 1987), New York Yankees (1984–1985), Cleveland Indians (1986–1987), and Toronto Blue Jays (1987). Niekro and his younger brother Joe amassed 539 wins between them (the most combined wins by brothers in baseball history). Phil’s 121 career victories after the age of 40 is a MLB record. He is a 5× All-Star (1969, 1975, 1978, 1982, 1984) and pitched a no-hitter against the San Diego Padres on August 5, 1973. Most talked about moment: An inspiration to all of us old guys with his knuckleball and upbeat personality (Video)
Phillip Wellman – Wellman is the current manager of the San Antonio Missions, Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. He has also managed the Winston-Salem Warthogs (1996), Burlington Bees (1997–1998), Chattanooga Lookouts (1999, 2001–2003), Mississippi Braves (2007–2010), Arkansas Travelers (2014), and the Amarillo Sod Poodles (2019–2020). Most talked about moment: On May 26, 2016, in a game against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, he was ejected after protesting a runner called out. The aftermath became an instant classic (Video)
Randy Johnson – ‘The Big Unit’ is a Hall of Fame pitcher for the Montreal Expos (1988–1989), Seattle Mariners (1989–1998), Houston Astros (1998), Arizona Diamondbacks (1999–2004), New York Yankees (2005–2006), Arizona Diamondbacks (2007–2008), and the San Francisco Giants (2009). He is a 10× All-Star, pitched a no-hitter on June 2, 1990, and pitched a perfect game on May 18, 2004. Most talked about moment: In a freak accident on March 24, 2001, during the 7th inning of a spring training game against the San Francisco Giants, Johnson threw a fastball that struck a dove (Video)
Reggie Jackson – ‘Mr. October’ is a Hall of Fame outfielder/designated hitter for Kansas City/Oakland Athletics (1967–1975), Baltimore Orioles (1976), New York Yankees (1977–1981), California Angels (1982–1986), and Oakland Athletics (1987). A 14× All-Star, 5× World Series champion, 2× World Series MVP (1973, 1977), and AL MVP (1973). Most talked about moments: Jackson appeared in the film The Naked Gun portraying an Angels outfielder hypnotically programmed to kill the Queen. He also was a part of the Beer Baseball Blogcast One Year Anniversary Gala (Video)
Rollie Fingers – Rollie was a Hall of Fame pitcher for the Oakland Athletics (1968–1976), San Diego Padres (1977–1980), and Milwaukee Brewers (1981–1982, 1984–1985). Known for his neatly groomed handlebar mustache, Rollie finished his career with a 114–118 Win/Loss record, 1,299 strikeouts, and 341 saves. He is a 7× All-Star, 3× World Series champion, AL MVP (1981), and AL Cy Young Award (1981). Most talked about moment: Rollie was a part of the Beer Baseball Blogcast One Year Anniversary Gala (Video)
San Diego Chicken – The San Diego Chicken is a sports mascot played by Ted Giannoulas. He is also known as The Famous Chicken, the KGB Chicken, or just The Chicken. The success of the Chicken helped lead to mascots becoming widespread throughout pro sports, particularly Major League Baseball. Most talked about moment: The Chicken appeared at WrestleMania XV and WrestleMania 2000. The costume was worn by Pete Rose at WrestleMania XV, during which he was given the Tombstone Pile Driver by Kane. He was also a standout character on the Baseball Bunch and many sporting events (Video)
Tsuyoshi Shinjo – Was an outfielder for the Hanshin Tigers (1991–2000), New York Mets (2001), San Francisco Giants (2002), New York Mets (2003), and Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (2004–2006). Shinjo is the second Japanese-born position player to play a Major League Baseball (and the first in the National League) game and was the first Japanese-born player to appear in the World Series. Most talked about moment: In 2022, the flamboyant Japanese celebrity, model, and clothing mogul will manage the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (Video)
Wally Backman – Wally was an infielder for the New York Mets (1980–1988), Minnesota Twins (1989), Pittsburgh Pirates (1990), Philadelphia Phillies (1991–1992), and Seattle Mariners (1993). He managed the Binghamton Mets, Las Vegas 51s, Buffalo Bisons, Acereros de Monclova, Brooklyn Cyclones, New Britain Bees, and Long Island Ducks. Most talked about moment: As manager of the South Georgia Peanuts he had this very Earl Weaver-ish meltdown caught immortalized on the TV series ‘Playing for Peanuts’ (Video)
Wade Boggs – ‘The Chicken Man’ is a Hall of Fame third baseman for the Boston Red Sox (1982–1992), New York Yankees (1993–1997), and Tampa Bay Devil Rays (1998–1999). A 12× All-Star (1985–1996) and 5× AL batting champion (1983, 1985–1988) retired with a .328 batting average with 3,010 hits, 118 home runs, and 1,014 RBIs. Most talked about moment: Boggs is rumored to have once consumed 107 beers on a cross-country flight. This was featured in an episode of ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ in which Boggs had a cameo role (Video)
Alex Rodriguez – ‘A-Rod’ was a shortstop/third baseman for the Seattle Mariners (1994–2000), Texas Rangers (2001–2003), and New York Yankees (2004–2013, 2015–2016). He was a 14× All-Star, World Series champion, 3× AL MVP, 2× Gold Glove Award, 10× Silver Slugger Award, 4× AL Hank Aaron Award, MLB batting champion, and a 5× AL home run leader. He ended with a .295 batting average, 3,115 hits, 2,086 RBIs, and 696 home runs (4th all-time). Most talked about moment: Alex is often a punchline on the Beer Baseball Blogcast for his questionable photoshoots (Link)
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