This is unlikely to have much if any impact on the upcoming MLB season, other than perhaps increasing the confusion level of the casual fan. Yesterday Miami Marlins slugger Mike Stanton said that from here on out, or until he changes his mind again, he’d like to be called Giancarlo Stanton.
It turns out that Michael, from which Stanton got Mike, isn’t the 22-year-old’s first name. It’s not even his first middle name. Instead, Stanton’s full name is Giancarlo Cruz Michael Stanton. According to the Associated Press, the Stanton’s are not an Italian mob family nor has Giancarlo been passed down over the generations. Instead, Stanton’s parents apparently just liked the name Giancarlo.
Stanton said yesterday that he continued to sign legal documentation as Giancarlo, but substituted Mike when he was scribbling autographs for fans. The outfielder was known as Giancarlo through the fifth grade when he decided to make a change. Stanton said the switch to Mike was prompted because he got tired of telling teachers and friends how to correctly pronounce his name.
There are certain to be a lot of zingers and jokes that result from this odd situation, but Marlins catcher John Buck provided a solid line yesterday. Upon discovering that his teammate had changed his name, Buck told Stanton that he should be required to grow out his hair. Buck’s reasoning?
“When I think of Giancarlo, I think of someone with long, flowing hair, like Fabio. But if he keeps hitting homers, I’ll call him whatever he wants me to call him.”
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