MLB History: Ten Greatest Nicknames in Baseball History

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The history of the MLB is littered with quite a few colorful nicknames. Let us take a look at the ten best sobriquets bestowed in baseball history.

Nicknames have a special place in our society. Few people are called by their actual name, usually being referred to by a shortened version of their given name, or by a name given due to their ancestry or some event in the past. In quite a few cases, that person may be well known by the nickname, but not by their actual first name.

The same can be said when it comes to baseball. Nicknames become a part of who these players are. It may take a few seconds to realize who George Herman Ruth was, but when someone says Babe Ruth, the image of tape measure home runs immediately comes to mind.

While Ruth may be better known by his nickname, some of the best sobriquets belong to some lesser known players. these players, who toiled in relative obscurity, may not be remembered at this point in time if not for the colorful names bestowed upon them.

Let’s take a trek through the annuls of baseball and look at the best nicknames in MLB history.

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10. Carl Pavano – American Idle

How often do we see an injury plagued, yet talented player put together a career year in their final season before free agency, only to regress once they sign that high priced contract? Given Carl Pavano’s injury history, it was almost a given that the New York Yankees would regret their four year, $36 Million deal that he signed following the 2004 season.

Coming off an All-Star season where he went 18-8 with a 3.00 ERA and a 1.174 WHiP, Pavano was one of the prized free agents at the time. However, he was quite injury prone, having made thirty starts in a year only in that season during his career. Those injury issues cropped right back up, as Pavano made only 17 appearances for the Yankees in 2005.

That would be the high water mark. In the final three years of his contract, Pavano made a total of nine appearances, earning a reputation as a hypochondriac. He would miss time with injuries such as a sprained butt (seriously), earning him the nickname American Idle.

Pavano became a useful pitcher again once his contract ended, even leading the American League in complete games and shutouts with the Minnesota Twins in the 2010 season. Yet, his inability to take his turn would remain, as Pavano picked up quite the entertaining, and accurate, nickname.

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9. Mark Fidrych – Bird

One of the more colorful characters in MLB history, Mark Fidrych took the American League by storm during his rookie year. He would talk to the baseball, imploring it to be a strike. He smoothed out the mound with his hands, and would shake hands with his infielders after they made a play. He quickly became a draw for a woeful Detroit Tigers team.

With those antics, it would make sense that Fidrych would earn a nickname that would involve having one’s head in the clouds. Another colorful character, Bill Lee, had the nickname of Spaceman for his own eccentricities. Fidrych, given his resemblence to Big Bird from Sesame Street, became know as Bird, giving the name a fun double meaning.

An immediate star with his actions and performance, Fidrych went 19-9 with a 2.34 ERA and 24 complete games, both of which led the American League. He finished second in the Cy Young vote, and won the Rookie of the Year award. However, injuries would derail his career, as he suffered torn cartiledge in his knee and had an undiagnosed torn rotator cuff, ending his career at age 26.

Mark Fidrych may have had a short career, possibly ruined by his former manager Raph Houk, but he packed quite a bit of notoriety in those few seasons.

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8. Nick Cullop – Tomato Face

Interestingly enough, there were two players named Nick Cullop in MLB history. Playing a decade apart, both players made appearances with the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians, causing further confusion as to which player was which.

While neither player was related to the other, it was the second Cullop that garnered interest due to his nickname. Known as Tomato Face, Cullop would turn bright red when angered, leading to that colorful nickname.

Cullop played five years in the majors, with his final season as the only year he was a regular. However, Cullop was a fearsome minor league player, ending his 23 minor league career with a then record 420 home runs, 1857 RBI and 2670 hits. In the majors, Cullop only hit eleven home runs with a .249/.308/.424 batting line.

Nick Cullop may not have had a very successful major league career, but he was quite the excellent minor league player.

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7. Tony Mullane – The Appolo of the Box

Pat Vandette has earned a great deal of notoriety for being an ambidextrous pitcher, but he was not the first. In fact, that honor may well belong to Tony Mullane.

Mullane has the second highest win total of any pitcher not in the Hall of Fame, having produced a 284-220 record with a 3.05 ERA during his career. He likely would have won over 300 games, but was suspended for the entirety of the 1885 season for signing with the Cincinnati Reds after the St. Louis Browns attempted to retain his rights.

Known for his good looks as well as his mastery on the mound, Mullane eanred his nickname of ‘The Appolo of the Box’ due to his physical attributes. In fact, in an effort to take advantage of those looks, Mullane was often the starting pitcher on Ladies Day at the ballpark, in an attempt to bring more women into the game.

One of the greatest pitchers of the 1880’s, Tony Mullane had a career that would appear to be worthy of the Hall of Fame. His nickname certainly belongs in a Hall of Fame as well.

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6. Joe Azcue – The Immortal Azcue

A solid defensive catcher with a strong arm, Joe Azcue spent most of his career as a backup. But a two or three week span, Azcue performed at a level that would earn him one of the best nicknames in MLB history.

An All-Star in 1968, Azcue appeared in over 100 games only four times in his eleven year career. A .252/.304/.344 hitter, Azcue hit 50 home runs and 94 doubles while showing a decent batting eye. While he was a decent enough hitter, Azcue’s defense kept him in the league, as he led the league in caught stealing once and was typically in the top five in caught stealing percentage and range factor.

Yet, for a two or three week stretch in 1963, Azcue made the most of his chances. Seemingly every game he played during that span, he had the game winning hit for the Cleveland Indians. That performance was enough for veteran columnist Bob Dolgan to give him the unique nickname ‘The Immortal Azcue.’

Joe Azcue would have been a relatively obscure player who would have been remembered for his solid defensive play. However, that two week span in 1963 led to Azcue being remembered for his nickname, worthy of a superhero.

Next: One of the darker nicknames on the list

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5. Monte Irvin – Mr. Murder

The first black player in the history of the San Francisco Giants, Monte Irvin was a Hall of Fame player due to his performance in both the Major Leagues and the Negro Leagues.

An excellent hitter, Irvin was a great all around player who did not get much of a chance to show his talent in the Majors. While he made an All-Star Game and finished as high as third in the 1951 MVP ballot, a fractured ankle suffered during an exhibition game prior to the start of the 1952 season. He still produced a solid .293/.383/.475 batting line with 99 home runs and led the National League with 121 RBI in that 1951 campaign.

Irvin also had a truly excellent nickname. Due to his astonishing .510/.691/1.216 batting line with ten home runs in 18 games for the Jersey City Giants of the International League in 1950, Irvin became known as Mr. Murder. Judging by how he punished baseballs during his time in the minors, it was certainly well deserved.

Monte Irvin was not only the first black player in the history of the Giants, but he may well have had the best nickname in team history as well.

Next: Could have been a lot worse

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4. Samuel Byrd – Babe Ruth’s Legs

A fourth outfielder during his MLB career, Samuel Byrd made a career out of being able to play all three outfield positions and for his running ability.

A decent enough player during his eight year career, Byrd spent his time almost equally between left, center and right. At the plate, he produced a .274/.350/.412 batting line with 38 home runs and 101 doubles. Yet, it was for his legs and ability to play defense that he earned his notable nickname.

While Ruth was still a feared slugger in his later years, his ability to run or play defense suffered. As such, Byrd became known as Babe Ruth’s Legs, coming into games late as a pinch runner to keep the slow Ruth from clogging up the basepaths.

Despite a relatively successful major league career, Byrd was better known as a golfer. He played on the PGA Tour for five years, winning six tournaments, and won 23 professional golf tournaments in his career. That golfing prowess also earned Byrd the nickname Babe Ruth’s Caddy, but it was that first nickname that earned him his place on this list.

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3. Jimmy Bannon – Foxy Grandpa

Of all the nicknames on this list, Jimmy Bannon may have one of the most confusing, and strangest, nicknames in MLB history.

A solid hitter in the first three years of his career, Bannon was a decent power hitter who hit 13 home runs with 114 RBI and 47 stolen bases in 1894. The following year, Bannon produced a .347/.417/.475 batting line, finishing seventh with 35 doubles. However, after slumping the following year, Bannon was released in August to never reappear in the majors.

While he had been an excellent hitter, Bannon may be best remembered for his peculiar nickname. Known as Foxy Grandpa, Bannon was only in his early 20’s during his career, making it highly unlikely that he was a grandfather. Perhaps it had to do with his lighter hair color, making him appear to be older than he was. But where did this nickname come from?

Whatever the origins of his nickname, Jimmy Bannon had one of the more entertaining sobriquets in baseball. Of course, these days, Bannon’s nickname could have some different connotations, but it is truly one of the most uniques nicknames in baseball.

Next: The freshest man in the National League

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2. Arlie Latham – The Freshest man on Earth

One of the forgotten stars from the early days of baseball, Arlie Latham was a terror on the basepaths and with his mouth.

In a 17 year career that included brief appearances in 1899 and 1909, Latham was a solid hitter, producing a .269/.334/.341 batting line and stealing an estimated 742 bases, the seventh most in MLB history. Since stolen bases were not recorded until 1886, there are four years of Latham’s career where those totals were lost, making it likely that he would have threatened Ty Cobb or Billy Hamilton for the record.

Latham was also noted for his quick tongue and sense of humor. He would often get into arguments and fights with the opposition, using his wit to get under their skin. He also was not opposed to making fun of himself, once putting a firecracker under third base to wake himself up after Charles Cominskey complained about his falling asleep in the field.

Arlie Latham was a throwback to the days before baseball was considered to be a family friendly game, but he also played an important part in bringing the game overseas, helping to teach baseball in England after his playing and coaching careers were over.

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1. Bris Lord – The Human Eyeball

Under normal circumstances, Bris Lord would be remembered as being traded to the Philadelphia Athletics for Shoeless Joe Jackson. However, his true legacy involves having the greatest nickname in MLB history.