50's Baseball Nicknames

[KDFINE]

Others nicknames from the 50s were that I remember (and don't have to look up):
Paw Paw
The Yankee Killer
Mandrake the Magician

There are two classes of nicknames. There are the names that were in common usage so you'd have to perhaps scratch your head to think of the ballplayer's given name, like Yogi Berra, Duke Snider or Rip Repulski, and there are the nicknames like I've just listed above: so and so Paw Paw so and so.

[Dutra5]

...Again, with parents who were Dodger fans, it's not surprising that I'd be aware of who was on base when Bobby Thomson hit his HR that seems to aggravate my dad to no end.

Russ Hodges did the memorable radio broadcast but who was the TV announcer? Bonus points...what was the name of the baseball expert on the $64,000 Question who correctly answered, 'Who was on base and what were the circumstances when Bobby Thomson hit his "Shot Heard Round The World" '

Dutra...dj...Bueller? Anybody?

I know Ernie Harwell did the TV broadcast. My dad insists Eddie Stanky should have been called out for crossing the basepaths prior to Thomson making it around.

I remember back in 1967, WGN's Jack Brickhouse interviewing Durocher when he was manager of the Cubs and Stanky was managing the White Sox about that homer. Durocher went on about Stanky jumping all over him and he couldn't get away from him and all. Pretty funny.

Not funny to my dad.

[Dutra5]

Others nicknames from the 50s were that I remember (and don't have to look up):
Paw Paw
The Yankee Killer
Mandrake the Magician

There are two classes of nicknames. There are the names that were in common usage so you'd have to perhaps scratch your head to think of the ballplayer's given name, like Yogi Berra, Duke Snider or Rip Repulski, and there are the nicknames like I've just listed above: so and so Paw Paw so and so.

Frank Lary was the Yankee Killer.

Bringing it back to Thomson's home run....Don Mueller was Mandrake. He was injured sliding into third base right before the HR and was replaced by the aforementioned Clint Hartung.

[KDFINE]

Dutra5. Correct for both the Yankee Killer and Mandrake.

[dukehjsteve]

Bobby Thomson hit his "Shot Heard Round The World" '


I know Ernie Harwell did the TV broadcast. My dad insists Eddie Stanky should have been called out for crossing the basepaths prior to Thomson making it around.[/quote]

I remember back in 1967, WGN's Jack Brickhouse interviewing Durocher when he was manager of the Cubs and Stanky was managing the White Sox about that homer. Durocher went on about Stanky jumping all over him and he couldn't get away from him and all. Pretty funny.[/quote]

Not funny to my dad. [/quote]


My Dad worked at Grumman Aircraft in suburban NY and was a BIG Giant fan. His best memory of that afternoon is being at work, everyone in the world listening to the radio. When Thomson parked it, one rabid Dodger fan in my Dad's office was so upset he threw his battery radio out a 3 story window !

[Dutra5]

My Dad worked at Grumman Aircraft in suburban NY and was a BIG Giant fan. His best memory of that afternoon is being at work, everyone in the world listening to the radio. When Thomson parked it, one rabid Dodger fan in my Dad's office was so upset he threw his battery radio out a 3 story window !

My dad was a mounted patrolman with NY's Finest and, since I was not yet born I'm not sure of the full story, my dad fell off his horse at one point injuring his back enough to pull limited duty for quite a long time. I often wondered if the two events were related

BTW...the Dodgers moved out of Brooklyn a few months prior to me being born. My mom has always said with a big smile that "they lost the Dodgers but gained a son that year". With the same smile she says "she's not sure they got the better deal". I guess you have to be of Irish descent to treat that as a joke.

[gh]

I was a huge Killebrew fan, partially because from an early age I was huge for the underdogs (and the Senators with Pascual,Ramos, Allison and Killer were about as underdogish as you could get) but also becuase he was from Idaho, which in the late '50s was one of two states I had ever visited!

Didn't he set a record for the most homers ever with fewest ribbies? As in, most homers (49 or so?) with fewer than 100 RBI. ????

[JayIsMe]

Not quite 60 myself but close. Spent my elementry school years in LA between 1959-65, a good time to be a dodger fan. I remember my teacher rolling the TV into the classroom so we could watch the 63 series opener against the yankees. Koufax was my favorite player (a lefty like me) and he just killed em. I got most of the nicknames above, recognized a bunch more after somebody else answered.

Here's a couple from the 60s-
The Dominican Dandy (just had an anniversary of sorts)
Stretch

and one from a little farther back-
Three Fingers

[KDFINE]

Three Fingers was not a little further back, but a LOT further back!

[cullman]

Here's a couple from the 60s-
The Dominican Dandy (just had an anniversary of sorts)
Stretch

Juan Marichal and Willie McCovey! How about Baby Bull.

[Dutra5]

Here's a couple from the 60s-
The Dominican Dandy (just had an anniversary of sorts)
Stretch

Juan Marichal and Willie McCovey! How about Baby Bull.

Orlando Cepeda.

[cullman]

It is indeed Orlando Cepeda!

Lots of Giants and Dodgers fans but I guess no Stinkees fans. Nobody has figured out who "Bullet Bob" is...he played for that other New York team in the 50s.

[dukehjsteve]

It is indeed Orlando Cepeda!

Lots of Giants and Dodgers fans but I guess no Stinkees fans. Nobody has figured out who "Bullet Bob" is...he played for that other New York team in the 50s.

Is that Bob Turley ?

[cullman]

Yes it is. Bob Turley had 2 wins and a save in Games 5, 6 and 7 on three consecutive days and was named the 1958 World Series MVP.

[Davidokun]

Didn't he set a record for the most homers ever with fewest ribbies? As in, most homers (49 or so?) with fewer than 100 RBI. ????

I looked it up on the MLB Web site. In 1963, Killebrew hit 45 home runs with 96 RBI, which established a new record for most home runs in a single season with less than 100 RBI. The previous record holder was Mickey Mantle. Killebrew's record has since been matched by Barry Bonds, then surpassed by Alfonso Soriano.

All-time leaders:

Code: Select all

Player             Team        Year   HR   RBI
----------------------------------------------
Alfonso Soriano    Nationals   2006   46   95
Harmon Killebrew   Twins       1963   45   96
Barry Bonds        Giants      2003   45   90
Hank Aaron         Braves      1969   44   97
Davey Johnson      Braves      1973   43   99
Matt Williams      Giants      1994   43   96
Duke Snider        Dodgers     1957   40   92
Mickey Mantle      Yankees     1958   42   97
Mickey Mantle      Yankees     1960   40   94
Rico Petrocelli    Red Sox     1969   40   97
Hank Aaron         Braves      1973   40   96
Darrell Evans      Tigers      1985   40   94
Ken Griffey, Jr.   Mariners    1994   40   90
Adam Dunn          Reds        2006   40   92
Adrian Gonzalez    Padres      2009   40   99

Killebrew hit 49 twice, in 1964 and 1969, with 111 and 140 RBI, respectively.

[dj]

I'm late seeing this thread (too much time spent on track!).

The last names are the easy part of the question, here are the first names of the people whose names haven't been identified yet:

The Man -Stanley Frank Musial
Shot Gun--didn't know this one
Vinegar Bend-Wilmer Mizell
Whitey-Edward Charles Ford
Red-Albert Schoendienst
Scooter-Phil Rizzuto
Pee Wee-Harold Reese
Duke-Edwin Snider
Yogi-Lawrence Peter Berra
Smokey-Forrest Burgess
The Lip-Leo Durocher
Country-Enos Slaughter
Reading Rifle-Carl Furillo
Mad Monk-Russ Meyer
Paw Paw--don't know

I also don't know the $64,000 Question question.

Here are some quiz questions of mine:

Why was Orlando Cepeda called the Baby Bull, and what was his nickname that teammates used?

Other nicknames:
Kitten
Kitty
Ducky
Minnie
Rocky
Ozark Ike
Daddy Wags
Ding Dong
Put Put
Oisk
Turk (two of them that I can think of)
The Walking Man
Doctor Strangeglove (but not known by that until after the movie)
Deacon

[dukehjsteve]

Minnie ( Orestes ) Minoso
Turk Lown (sp? )

Rocky Bridges

Oisk Carl Erskine

[KDFINE]

DJ. Correct for the Mad Monk and the Reading Rifle (a.k.a. Skoonj). I'm over 60 so i won't answer any of the names put up by others (unless they are still up there for another 3 weeks or so). I was a Brooklyn Dodger fan and a fan of Furillo and can honestly say that I was unaware of his nicknames until I came across them in the Baseball Encyclopedia. Going through it made me realize that a lot of ballplayers had often obscure nicknames.
I'm happy to see that "Paw Paw" is still on the board. i was aware of it when he played.

[dj]

Minnie ( Orestes ) Minoso
Turk Lown (sp? )

Rocky Bridges

Oisk Carl Erskine

But what were the first names for Minoso, Lown and Bridges? The full name for another Turk?

There was also a Rocky Nelson, but I don't remember his first name, so you're working on the Rocky I know!

[cullman]

Why was Orlando Cepeda called the Baby Bull, and what was his nickname that teammates used?

His father's nickname was Perucho aka The Bull. I believe Orlando's teammates called him Cha Cha.

[gh]

don't forget "Big Klu" (painfully obvios)

[dj]

Why was Orlando Cepeda called the Baby Bull, and what was his nickname that teammates used?

His father's nickname was Perucho aka The Bull. I believe Orlando's teammates called him Cha Cha.

Correct on both.
What's the answer on your $64,00 Question? I know What's on second, so I should ask Who's the answer? But Who's on first!

[dukehjsteve]

don't forget "Big Klu" (painfully obvios)

And he cut off the sleeves of his jersey to show off his muscles....

[tandfman]

I'm late seeing this thread (too much time spent on track!).

The last names are the easy part of the question, here are the first names of the people whose names haven't been identified yet:

The Man -Stanley Frank Musial
Shot Gun--didn't know this one
Vinegar Bend-Wilmer Mizell
Whitey-Edward Charles Ford
Red-Albert Schoendienst
Scooter-Phil Rizzuto
Pee Wee-Harold Reese
Duke-Edwin Snider
Yogi-Lawrence Peter Berra
Smokey-Forrest Burgess
The Lip-Leo Durocher
Country-Enos Slaughter
Reading Rifle-Carl Furillo
Mad Monk-Russ Meyer
Paw Paw--don't know

I also don't know the $64,000 Question question.

Here are some quiz questions of mine:

Why was Orlando Cepeda called the Baby Bull, and what was his nickname that teammates used?

Other nicknames:
Kitten
Kitty
Ducky
Minnie
Rocky
Ozark Ike
Daddy Wags
Ding Dong
Put Put
Oisk
Turk (two of them that I can think of)
The Walking Man
Doctor Strangeglove (but not known by that until after the movie)
Deacon

There is no such thing as too much time spent on track!

Shuba's first name was correctly identified as George early in the thread.

[dukehjsteve]

Who was an "astronomical" outfielder for the Cardinals in the late 50's, then for the Dodgers ?

[Conor Dary]

Who was an "astronomical" outfielder for the Cardinals in the late 50's, then for the Dodgers ?

Astronomical got me to think of John Blue Moon Odom. But wasn't he a pitcher and more in the 70's with the A's.

[dj]

Who was an "astronomical" outfielder for the Cardinals in the late 50's, then for the Dodgers ?

Wally Moon?

[cullman]

What's the answer on your $64,00 Question? I know What's on second, so I should ask Who's the answer? But Who's on first!

I did a little research through my archives because something didn't seem right about this piece of trivia that bar room baseball buffs have been throwing around for decades. The show was in 1955 and the playoff game was in 1951 which would make the incident pretty fresh in the minds of any Dodger or Giants fan.

Anyhow the answer is Myrtle Power, a 71 year old grandmother and Brooklyn Dodgers fan. She won $32,000 by correctly answering:
"The official record books list seven players (as of 1955) who are credited with over 3,000 hits during their careers in the Major Leagues. Ty Cobb heads the list with 4 191 hits garnered in his 24 years of play. Name the remaining 6 players with a lifetime total of 3,000 or more hits."

[cullman]

...Rocky Colavito is another Rocky and Daddy Wags is Leon Wagner.

[dukehjsteve]

Who was an "astronomical" outfielder for the Cardinals in the late 50's, then for the Dodgers ?

Wally Moon?

dj got it !

[KDFINE]

Since the last post was nearly a week ago I suppose I can bring myself back from my self-imposed exile and interject some hints to still unanswered questions.
I know the answers to:
Kitten - a "perfect" pitcher;
Ducky - HOF from the 30s & 40s;
The Walking Man - almost as many bases on balls as hits;
Dr. Strangeglove - a power hitting first baseman;
and of course, since I posted him, Paw Paw, a Yankee Killer in his own right, he was for a while a teammate of the "Yankee Killer" Frank Lary.

[dukehjsteve]

Since the last post was nearly a week ago I suppose I can bring myself back from my self-imposed exile and interject some hints to still unanswered questions.
I know the answers to:
Kitten - a "perfect" pitcher;
Ducky - HOF from the 30s & 40s;
The Walking Man - almost as many bases on balls as hits;
Dr. Strangeglove - a power hitting first baseman;
and of course, since I posted him, Paw Paw, a Yankee Killer in his own right, he was for a while a teammate of the "Yankee Killer" Frank Lary.

Is "Kitten" Harvey Haddix ?

[dj]

Since the last post was nearly a week ago I suppose I can bring myself back from my self-imposed exile and interject some hints to still unanswered questions.
I know the answers to:
Kitten - a "perfect" pitcher;
Ducky - HOF from the 30s & 40s;
The Walking Man - almost as many bases on balls as hits;
Dr. Strangeglove - a power hitting first baseman;
and of course, since I posted him, Paw Paw, a Yankee Killer in his own right, he was for a while a teammate of the "Yankee Killer" Frank Lary.

Is "Kitten" Harvey Haddix ?

Yes.

And the nicknames are restricted to players in the 1950s, so Ducky Medwick (originally Ducky Wucky, but media members tended to drop the Wucky) is not correct.

[KDFINE]

DJ. As soon as you rejected Medwick it clicked with me as to who the Ducky of the 50s was. He was a light hitting powerless utility infielder, who nonetheless managed to play 19 years in the big league (which surprised me when I just looked him up). If I hadn't have had his baseball card as a kid I probably would have forgotten him.

[dj]

DJ. As soon as you rejected Medwick it clicked with me as to who the Ducky of the 50s was. He was a light hitting powerless utility infielder, who nonetheless managed to play 19 years in the big league (which surprised me when I just looked him up). If I hadn't have had his baseball card as a kid I probably would have forgotten him.

And his link to T&F is . . . ?