Theme Teams

For more than ten years we have been assembling and e-mailing imaginary groupings of players called “Theme Teams”. It's a way of placing baseball whimsy over pedantry. They are not sent daily, but frequently.

Players on these squads must have played, in the majors, the positions at which they are listed (barring a really good excuse for the exception). There are many teams that would be great to send out, but they lack a catcher or some other key player. Designated Hitters, Pinch Hitters, Pinch Runners, Managers, and others are included when available.

Here are some samples.

All-Time Team of Riverside Natives

Pound-for-pound, one of the strongest baseball cities anywhere (although no match for Mobile or San Pedro de Marcoris). Baker was never player/manager so he can only occupy one position here. Except were indicated, the birth city is Riverside, California.

1b - ALVIN DAVIS

2b - Ken Hubbs

3b - WAYNE GROSS

SS - Adam Kennedy

C - Chief Meyers

LF - BARRY BONDS

CF - BOBBY BONDS

RF - DUSTY BAKER

DH - Greg Myers

PH - Reed Johnson

PR - Dave Cochrane

Pitching

RH - Eric Show

RH - Mike Corkins

RH - Nick Neugebauer

RH - Bill Parsons

LH - Jim Shellenback

LH - Gary Lucas

RP - Mike Garcia

RP - Joe Dawley

RP - Vance McIlree (IA)

RP - Tony Ferreria

All-Time Mullet Team

Shown as first posted in 2003:

“All business in front, … ” Mere experimenters don’t qualify. To make this squad, one must have shown a serious commitment to the “do” and so Manny Ramirez, for example, doesn’t make it.

1b - JOHN KRUK

2b - MICKEY MORANDINI

3b - GEORGE BRETT*

SS - DAVE HOLLINS

C - TED SIMMONS

LF - Dan Gladden

CF - LENNY DYKSTRA

RF - JOHNNY DAMON

DH - JOSE CANSECO

PH - Matt Stairs

Pitching

RH - DENNIS ECKERSLY

LH - RANDY JOHNSON

RP - Al Hrobosky

RP - DANNY GRAVES

RP - Turk Wendell

RP - MITCH WILLIAMS

RP - ROD BECK

Closer - RICH GOSSAGE*

Mgr - TONY LARUSSA (Team approximately as manageable as the hair)

Bench and Bullpen

VINNY CASTILLA

DARREN DAULTON

Pete Incaviglia

Kevin Millar

Craig Wilson

*Hall of Fame

ALL CAPS = All-Star

Bold = Inspiration to create this team

We welcome submissions from readers and have had some great ones. To subscribe to our theme team email list, send a message with "Theme Teams" in the subject line to horsehidetrivia@aol.com.

If you enjoy the theme teams, please consider making a donation to help continue researching and publishing theme team rosters.

Thanks!

Please note that donations will be processed via PayPal,

using an account registered to shiningbeautifulsun -at-

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