RF: Roy Hobbs, The Natural

Credentials: Made his own bat from a tree…Struck out The Whammer on three pitched balls…Knocked the cover off the ball…During BP, threw a pitch that got stuck in the cage netting...Smashed the clock in Chicago (somehow this ended the game even though the Knights were on the road)…Homered into the lights to send the Knights into the World Series...Did all this with a bullet lodged in his stomach...Because he was The Man, we're willing to overlook the fact he chose Glenn Close over Kim Basinger. but whatever keeps your bat hot, huh Roy?

Says it all: “And then? And then when I walked down the street people would've looked and they would've said there goes Roy Hobbs, the best there ever was in this game.”

Also considered: There is no one else.

 

1B: Clew Haywood, Major League

Credentials: Led the league in most offensive categories, including nose hairs – when this guy sneezes he looks like a party favor…Two moon-shots off of Ricky Vaughn, one of which was headed somewhere towards South America…Played by Pete Vukovich, the trashiest player of the 80’s and arguably of all-time.

Says it all: “How’s your wife and my kids?”

Also considered: Lou Collins, Little Big League

LF: Miles Dalrymple, Summer Catch

Credentials: Hits bombs…Likes big-boned females…Made an absurd leaping catch over the fence (even though in real life that’s a home run, not an out).

Says it all: “Excuse me, I am tired of living a lie. I need it to be known that I like a big girl. In fact, a large, zaftig, voluptuous, full-figured, big-boned, massive-assive honey, that is what gets me going. I like fat women and they like me... big girls need love too, baby!”

Also considered: Bobby Rayburn, The Fan

C: Crash Davis, Bull Durham

Credentials: Most minor league homers ever…Forced a rainout by leaving the sprinklers on overnight…Chewed out a batter admiring a home run after he tipped off the pitch.

Says it all: “Well, I believe in the soul, the [blank], the [blank], the small of a woman's back, the hanging curve ball, high fiber, good scotch, that the novels of Susan Sontag are self-indulgent, overrated crap. I believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. I believe there ought to be a constitutional amendment outlawing Astroturf and the designated hitter. I believe in the sweet spot, soft-core pornography, opening your presents Christmas morning rather than Christmas Eve and I believe in long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days.”

Also considered: Gus Sinski, For Love Of The Game (“And Sinski with his first leg double since the Reagan administration” – Vin Scully); Mike Engelberg, Bad News Bears; The Great Hambino, The Sandlot; Dottie Henson, A League Of Their Own (Awful swing, but she could spit tobacco like a ballplayer)

DH: Kelly Leak, Bad News Bears

Credentials: Almost homered on an intentional walk pitch…Went deep at the Astrodome (sequel)…Was ripping butts and hustling adults at the pool hall as a 12-year old...Dead ringer for Steve Nash…Had first dibs on Amanda Whurlitzer.

Says it all: “I got a Harley Davidson. Does that turn you on? Harley Davidson?”

Also considered: Pedro Serrano, Major League; Jack Parkman, Major League II

3B: Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez, The Sandlot

Credentials: Assuming he can play third even though it was never made clear what his primary position was…Taught Smalls how to catch a ball by telling him to stick his glove out…Outran a killer dog just to save an autographed baseball…Stole home in a major league game and still had the wherewithal to point to his childhood buddy in the pressbox (who was a terrible announcer by the way)…Hit bombs while wearing an unbuttoned jersey and jeans…Sported a phenomenal replica of Jose Valentin’s mustache in said game where he stole home.

Says it all: “Got a fireplace? Throw that in there man.”

Also considered: Roger Dorn, Major League; The guy from The Natural who took one off his boys because he was staring at a broad in the stands.

Absolutely not considered: Doris Murphy, A League Of Their Own – Rosie O’Donnell has no business being in this discussion. No business.

SS: Tanner Boyle, Bad News Bears

Credentials: Attempted to fight his entire grade because he was sick of losing…Ran away from the umpires long enough to extend the game at the Astrodome...Bergen Catholic alum, but we'll let that slide.

Says it all: “Hey Yankees! You take your apology, and your trophy, and shove ‘em straight up your [butt].”

Also considered: Pat Corning, Little Big League

BN: Jake Taylor, Major League

Credentials: In full uniform, drove the bullpen care halfway across town to sleep with his ex-girlfriend after a game (bonus points because it was Rene Russo)…Helped to induce game-ending pop-up against the A’s by distracting batter with dirty talk about his wife…Swinging bunt knocked in winning run to send team to ALCS…Successfully pulled off the white blazer-turquoise t-shirt-jeans look…Brilliantly punked ex-girlfriend’s current boyfriend in front of stuck up guests.

Says it all: “Is that you Tolbert? I’m hungover! My knees are killing me and if you’re gonna pull this [stuff] at least you could’ve said you’re with the Yankees!”

Also considered: Jerry Johnson, Little big League

SP: Billy Chapel, For Love Of The Game

Credentials: Perfect game at Yankee Stadium in his last game ever...Clear The Mechanism...While being kind of lame talking with his girl on the phone, he responded "no, but we could still be friends" when she asked if he'd still love her if she was disfigured.

Says it all: “God, I always said I would never bother you about baseball, lord knows you have bigger things to worry about. But if you could make this pain in my shoulder stop for ten minutes, I would really appreciate it.”

Also considered: Nuke Laloosh, Bull Durham; Al Fowler, The Natural; Carmen Ronzonni; Bad News Bears in Breaking Training; Amanda Whurlitzer, Bad News Bears

SP: Steve Nebraska, The Scout

Credentials: Took Bret Saberhagen yard and made Keith Hernandez look foolish in a scouting combine…Won a World Series game for the Yanks with an 81-pitch-all-strike perfect game and also hit a home run (even though there’s no way that Ozzie Smith would ever be considered a threat with one out to go).

Says it all: “But I’m not your father. I’m just a guy taking 15%.”

Absolutely not considered: Henry Rowengartner, Rookie Of The Year; Mel Clark, Angles In The Outfield

CL: Rick Vaughn, Major League

Credentials: Played in the California Penal League…Thought he looked like a banker in a cutoff leather jacket and tie with no shirt…Had the coolest intro to any game, real life or fantasy…Could be credited with starting the trend of closers coming into the game to music…Took down Dorn’s wife…Set a record for wild pitches in an inning.

Says it all: “Juuuuust a bit outside. Tried the corner and missed.”

Also considered: Duke Temple, Major League; John Rhoades, The Natural (Although there’s possible Brad Lidge Syndrome here after giving up that walkoff to Roy Hobbs).

RP: Jim Bowers, Little Big League

Credentials: Team prankster…Drops water balloons from his hotel room onto fellow teammates…Mental capacity to compute complicated math equations…Caught Ken Griffey Jr. with a legal version of the hidden ball trick.

Says it all: “And Mac, the horse’s name is Friday.”

Also considered: Blackout Gatling, Little Big League

Manager: Jimmy Dugan A League Of Their Own

Credentials: Sold off the team’s equipment during a managing stint in San Antonio…Rivals Austin Powers for Most Impressive Performance While Relieving Oneself…Spent an entire inning scratching himself…Coined the famous “There’s no crying in baseball!” line...After drunkenly making out with the team liason, told her he loved her in The Wizard of Oz.

Says it all: “Uh, Lord, hallowed be Thy name. May our feet be swift, may our bats be mighty, and may our balls...be plentiful. And Lord, I'd just like to thank You for that waitress in South Bend. You know who she is - she kept calling Your name.”

Also considered: Lou Brown, Major League ("Come on Dorn, get in front of the damn ball, don't give me this Ole BS"); Pop Fisher, The Natural; Morris Buttermaker, Bad News Bears; Mike Leak, Bad News Bears in Breaking Training (Much better performance here with the “Let them play!” chant than he ever had on 24).

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