Baseball's best, worst and weirdest nicknames

If one nickname says it all, this is the one. Henry Louis "Hank" Aaron hit 755 home runs over his 23-year career, breaking the legendary record of Babe Ruth in the process. Aaron earned the moniker for his prodigious nature at the plate, which also included still-standing, all-time records of 2,297 RBI and 6,856 total bases.

Appling was a seven-time All-Star for the Chicago White Sox over the course of a career that saw him elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964. The shortstop earned his dubious moniker due to the fact that he often complained to his teammates about how bad he felt. However, he kept some magic in his bat into his later years, as he connected for a home run against fellow HOFer Warren Spahn at the age of 75 in an Old Timers Game in 1982.

Armed with an effervescent personality that belied the thunder he contained in his bat, Banks was one of the great sportsmen in the history of the game. He spent his entire 19-year career with the Chicago Cubs, where he was named National League MVP in consecutive seasons, in 1958 and ’59. His catchphrase “let's play two!” is one of the most famous taglines in sports history and underscored his love of wearing the Cubs uniform, an organization he became forever synonymous with.

A superstar center fielder in the Negro Leagues in the 1920s and '30s, the speed of James Thomas Bell became a legendary thing to behold. However, he earned the nickname that would become synonymous with him for an early career exploit as a pitcher. He was first referred to as ‘"cool" after striking out the legendary Buck Leonard as a rookie. Later on, the "Papa" was added as a nod to his mature personality off the field…and because it sounded cool.

Some nicknames become so synonymous with a player, they become a part of them. Thus is the case for "Yogi" Berra, whose given name of Lawrence became lost in time as the legend of "Yogi" grew. While it would be easy to assume that the name is due to his unique way of spreading knowledge via his many euphemisms, it really came from his teenage years when friends noticed the resemblance between Berra and an Indian yogi from a newsreel film.

One of the game’s most unique calling cards, the source of Dennis Boyd’s nickname is up for dispute. The popular opinion is that he got the name due to a penchant for drinking beer in his hometown in Mississippi, with oil being what the beverage is known as in the area. Boyd himself, however, denies this, instead saying it was ‘rot-gut’ whiskey. Either way, it is an interesting origin to say the least.

Perhaps the most literal and unfortunate of all nicknames, Mordecai Brown became known as Three Finger because he lost parts of his right pitching hand due to a pair of childhood injuries. As a result, it was said that Brown didn’t as much throw the ball as he ‘twirled’ it, possessing a great deal of movement on his throws due the unique structure of his hand. It worked out fine for Brown, as he won 239 games and posted a career 2.06 ERA.

Some names tell the story of a player’s career, while others tie into where a player is from. Then there’s Dain Clay’s infamous moniker. There is not a clear reason as to why Clay was referred to as "Ding-A-Ling," but without a doubt it is one of the most unforgettable, eyebrow-raising, chuckle-inducing calling cards of all time – not that his secondary nickname of "Sniffy" was much better.

It is hard to imagine a nickname less aligned with a player than Cobb’s. The legendarily intense (and often dirty) competitor hailed from the state of Georgia, which is known for its sweet peach crops. There was little that was sweet about Cobb, whose surly nature rivals that of his timelessly immensely accomplished career. Despite the oddity of the nickname, of which he was tagged with by writer Grantland Rice, it is said that Cobb loved it.

Listen, the name makes all of the sense in the world. Coleman was the greatest base thief of the 1980s not named Rickey Henderson, leading the National League in steals in each of his first six seasons, including going over 100 three times. But the nickname — homage to a famous painter, of all things — is just the worst kind of clever.

There was little that could be considered normal about Jay Hanna Dean, so Dizzy really is a fitting moniker. While his lively nature, colorful personality and over-the-top delivery earned him the name, his presence on the mound was undeniably locked in. Dean was the centerpiece of the ragtag "Gashouse Gang" of the 1930s Cardinals, who won the 1934 World Series, with Dean winning 30 games and picking up the NL MVP in the process.

Younger brother of Dizzy Dean, Paul Dean spent many years in the same rotation as his brother with the St. Louis Cardinals. But unlike his boisterous, outspoken sibling, Paul was quiet and even-tempered. However, eager to make the pair a brother act, Paul was tagged with the nickname "Daffy" for no other reason than it sounded paired with "Dizzy."

This is perhaps the greatest double whammy of all- ime. As if he wasn’t already burdened enough with his last name, Dickshot’s teammates took things an extra step, tagging him simply as "Ugly" in the process. Can a man catch a break in life?

Fidrych was one of the most colorful personalities of the late '70s, amid a shooting star career with the Detroit Tigers. The lanky right-hander became a star as a rookie in 1976, in part for his success on the mound (an AL-leading 2.34 ERA and 24 complete games) but also for his numerous quirks and antics in the process. He picked up his nickname due to his stunningly legit resemblance to Sesame Street character Big Bird, which one of his minor league coaches took note of when he was with the Lakeland Tigers.

Gaetti enjoyed a productive, 20-year career, hitting 360 home runs, with four Gold Glove Awards and a World Series title in 1987. However, his nickname is essentially a statement of fact: Gaetti really does look like he has a strong penchant for cheese.

Gehrig owns one of the greatest nicknames of all time via "The Iron Horse," a homage to the indestructible nature of his day in, day out career. Yet that is not the name he was known by to his teammates, who instead opted for "Biscuit Pants." This one was a because of both the baggy style in which he wore his pants…as well as his prominent "back porch."

Griffey made an impact upon arrival in Seattle, connecting for 16 home runs as a teenager, alongside his father in the Mariners lineup. Add in the swagger and all-out style he played the game with, and the youthful enthusiasm of "The Kid" never died out. As a man he would go on to hit 630 home runs, win 10 Gold Glove Awards and be the face of Major League Baseball for over a decade.

Many pitchers have a specific routine they stick to on game days. For some it is a certain meal; for others it is a warm-up routine. For Grimes, his habit of choice was not to shave on, which earned him the nickname of “Ol’ Stubble Beard," for his worn-down appearance.

There have been many southpaws who have been known as "Lefty," with Hall of Famer Steve Carlton also famously being referred to as such. However, the name is most synonymous with Robert Moses Grove, who won 300 games and led the American League in wins four times between 1925 and 1941 with Philadelphia Athletics and Boston Red Sox. Grove’s fastball was said to be so good that he never needed another pitch, and he is still counted within the inner circle of top left-handed pitchers in history, as his enduring namesake rightfully indicates.

Harnett spent 19 of his 20 seasons behind the plate for the Chicago Cubs, being elected to the first six National League All-Star teams and winning NL MVP in 1935. Hartnett earned a pair of nicknames in his career, most notably “Gabby” for his propensity to talk to batters at the plate. However the more exceptional of his titles was “Old Tomato Face," which he was given due to his wide features and oft-red complexion.

Shortly after signing with the A’s, the plainness of Jim Hunter’s name didn’t suit Oakland owner Charlie Finley. So he opted to call him “Catfish” for no other reason than he thought he needed a flashy nickname. There was a story that it had originally derived from Hunter being found with a string of catfish in his youth after going missing, but he debunked that as a myth.

This is a name that is so ingrained that it is odd to hear Joe Jackson be referenced to as anything but “Shoeless." The nickname came from a game he played in his native South Carolina, when a pair of new cleats were hurting his feet so badly that he played in just his socks. A fan called him a “shoeless son of gun” and the heckle was attached to Jackson’s given name for the rest of his life.

Jackson earned his famous calling card for his legendary World Series performances. A five-time World Series champ, Jackson was twice named World Series MVP, once with the Oakland A’s and later with the New York Yankees. His crowning moment in the Fall Classic came in the '77 Series, when he hit three home runs in Game 6 against the Dodgers. For his career, Jackson hit .357 with 10 home runs while going a perfect 5-0 in Series play.

An offshoot of Reggie Jackson’s famous moniker, Jeter’s status as the king of November is a questionable one at best. He originally earned the tag for a walk-off home run in Game 4 of the 2001 World Series, one of the many great postseason moments for the Yankee shortstop. However, his larger body of post-October work is not that impressive, as Jeter hit a meager .181 over 11 career November at-bats.

Standing at a towering 6-foot-10 and possessing one of the most intimidating on-mound presences of all time, Johnson’s “Big Unit” nickname is fitting to say the least. He originally received the tag during his time with the Montreal Expos when outfielder Tim Raines ran into Johnson during spring training. As both stood up, the 5-foot-8 Raines exclaimed, “you’re one big unit!” And it stuck.

Johnson was the premier strikeout artist in the first half of the 20^th century. Writer Grantland Rice first put the tag on Johnson (who was also known as Barney) as a tribute to the speed of his fastball but also to the wide-shouldered stature of Johnson, who was an unusually sturdily built pitcher for his time at 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds.

When a reporter approached Keeler and asked him the secret to his success, he quipped, “Keep your eye clear…and hit em where they ain’t." This is not as much of a nickname as it is a philosophy that turned into a tagline. Also known as "Wee Willie" due to being all of 5-foot-4 and 140 pounds, Keeler’s simple approach to getting on base was one that served him well. Keeler hit .341 lifetime, including an absurd .424 in 1897 when he also turned in 239 hits.

Bill Keister was a strong -itting shortstop at the turn of the century, owning a .312 career batting average. However, he was also a horrid defender, with the lowest single-season fielding percentage in history at the position, at .861 in 1901. Perhaps he should have kept his head in the game more, as his nickname is a play on words for the “wagging tongue” of the talkative Keister.

It's a fitting tribute for the dominant southpaw, who made the unbelievable become real on the mound for the Dodgers of the early 1960s. It was simply unimaginable that a mere mortal could do the things Koufax did, armed with a curveball that looked like it was falling from the heavens. Between 1961 and 1966, he threw four no-hitters (including a perfect game) and won over 25 games or more three times.

A stocky built catcher, LaValliere gained his nickname due to the fact that teammates said he ran like he had a piano on his back. That is still somewhat of a head-scratching reason for the name, but one thing that was clear was Spanky’s ability behind the plate. The stout defender was the primary backstop for multiple NL East championship teams with the Pittsburgh Pirates of the early '90s.

Among the game’s most unique (and far out) personalities of all time, Lee is just as notable for his off-field quirks as his performance on the mound. A brutally honest and outspoken character, Lee once threatened to bite off the ear of an umpire and later commented that his use of marijuana made him immune to Boston bus fumes…while he jogged to Fenway Park. Lee’s far-out nature made this nickname a perfect fit.

Now this one is just mean. Leonard was known for his rough and mean look, which stemmed back to never washing his uniform in his youth. This combined with his often-emotionless glare and thick mustache led to his teammate Dave Kingman dubbing him with his infamous nickname, which to his credit, he later requested to be changed to the more politically correct “Correctional Facility Face." The request, predictably, didn’t stick.

Sure, Lindor has a huge and magnetic personality, and few display the daily joy that he does in playing the game. But Mr. Smile? Is that the best that we can come up with for one of the generation's best overall talents? Hopefully one day a better one emerges from his further on-field exploits.

The root of this one is hard to miss, literally. The hard-hitting catcher for the Boston Braves of the 1950s gets the low-hanging fruit award for this name, which originates from his prodigious nose. It was one of many nicknames for the backstop, who became the first catcher in history to win a batting title.

Perhaps this one is a bit tongue and cheekvbecause the nickname itself completely belies the way that the quiet, calculating Maddux went about his business. Also dubbed “The Professor," Maddux looked more the part of an accountant, with his average frame and glasses he wore off the field. However, he was a great competitor with the ball in his hand, winning 355 games and four Cy Young Awards. So on second thought, maybe there is something to this one after all.

The legendary center fielder earned the name that stuck with him early in his career. The legend goes that Mays had a relatable problem when he arrived in the minors with the New York Giants: He couldn’t remember everybody’s name. So instead, he just said, “Hey!” instead messing up (or having to remember) a name.

McGriff’s signature nickname is one of thousands that longtime ESPN voice Chris Berman has bestowed on many an athlete over his career. It comes from the similarity in McGriff’s name and that of McGruff, the cartoon dog that “took a bite out of crime." McGriff committed many a crime against opposing pitchers in his career, connecting for 493 career home runs and driving in over 1,500 runs.

As a minor leaguer, the future NL MVP and Triple Crown winner was dubbed with “Ducky." Teammates said he waddled when he walked, and the name carried on with him, eventually worsening to “Ducky Wucky” at times. Medwick himself hated the name, but it wasn’t beyond him to pick a fight over it if it came from the wrong mouth.

This one hits at the heart and is pretty much the worst nickname you can give to pitchers, as it completely defeats their cause in life. Mulcahy was, however, appropriately tagged with the name due to the frequency with which he compiled losses. He owned a .336 career winning percentage and never posted a winning record in any of his eight years. So at least it was one that was earned, right?

Originally known as the "Donora Greyhound" to reflect his hometown Donora, Pennsylvania, roots and his speed around the bases as a youth, Musial eventually became “The Man” in 1946 at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. After continuing to plague Dodgers pitching, fans exclaimed, "here comes that man again," which was shortened to “The Man” by the Cardinals traveling secretary. Writer Bob Broeg printed the story the next day, and Musial became “Stan the Man” thereafter.

Ortiz’s word for what he called others eventually was turned on him. In lieu of remembering every name of the many people he met, Ortiz turned to calling people in general “Papi," a custom in his native Dominican Republic. People began calling him Papi in return, and the Big was applied to hulking slugger for obvious reasons.

The great Negro League pitcher picked up the name that would rise to fame with him as a youth. Paige worked at a train stop, carrying the luggage of passengers. The already tall and gangly Paige often carried upward of four bags at time, which led to other kids saying he looked like a “walking satchel tree." The name stuck, and Paige would go on to become a master of creating nicknames himself, as he had memorable titles for each of the many pitches in his arsenal.

Simmons picked up his name because of the way he stepped toward third base when he swung. Simmons took a huge stride to open up on inside pitches, thus it appeared that he was picking his foot up and dropping it in a bucket. Whatever he did it worked, as Simmons was a lifetime .334 hitter and hit over .380 four times in his career.

His quirky nickname is a combination of both his appearance (the 5-foot-9, 200-plus pounder does incredibly resemble a hamster) and also his steadfast production. His 23 pinch hit home runs are an MLB record and came while he spent time with more teams than any other positional player in MLB history: 12. The wheel kept spinning, but the Wonder Hamster kept on producing.

Sandoval forever became linked with the popular panda bear with a flare for martial arts when he jumped over a catcher to score the winning run in a game for the Giants in September 2008. Pitcher Barry Zito was taken aback by the sudden burst of athleticism from the hefty Sandoval and dubbed him the "Kung Fu Panda."

One of the best of the many great nicknames to emanate out of the Negro Leagues, Radcliffe’s nickname was a homage to his versatility on the diamond. In 1932 Negro League World Series, he caught a shutout from Satchel Paige and then threw a shutout of his own the second half of a doubleheader. It was said that Radcliffe’s efforts were worth twice the price of admission to see.

The emergence of Rivera from the Yankees bullpen often signaled the end of hopes for their opponent for that given day. When the legendary closer would appear at Yankee Stadium, he would be accompanied by Metallica’s seminal hit “Enter The Sandman," a song whose lyrics oddly fit the presence of Rivera on the mound. Hopes for a comeback were more often than not “off to never-never land."

In reality, Charlie Hustle is a better name for Rose than his given one. Few players in history have willed their way to greater success than Rose, who swung and barreled his way to become the MLB’s all-time hits king. Standing as testament to this all-out effort, the Charlie Hustle nickname was coined by Whitey Ford after Rose sprinted for first base following a walk.

There are so many names that followed the legend of George Herman Ruth, he would be hardly recognizable by his given name even in his own time. The Babe. The Great Bambino. Bam. Jidge. But perhaps the most fitting was the “Sultan of Swat," which pays homage to the prodigious nature of the swings that made Ruth the greatest attraction in the history of the sport. After all, he did outhomer the rest of his league in 1920.

There was something magical in watching Ozzie Smith grace the left side of the infield. Nothing seemed out of his reach, and even the most impossible of plays seemed routine when he was handling the ball. “The Wizard of Oz” redefined the way defense could impact the sport. However unlike his movie version namesake, Ozzie’s feats were simultaneously unbelievable, yet very, very real.

This one says it all, as the hulking Thomas was one of the most intimidating hitters of all time. The 6-foot-5, 240-pounder played tight end for Auburn before trading in his helmet for a pair of spikes ful -time. He regularly punished AL pitching throughout his career, hitting 521 home runs with a career .301 batting average. Thomas is the only player in history to hit .300 with 20 home runs, 100 RBI, 100 runs scored and 100 walks for seven straight seasons, all numbers that speak to the horrifying presence he brought to the plate.

Hailing from the German Dutch country of Pennsylvania, Honus Wagner earned his nickname in part due to his heritage and also due to the exciting style of play. An incredibly gifted athlete, Wagner was the first true speed-power threat in the history of the game. He won eight batting titles while stealing 722 career bases. Wagner was elected as one of the charter members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

While the Splendid Splinter is an appropriate nickname for Williams, he may have preferred another one: “the greatest hitter of all time," as he was fond of calling himself. It is not a claim that is unjust, however, as Williams hit .344 for his career, twice completed the Triple Crown and owns the highest on-base percentage in history at .482.

Despite standing 5-foot-10 and weighing just 160 pounds, Wynn sure knew how to get a hold of a pitch. He posted eight seasons of 20-plus home runs and totaled 291 over his 15-year career, much of which was spent with the Houston Astros. Because of this big bang coming from his smallish frame, he earned the “Toy Cannon” title.

Shortened from "Cyclone," Young’s nickname has gone on to be synonymous with the most famous namesake award in all of sports. He originally garnered the nickname thanks to the way he twisted his body in his windup but also because of the force with which he threw the ball. The venerable Young owns a number of unbreakable MLB records, including wins (511), losses (315) and complete games (749).