Okay, a challenge: create an All-Time Major League Baseball Historical All-Star Team not using any players in the Hall of Fame.
Mission: put together a team that could compete with a Hall of Fame All-Star Team, despite the fact that none of the players are Hall of Famers.
Criteria: 40 man roster; every player must be (or have been) eligible for the Hall of Fame, but did not (or have not yet) been elected. Thus no current players or players that have been out less than five years. Also, no banned players (sorry Joe Jackson, Pete Rose, et al).
My team:
CATCHERS: Thurman Munson, Bill Freehan, Jerry Grote, Smokey Burgess (also pinch hitter)
- B/R Ticket Guide
FIRST BASE: Keith Hernandez, Ed Kranepool (also pinch hitter)
SECOND BASE: Frank White
SHORTSTOP: Maury Wills
THIRD BASE: Ron Santo, Harlond Clift
BACKUP INFIELDERS: Gil MacDougald, Bert Campaneris (can play any position), Cesar Tovar (can play any position)
LEFT FIELD: Jim Rice
CENTER FIELD: Curt Flood, Dale Murphy
RIGHT FIELD: Roger Maris
BACKUP OUTFIELDERS: Fred Lynn, Many Mota (also pinch hitter)
DH, etc.: Don Baylor (also 1B, LF), Dick Stuart (can't play anywhere on the field, but he could hit: cursed to be a DH before the role existed)
PITCHERS: Smokey Joe Wood, Luis Tiant, Jim Kaat, Bert Blyleven, Vida Blue, Jerry Koosman, Mickey Lolich, Dave Righetti (starter or reliever), Firpo Marberry (starter or reliever), Bob Stanley (starter or reliever), Joe Black, Moe Drabowsky, Mike Marshall, Jesse Orosco (just eligible, I think), Dick Radatz, Lee Smith, Tug McGraw, Don Gullett (with this bullpen, his 5-6 good innings would be all he needs), Ron Guidry
Your team?
Extra Credit: do you think any of these guys (or your guys) should be IN the Hall of fame?
Extra Extra Credit: reduce to a 25 man roster
Extra Extra Extra Credit: create a lineup (w/DH or not: your choice) and a rotation (5-man, I think).
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