Major League Baseball Nicknames From Each Decade
When scoring a baseball or softball game in Playmaker Journal, use the players' nicknames. You will remember their given names and their family names but the game is much more memorable when you include the nicknames. And that is what you want to do: capture those fleeting memories at the ball park. A nickname can stick with a person for a lifetime. Other ones come and go. Some nicknames are only for just for a season, either way--write them down.
Baseball has a long, long tradition of nicknames. Here is a list decade-by-decade of some good ones.
EARLY YEARS
Mordecai [Three Finger] Brown
George [Babe] Ruth
[Shoeless] Joe Jackson
Walter [the Big Train] Johnson
Ty [the Georgia Peach] Cobb
Frank [Ping] Bodie
Denton [Cy] Young
Roger [Doc] Kramer
Frank [Mysterious] Walker
Max [Scoops] Carey
Honus [the Flying Dutchman] Wagner
George [Piano Legs] Gore
Eddie [Knuckles] Cicotte
James [Hippo] Vaughn
Charley [Old Hoss] Radbourn
Eugene [Bubbles] Hargrave
Christy [Big Six] Mathewson
[Wahoo] Sam Crawford
Herold [Muddy] Ruel
Adrian [Cap] Anson
John [Happy Jack] Chesbro
THE 1920s
Charles [Chief] Bender
Robert [Lefty] Grove
Paul [Big Poison] Waner
Lewis [Hack] Wilson
Rogers [Rajah] Hornsby
Harold [Pie] Traynor
[Poosh 'em Up] Tony Lazzeri
Hazen [Kiki] Cuyler
Aloysius [Bucketfoot Al] Simmons
George [High Pockets] Kelly
Mickey [Black Mike] Cochrane
Leo [the Lip] Durocher
Leon [Goose] Goslin
Waite [Schoolboy] Hoyt
Charles [Red] Ruffing
Frederick [Firpo] Marberry
William [Judy] Johnson
Norman [Turkey] Stearnes
Lou [Iron Horse] Gehrig
Grover Cleveland [Old Pete] Alexander
THE 1930s
Joe [Ducky] Medwick
James [Cool Papa] Bell
Joe [Flash] Gordon
Vernon [Lefty] Gomez
Johnny [Pepper] Martin
Jay [Dizzy] Dean
Paul [Daffy] Dean
Jimmie [Double X] Foxx
Frankie [the Fordham Flash] Frisch
Henry [Heinie] Manush
Johnny [the Big Cat] Mize
Clarence [Dazzy] Vance
Joseph [Arky] Vaughan
Harry [Cookie] Lavagetto
Ted [Double Duty] Radcliffe
LeRoy [Satchel] Paige
George [Birdie] Tebbetts
Ray [Hooks] Danridge
George [Twinkletoes] Selkirk
Charley [Chinski] Root
John [Jocko] Conlan
Howard Earl [Rock] Averill
THE 1940s
Elwin [Preacher] Roe
Ted [the Splendid Splinter] Williams
Edwin [Duke] Snider
Stan [the Man] Musial
Virgil [Fire] Trucks
Bob [Rapid Robert] Feller
Harold [Pee Wee] Reese
Tommy [Old Reliable] Henrich
Mel [Wimpy] Harder
Marty [the Octopus] Marion
Harry [the Cat] Brecheen
Albert [Red] Schoendienst
Enos [Country] Slaughter
Ernest [Tiny] Bonham
Lawrence [Crash] Davis
Walter [Hoot] Evers
Phil [Scooter] Rizzuto
Ewell [the Whip] Blackwell
Sylvester [Blix] Donnelly
Granville [Granny] Hammer
[Steady] Eddie Lopat
Charlie [King Kong] Keller
THE 1950s
Bill [Moose] Skowron
Willie [the Say Hey Kid] Mays
Lawrence [Yogi] Berra
Henry [Hammerin’ Hank] Aaron
Edward [Whitey] Ford
Billy [the Kid] Martin
Orestes [Minnie] Minoso
Ernie [Mr. Club] Banks
Don [Popeye] Zimmer
Wilmer [Vinegar Bend] Mizell
[Puddin’ Head] Willie Jones
James [Dusty] Rhodes
Luis [Yo-Yo] Arroyo
Sal [the Barber] Maglie
Frank [Taters] Larry
Harvey [the Kitten] Haddix
Roy [Squirrel] Sievers
Joe [Goofy] Adcock
Felix [the Cat] Mantilla
Frank [Pig] House
Norm [Smiley] Siebern
Mickey [the Commerce Comet] Mantle
THE 1960s
[Sudden] Sam McDowell
Ken [Haw] Harrelson
Johnny [Blue Moon] Odom
Octavio [Cookie] Rojas
Jimmy [the Toy Cannon] Wynn
Willie [Stretch] McCovey
Gene [Stick] Michael
Derrel [Bud] Harrelson
Jim [Mudcat] Grant
Tom [Terrific] Seaver
Clarence [Choo Choo] Coleman
Pete [Charlie Hustle] Rose
Jim [Kitty] Kaat
Bob [Buck] Rodgers
Orlando [Baby Bull] Cepeda
Clay [Dimples] Dalrymple
Bob [Beetle] Bailey
John [Boog] Powell
Albert [Sparky] Lyle
Dick [the Monster] Radatz
Elijah [Pumpsie] Green
Juan [the Dominican Dandy] Marichal
THE 1970s
Mark [the Bird] Fidrych
Reggie [Mr. October] Jackson
Al [the Mad Hungarian] Hrabosky
Willie [Pops] Stargell
Dave [Cobra] Parker
Bill [Spaceman] Lee
Carlton [Pudge] Fisk
Mike [the Human Rain Delay] Hargrove
John [the Count] Montefusco
Fred [Chicken] Stanley
Phil [Scrap Iron] Garner
Bill [Mad Dog] Madlock
Rich [Goose] Gossage
Albert [Sparky] Lyle
Ron [the Penguin] Cey
Rick [Rooster] Burleson
Dick [Dirt] Tidrow
Dave [Kong] Kingman
Jim [Catfish] Hunter
Greg [the Bull] Luzinski
Russell [Bucky] Dent
Rusty [Le Grand Orange] Staub
THE 1980s
Steve {Bye Bye] Balboni
Ozzie [the Wizard of Oz] Smith
Mike [Hit Man] Easler
Dennis [Oil Can] Boyd
Lenny [Nails] Dykstra
Fred [Crime Dog] McGriff
Will [the Thrill] Clark
Tim [Rock] Raines
Orel [Bulldog] Hershiser
Greg [Mad Dog] Maddux
Howard [HoJo] Johnson
Aurelio [Senor Smoke] Lopez
[Sweet] Lou Whitaker
Don [Donnie Baseball] Mattingly
William [Mookie] Wilson
Charles [Chili] Davis
Cecil [Big Daddy] Fielder
George [Storm] Davis
Steve [Bedrock] Bedrosian
Lonnie [Skates] Smith
Steve [Rainbow] Trout
Hensley [Bam Bam] Meulens
THE 1990s
Andres [Big Cat] Galarraga
Randy [Big Unit] Johnson
Roger [Rocket] Clemens
Frank [the Big Hurt] Thomas
Juan [Gone] Gonzalez
David [Boomer] Wells
Rich [El Guapo] Garces
Jay [Bone] Buhner
[Everyday] Eddie Guardado
Ken [Junior] Griffey
Calvin [Pokey] Reese
Mariano [Mo] Rivera
Mark [Big Mac] McGuire
Gregory [Woody] Williams
Ivan [Pudge] Rodriguez
William [Buck] Showalter
Kenny [the Gambler] Rodgers
Antonio [El Pulpo] Alfonseca
Mitch [Wild Thing] Williams
Jeff [the Barbarian] Conine
Leon [Bip] Roberts
Tom [Flash] Gordon
THE 2000s
David [Big Papi] Ortiz
Alex [A-Rod] Rodriguez
Larry [Chipper] Jones
Orlando [El Duque] Hernandez
Luis [Gonzo] Gonzalez
Travis [ Pronk] Hafner
Kevin [Shrek] Mench
Francisco [K-Rod] Rodriguez
Dontrelle [D-Train] Willis
Kenji [Jo Moma] Johjima
Pat [the Bat] Burrell
Covelli [Coco] Crisp
Barry [Planet] Zito
Joe [Cupcakes] Blanton
Dmitri [Da Meat Hook] Young
Carlos [El Caballo] Lee
Ryan [Mad Dog] Madson
Hideki [Godzilla] Matsui
Gary [Little Sarge] Matthews
[Super] Joe McEwing
Ernest [Junior] Spivey
Aubrey [Huff Daddy] Huff