The All-Holiday team of your dreams
A model of this story initially ran in December 2021.
It’s the vacation season, so it is our obligation to place collectively a full beginning lineup of holiday-themed names. We’ve coated each place (though some gamers might not be taking part in of their go-to slot) and delved deep into baseball’s previous for just a few it’s possible you’ll not have heard of. Check out the squad, sing some Carrolls, let it Snow and everybody, please, have a really glad Holliday.
C – Steve Christmas: We might’ve subbed some longer-tenured massive leaguers on this spot, however when your title is Christmas, you type of should be on the All-Holiday Team. Christmas appeared in 24 Major League video games from 1983-86, batting .364 in ’84.
1B – J.T. Snow: The vacation season means snow for many people, and we’re fortunate sufficient to have a reasonably good first baseman by that title. Jack Thomas Snow performed 16 seasons within the Majors, tallying greater than 1,500 hits and 6 Gold Gloves in that span. But ’tis the season of fine deeds, and Snow might be most well-known for saving a sure supervisor’s son from near-disaster at house plate in the course of the ’02 World Series.
2B – Cupid Childs: Childs was faster than a reindeer. The speedster performed 13 seasons within the Dead Ball Era, principally with the Cleveland Spiders within the nineteenth century, and completed his profession with greater than 100 triples and 1,000 runs. He additionally hit a nifty .306.
3B – Pedro Feliz: What’s one of many biggest Christmas songs of all time? Yes, that is proper: Feliz Navidad by José Feliciano — a person who himself has a deep baseball connection. Pedro Feliz wasn’t the best third baseman of all time, however he had some respectable offensive seasons within the mid-2000s for the Giants and was a high defender within the league for just a few years. He additionally helped the Phillies get their first World Series win in ’08.
SS – Dasher Troy: Troy wasn’t a lot of a hitter and solely performed 5 years within the bigs from 1881-85, however he did as soon as hit a walk-off house run after ingesting a whole beer. Plus, are you able to think about a DP combo of two guys named Cupid and Dasher?
LF – Jamey Carroll: Carroll was a helpful utility man and one of many final former Montreal Expos left within the Majors on the finish of his profession. He scored the ultimate run in Montreal historical past. Carroll was primarily a second baseman however appeared at seven completely different positions, together with 12 video games in left discipline.
CF – Ángel Pagán: Angel? Pagan? Both actually might qualify as Christmas phrases. Pagán was an vital a part of the Giants’ World Series championships in 2012 and 2014, even getting MVP votes in ’12. He was additionally fast on the basepaths and within the outfield — almost (if he had saved working) turning an unassisted triple play for the Mets in 2010.
RF – Matt Holliday: The famous person of this group. Holliday was a seven-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger — recognized for hitting homers right into a land solely Mark McGwire might attain. He was additionally concerned in probably the most mysterious performs in baseball historical past … on a sacrifice fly by All-Holiday group member Jamey Carroll.
DH – Jesús Aguilar: Aguilar had a breakout season with the Brewers in 2018, smacking 35 homers whereas driving in 108 runs. He turned an All-Star for the primary time that season, most likely, principally due to his very Christmas-themed “We imagine in Jesus” marketing campaign. The pure first baseman is now a frontrunner on a younger Marlins group, nonetheless hitting dingers by the bunches.
SP – Dick Rudolph: Yes, it is smart {that a} man named Rudolph will probably be guiding this group tonight. The Fordham alum was a stable starter within the early 1900s, successful 26 video games in 1914 and 22 the following season. The right-hander completed off his 13-year profession with 121 victories and a good 2.66 ERA.
