Pronunciation of Players' Names

[Jobu]

Many of you are probably familiar with this but I just noticed it: Baseball Reference (http://www.baseball-reference.com/) provides the pronunciation for each player's name. I started by looking at Hooks Wiltse and, of course, Nap Lajoie. Does anyone have any idea how accurate these are?

[tonyo]

I know that the pronunciation they show for Lajoie is the same as the pronunciation of the audio version of "The Glory of Their Times"

Until I heard the CD, I always read "La-Joy"

By the way when I went to the Baseball Reference page for Lajoie I see that it is sponsored by " I Need a Nap" (Rob D.) I bought an item from him once and he included a business card with "I Need a Nap" on it. I thought that was pretty clever and it still makes me smile when I run across it.

[t206blogcom]

Here are a couple of good archive threads about this:

http://net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=64170

http://net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=199931

[SmokyBurgess]

Didn't I read in Leo Durocher's book they pronounced the name Doo-row-shay?

[Econteachert205]

I grew up right next to Woonsocket where lajoie was from. It most definitely is pronounced properly on baseball reference. Oh, and if you ever are in Woonsocket, remember that if you need an item, like say a hat, say "throw me down my hat, you!" Also things are not next to each other, they are "side by each", and if you trespass you may hear, "the next time you cut through my yard, go around". Woonsocket had an amazing mill league from the turn of the century until the 1950s. Several pros played in it.

[tonyo]

Didn't I read in Leo Durocher's book they pronounced the name Doo-row-shay?

Jethro Bodine pronounced it DOO-rosher . Too bad Jethro could only throw if he rubbed possum fat on the ball.

[Michael B]

I grew up right next to Woonsocket where lajoie was from. It most definitely is pronounced properly on baseball reference. Oh, and if you ever are in Woonsocket, remember that if you need an item, like say a hat, say "throw me down my hat, you!" Also things are not next to each other, they are "side by each", and if you trespass you may hear, "the next time you cut through my yard, go around". Woonsocket had an amazing mill league from the turn of the century until the 1950s. Several pros played in it.

And do you order a cabinet when you go out for ice cream?

[vthobby]

Taken straight from a SABR bio article:

"Napoleon Lajoie (typically pronounced LAJ-way, though Nap himself is supposed to have preferred the French pronunciation, Lah-ZHWA)"

Mike

[darwinbulldog]

La-ZHWA is how I always read it as a kid. Presumably that comes from having grown up in New Orleans, but it's nice to see that the man himself may have agreed.

[Sean]

Didn't I read in Leo Durocher's book they pronounced the name Doo-row-shay?
I recall this as well.
Nice Guys Finish Last was the name of the book. It was 40 years ago, but I recall it being very good.

[SMPEP]

You mean I can't call him "La Joey"? Bummer.

[Kawika]

Here are a couple of good archive threads about this:

http://net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=64170

http://net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=199931
I started that first thread back in 2003. It was my first post on Net54. BigSpiderBeck was my handle back in the old days. Now and then I still catch myself saying La-Joy.