Nicknames
 

With a grandson named Gavin, I wondered why Clifford Cravath was referred to as Gavvy, thinking it might be based on the name Gavin, but alas

Cravath received his nickname while playing with the Los Angeles Angels in the Pacific Coast League. He hit a drive which killed a sea gull in flight.:eek: Spanish fans took up the chant, 'gaviota! (sea gull), gaviota!' The nickname 'Gavvy' was created and it stuck.

Gavvy might also qualify for the Heavy Hitters thread as he became the first mayor of Escondido after baseball and then a Justice of the Peace in Laguna Beach for many years.

Other unusual nickname stories might be interesting to Board members.
Let's exclude any nicknames created by Chris Berman.:D

I always liked "The Wild Hoss of the Osage" for Pepper Martin. Martin, an aggressive player, was said to play baseball like a "wild mustang" and was given his nickname in the minor leagues.

His nickname was "Circus Solly". Some attribute this name to a comic strip of the era, while others attribute it to spectacular catches while fielding.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7112/7...3284b956_c.jpg

"Rabbit" Maranville

Not vintage but Fred McGriff "Crimedog" borrowed from the National Crime Prevention Council's Take A Bite Out Of Crime campaign using a dog named McGruff.

Iron Man McGinnity
http://www.t206blog.com/wp-content/u...edmont-350.jpg

Home Run Baker
http://www.t206blog.com/wp-content/u...aporal-350.jpg

Christy Mathewson - Big Six
Walter Johnson - Big Train
Ty Cobb - Georgia Peach
Tris Speaker - Spoke
Honus Wagner - The Flying Dutchman
Mordecai Brown - Miner (3 finger is too easy!)
Frank Chance - the Peerless Leader
John Evers - The Human Crab
Eddie Collins - Cocky
Sam Crawford - Wahoo
Highie Jennings - Ee Yah
Tony Lazzeri - Poosh 'Em Up

My nickname since I was a kid was Zola. My old friend from high school and college still call me by that name.

Always loved Benny Agbayani's nickname "Hawaiian Punch"

Scoops.............

I always liked Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe of the Negro Leagues. He was a pitcher and a catcher. In a 1932 Negro League World's Series doubleheader he caught the complete first game and pitched a complete game shutout in the second game.


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Every athlete from Hawaii is nicknamed either "Hawaiian Punch" (e.g., Brian Viloria) or "The Flyin' Hawaiian" (e.g., Chad Owens). Only exception I can think of was "Squirmin' Herman" Wedemeyer, and even he got the Flyin' Hawaiian moniker, too. The lack of creativity is kind of a running joke in the islands.

ETA: Should add Henry "Prince" Oana to my short list of exceptions.

Kawika o ka Pakipika

http://photos.imageevent.com/kawika_...0Wedemeyer.jpg

http://photos.imageevent.com/kawika_...001%20Oana.jpg

I believe it was Ohio Cantelope.

My favorite Baseball Reference nickname is for Pablo Sandoval. You can't beat "Fat Ichiro."

Honorable mention to Geoge "Twinkle Toes" Selkirk, especially since Play Ball was kind enough to print it on his card.

Also always loved Willie "Puddin Head" Jones.

From 1940 Playball. "Stormy Weather" Weatherly.

How exactly did "Bubbles" get his nickname?

http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5d5e20d0.jpg

This probably would not happen today; however, according to the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame, "Hargrave got his unusual nickname from his stammer and particular trouble with the "B" sounds." Definitely a different era.

http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/cin/h...?hof_id=115471

(Not my card, by the way.)

My favorite is William (Happy) Hogan.
[IMG]<a href="http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/859/scan0001ug.jpg/" target="_blank"><img src="http://imageshack.us/a/img859/6379/scan0001ug.th.jpg" border="0"/></a>[/IMG]

And then there's James Francis (Shanty) Hogan. Who ate his way through baseball.
[IMG]<a href="http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/694/scan0001wm.jpg/" target="_blank"><img src="http://imageshack.us/a/img694/3526/scan0001wm.th.jpg" border="0"/></a>[/IMG]

19th century star, Bob "Death to Flying Things" Ferguson, for his ability to run down fly balls.

Hank "Bow Wow" Arft - for obvious reasons.

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Charlie "King Kong" Keller. Not sure if he acquired the nickname in his pre or post war career,

If only there was an infielder on the team nicknamed "Death to Rolling Things":D

Eddie plank =Gettysburg Eddie

In keeping with the era, would it be, "Death to Daisy Cutters"?

Not nearly as ominous, using modern lingo; however, would have been fearsome for the times:eek:

There is a HOFer with 2,987 base hits whose nickname was "Man o' War."
Val

One of the interesting moments on the 'Glory of Their Times' cd, was when Larry Ritter's wife asked Goose Goslin where he got his nickname :)

Birdie Cree

My favorite two: "Sour Mash" Jack Daniels & Johnny Dickshot. Johnny really didn't need a nickname but went by "Ugly" Dickshot as the self-appointed ugliest man in baseball.

Visited Gettysburg in August after the Baltimore National and got the Battlefield/Eddie Plank tour from Jay Wolt. Saw the house where he lived, the site of his car dealership, and had a burger at Gettysburg Eddie's Restaurant. Wish I had thought to visit his gravesite. Next time.

http://photos.imageevent.com/kawika_.../DSC045733.JPG http://photos.imageevent.com/kawika_...DSC0461911.JPG

Elberfeld growing up
 

David , had a good time w/ you in Gettysburg in August. It looks great now w/ all the Xmas decorations downtown.


Regarding nicknames, here's one from the Buchner set
http://www.qualitycards.com/pictures/1278805074.jpg