The Pecan Park Eagle

The 2013 Happy New Years Eve All Stars

It’s almost 2013. Only about 88 hours from now and we all will be welcoming in 2013, the celebrated time for our local Houston Astros to set the American League on its collective ear by taking our Pre-K baseball act over to the Junior Circuit after 51 seasons in the National League.

Whup-tee-doo!

It’s also time to come up with an All Star team to represent the occasion. May as well do it now.

This Pecan Park Eagle version attempts to tell the basic story of New Years Eve using the last names of former professional players at any level in a collection of proper progressions, regardless of the positions they actually played in reality. All Star teams are magical. If we fall short of talent at certain positions, some of the guys are going to have to show up and demonstrate their flexible utility to the goal of filling all spots on a winning team.

Just read down the list and pay attention to the lineup of last names and their snippets of New Years Eve history. (One Note: I only used last names to either get the word I was seeking or one that contained it, or another that expressed it in some phonetic proximity.):

The Happy New Years Eve All Stars

1) Auld, Robert – pitcher – Canadian League (1913-15)

2) Lang, C.J. – infielder – Minor Leagues (2006-10)

3) Synek, Frank – 2nd base – Minor Leagues (1909-15)

4) Hoppe, Dennis – pitcher – Minor leagues (1990-92)

5) New, Denny – pitcher – Independent Leagues (2002)

6) Yearby, Melvin – outfielder – Minor Leagues (1975-76)

7) Biggs, Harley – 2nd base – Minor Leagues (1945-50)

8) Ball, Art – infield/outfield – Major Leagues (1894, 1898)

9) Downs, Benjamin – outfielder – Minor Leagues (1948-59)

10) Fatheree, Danny – catcher – Minor Leagues (1997-2005)

11) Timely, “Unk” – outfielder – Minor Leagues (1888)

12) Tickell, Brian – pitcher – Minor Leagues (1995-96)

13) Partyka, James – pitcher – Minor Leagues (1968)

14) Wine, Robbie – catcher – Major Leagues (1986-87)

15) Glass, Chip – outfielder – Minor Leagues (1994-2000)

16) Guy, Robert – 3rd base/outfielder – Minor Leagues (1961-64)

17) Lombardo,Earl-2nd base/shortstop/catcher-Minor Leagues(1969-70)

18) Dick, Ralph – pitcher/infield/outfield – Minor Leagues (1969-77)

19) Clark, Alex – utility – Negro Leagues (1928, 1931)

20) Dance, John – utility – Minor Leagues (1946-47)

21) Dancer, Rolff – pitcher – Minor Leagues (1940)

22) Yeargin, Al – pitcher – Major Leagues (1922, 1924)

23) Ender, Chavez – outfielder – Minor Leagues (2001-08)

… and from contributors, we must these with credit and considerable delight:

24) Papa, John – pitcher – Major Leagues (1961-62) (from Bill Hickman, SABR)

25) Cork, Joe-outfielder-Minor Leagues(1973)(from Bill Hickman, SABR)

Please feel free to recommend your own additions as  comments. The more, the merrier. It’s almost New Years Eve.

Tags: new years eve all stars

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