Supporting Blake Drake and the other MLB players with names that rhyme
Of the thousands of prospects throughout baseball’s minor league systems, one stands out more for his name than his high ceiling. Unlike the two dozen players whose names are familiar from their parents or grandparents, this particular outfielder needs his first and last name to make history.
St. Louis prospect Blake Drake, if he continues to rise through the ranks, will become one of the few major league players to have a first name that rhymes with his last name. The California native had a great 2014 at the Johnson City rookie level of the Appalachian League, where he hit six home runs and batted .287. He moved up a level to Peoria to start last season, then earned a move to Palm Beach in mid-2015.
In a few years, Cardinals fans could very well see him play at Busch Stadium. If so, they should have a lot of fun chanting his name as he walks up to the plate. His two-syllable rhyming name sounds louder than most, even some of the more famous ones on the list below.
Here are ten current or one-time Major League players whose first name rhymes with their last.
mo blue
This switch-hitting first baseman played from 1921 to 1932 with the Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Browns, and Chicago White Sox. Mainly due to his outstanding defense, baseball historian Bill James ranked Lu Blue as the 77th greatest first baseman of all time.
Bill’s Hill
A pitcher in the late 19th century, Bill Hill played for major league teams in Cleveland, Brooklyn, Cincinnati, and Louisville.
don hahn
This easy-to-pronounce center fielder was a member of the first-team Montreal Expos, which joined the National League in 1969. Hahn later joined the New York Mets, where he helped his club win the pennant. 1973.
brown john
Given that he only lasted one season in the major leagues, it would be quite appropriate to say that, after pitching two innings for the 1964 Milwaukee Braves, John Braun was gone from the big stage.
brand clark
Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 225 pounds, this 74-game Major League winner was certainly bigger than the two syllables in his name. He divided his 10-year career, which began with the Cardinals in 1991, among the White Sox, Mets, Indians and Rangers.
green gene
This seven-year veteran had the unusual role of catcher and right fielder, two positions he played for the Reds, Cardinals, Orioles, Senators and Indians beginning in 1957.
ed head
A pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1940 to 1946, Ed Head finished with a respectable 3.48 ERA and a .500-plus record.
Greg Legg
Ironically, Legg was best known for his arm, finishing his career with no stolen bases and more than a dozen assists. The middle infielder’s two seasons were spent with the Phillies from 1986-1987.
sam nahem
This pitcher took the mound in the late 1930s and early 1940s for two different teams, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Brooklyn Dodgers.