Baseball season starts when? “The 2024 MLB (Major League Baseball) season will begin in Korea when the Dodgers and Padres face off in the Seoul Series from March 20-21.” What? I missed this because I don’t pay that much attention to baseball until the last week in March.
“A week later, all 30 clubs are slated to play on Opening Day (Thursday, March 28), and the regular season will wrap up on Sunday, Sept. 29, with the 94th All-Star Game presented by Mastercard set for July 16 at Globe Life Field in Arlington.” I hate sponsored plugs, but what can you do?
“The Seoul Series is just one of a number of exciting international contests slated for this year… The Mexico City Series (Astros vs. Rockies, April 27-28) and the London Series (Mets vs. Phillies, June 8-9) also will return from 2023.” The NFL has also been playing games internationally.
So, I decided to do something silly that I saw on Facebook. One is supposed to pick the best MLB player with their initials. This is tricky for me because the player I’d pick would be Robert Gibson. Unfortunately, he played as Bob Gibson (1959-1975), a fiery Hall of Famer pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals I remember quite well. He had a WAR of 89.1.
What’s THAT? WAR Wins Above Replacement “measures a player’s value in all facets of the game by deciphering how many more wins he’s worth than a replacement-level player at his same position (e.g., a Minor League replacement or a readily available fill-in free agent).
Bobby, not Robert
There are about 30 players named Bob or Bobby. The next best player on that list is Bobby Grich (1970-1986, 71.1), also a Robert. The first year he was eligible, he got 2.6% of the Hall of Votes, below the 5% minimum to remain on the ballot.
An interesting name I found was Leslie Green (1939-1946, 2.2). That is the name of my father and one of my sisters.
Here are the RG folks who made it to MLB. If there is no WAR, it’s because it wasn’t calculated.
Ralph Gagliano (1965-1965)
Rich Gale (1978-1984, 1.7) – I vaguely remember
Rocky Gale (2015-2019)
Ron Gant (1987-2003, 34.1)—I remember him. Early in his career, he played for the Atlanta Braves, but he was injured so badly that he missed the entire 1994 season. Then he bounced around. He got zero votes when he was eligible for the Hall of Fame.
Rich Garcés (1990-2002)
Ralph Garcia (1972-1974)
Ramon Garcia (1948-1948)
Ramón García (1991-1997)
Reynaldo Garcia (2002-2003)
Rico Garcia (2019-2023)
Robel García (2019-2021)
Robert Garcia (2023-2023, 0.4)
Rony García (2020-2022)
Rosman García (2003-2004)
Ron Gardenhire (1981-1985). He played for the Mets, so I recall him.
Nick Gardewine (2017-2018)
Ray Gardner (1929-1930)
Rob Gardner (1965-1973)
Ryan Garko (2005-2010)
Ralph Garr (1968-1980)
Ralph Garza (2021-2022)
Robert Gaston (1932-1948) Negro Leagues player
GE
Rich Gedman (1980-1992). A Red Sox catcher in the 1980s, so I recall him.
Rich Gee (1923-1929)
Rube Geyer (1910-1913)
Ray Giannelli (1991-1995)
Russ Gibson (1967-1972)
Rod Gilbreath (1972-1978)
Roland Gladu (1944-1944)
Ralph Glaze (1906-1908)
Roy Gleason (1963-1963)
Ross Gload (2000-2011)
Ryan Goins (2013-2020)
Roy Golden (1910-1911)
Randy Gomez (1984-1984)
Roberto Gómez (2017-2018)
Rubén Gómez (1953-1967)
Rene Gonzales (1984-1997)
Raúl González (2000-2004)
Romy Gonzalez (2021-2023, -0.8)
Ralph Good (1910-1910)
Ray Goolsby (1946-1946)
Ray Gordinier (1921-1922)
Reid Gorecki (2009-2009)
Rick Gorecki (1997-1998)
Rich Gossage+ (1972-1994, pictured) – Though he played for nine teams, I remember Goose Gossage as a Yankee from 1978 to 1983.
Rúben Gotay (2004-2008)
GR
Reggie Grabowski (1932-1934)
Roy Graham (1922-1923)
Rick Grapenthin (1983-1985)
Rick Greene (1999-1999)
Riley Greene (2022-2023, 3.3)
Rusty Greer (1994-2002)
Reddy Grey (1903-1903)
Randal Grichuk (2014-2023) – one of four players, along with Gant, Gossage, and Guidry, listed as “best known.”
Robert Griffin (1931-1931)
Ray Grimes (1920-1926)
Roy Grimes (1920-1920)
Ross Grimsley (1951-1951)
Ross Grimsley (1971-1982)
Robert Gsellman (2016-2022, -0.3). A former Met.
Ron Guidry (1975-1988). Louisiana Lightning was a Yankee for his whole MLB career. I liked him a lot. He never received more than 7.9% of the Hall of Fame balloting votes.
Ricky Gutiérrez (1993-2004)
José Guzmán (1985-1994)
The best MLB dude with my initials played for the New York Yankees. That would be Rich “Goose” Gossage with Ron Guidry next in line.