Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Chris Rock inspired a post about the All Star Team





















































In the DVD extras for The Tenth Inning, Chris Rock talked about “Affirmative Action Home Runs.” He was referring to the level of play in baseball before integration and how major league baseball’s all white competition lowered the level of the game. He asked us to imagine the All Star Game with no black players and no Latino players.



David Wright would be the best player in baseball.”



The staff here at Sully Baseball had made this point a few years ago when I posted about “Jackie Robinson and today’s talent pool” and lamented the lost opportunity for great moments with “A Dream Team in honor of Dr. King.”



Beyond the social injustice of segregation, history was denied great baseball!



I thought about what Chris said about the All Star team and it got my obsessive compulsive list making fires burning.



What would the current American League and National League All Star Teams look like if baseball were still segregated?



And what would an All Star roster look like if it consisted SOLELY of players who would not have been allowed to play.



And remember segregation would have kept Latin players out as well as Asians.



So I created 4 All Star Rosters…

An American League and a National League made up of only white players.



And an American League and National League team using players who would have been shut out.



Using All Star Rules, each team is represented in the rosters (it was tough finding a Cleveland or Arizona All Star of ANY race!)



So let’s take a look at the alternate universes and see the segregated All Stars





All White American League All Star Team



Starting Catcher – JOE MAUER, Twins











Starting First Baseman - MARK TEIXEIRA, Yankees











Starting Second Baseman – DUSTIN PEDROIA, Red Sox











Starting Shortstop – REID BRIGNAC, Rays











Starting Third Baseman - EVAN LONGORIA, Rays











Starting Left Fielder – LUKE SCOTT, Orioles











Starting Center Fielder - JOSH HAMILTON, Rangers











Starting Right Fielder – NICK SWISHER, Yankees











Starting Pitcher – JON LESTER, Red Sox













ADDITIONAL PITCHERS



DAVID AARDSMA, Mariners ANDREW BAILEY, Athletics CLAY BUCHHOLZ, Red Sox TREVOR CAHILL, Athletics ZACK GREINKE, Royals CLIFF LEE, Rangers JONATHAN PAPELBON, Red Sox MITCH TALBOT, Indians JUSTIN VERLANDER, Tigers JERED WEAVER, Angels





Reserve Players



JOHN BUCK, Blue Jays MICHAEL CUDDYER, Twins MARK ELLIS, Athletics J. J. HARDY, Twins PAUL KONERKO, White Sox NICK MARKAKIS, Orioles JUSTIN MORNEAU, Twins KEVIN YOUKILIS, Red Sox MICHAEL YOUNG, Rangers





Minority American League All Star Team



Starting Catcher – VICTOR MARTINEZ, Red Sox











Starting First Baseman - MIGUEL CABRERA, Tigers











Starting Second Baseman – ROBINSON CANO, Yankees











Starting Shortstop – DEREK JETER, Yankees











Starting Third Baseman – ALEX RODRIGUEZ, Yankees











Starting Left Fielder – CARL CRAWFORD, Rays











Starting Center Fielder – TORII HUNTER, Angels











Starting Right Fielder – ICHIRO SUZUKI, Mariners











Starting Pitcher – FELIX HERNANDEZ, Mariners











ADDITIONAL PITCHERS



FAUSTO CARMONA, Indians NEFTALI FELIZ, Rangers GIO GONZALEZ, Athletics FRANCISCO LIRIANO, Twins DAVID PRICE, Rays MARIANO RIVERA, Yankees C. C. SABATHIA, Yankees ERVIN SANTANA, Angels JOAKIM SORIA, Royals RAFAEL SORIANO, Rays



RESERVE PLAYERS



ELVIS ANDRUS, Rangers JOSE BAUTISTA, Blue Jays ADRIAN BELTRE, Red Sox ORLANDO HUDSON, Twins ADAM JONES, Orioles JORGE POSADA, Yankees ALEXI RAMIREZ, White Sox VERNON WELLS, Blue Jays DELMON YOUNG, Twins









All White National League All Star Team



Starting Catcher – BRIAN McCANN, Braves











Starting First Baseman – JOEY VOTTO, Reds











Starting Second Baseman – CHASE UTLEY, Phillies











Starting Shortstop – TROY TULOWITZKI, Rockies











Starting Third Baseman – DAVID WRIGHT, Mets











Starting Left Fielder – MATT HOLLIDAY, Cardinals











Starting Center Fielder – COLBY RASMUS, Cardinals











Starting Right Fielder – HUNTER PENCE, Astros











Starting Pitcher – ROY HALLADAY, Phillies











ADDITIONAL PITCHERS



TIM LINCECUM, Giants ADAM WAINWRIGHT, Cardinals CHRIS CARPENTER, Cardinals JOSH JOHNSON, Marlins TIM HUDSON, Braves MAT LATOS, Padres EVAN MEEK, Pirates BRIAN WILSON, Giants HEATH BELL, Padres BRAD LIDGE, Phillies





RESERVE PLAYERS



COREY HART, Brewers BUSTER POSEY, Giants AUBREY HUFF, Giants DAN UGGLA, Marlins STEPHEN DREW, Diamondbacks RYAN ZIMMERMAN, Nationals RYAN BRAUN, Brewers JAYSON WERTH, Phillies ADAM DUNN, Nationals



Minority National League All Star Team





Starting Catcher – CARLOS RUIZ, Phillies











Starting First Baseman – ALBERT PUJOLS, Cardinals











Starting Second Baseman – BRANDON PHILLIPS, Reds











Starting Shortstop – HANLEY RAMIREZ, Marlins











Starting Third Baseman – PLACIDO POLANCO, Phillies











Starting Left Fielder – MARLON BYRD, Cubs











Starting Center Fielder – MICHAEL BOURN, Astros











Starting Right Fielder – CARLOS GONZALEZ, Rockies











Starting Pitcher – UBALDO JIMENEZ, Rockies











ADDITIONAL PITCHERS



FRANCISCO CORDERO, Reds YOVANI GALLARDO, Brewers JAIME GARCIA, Cardinals LIVAN HERNANDEZ, Nationals HONG-CHIH KUO, Dodgers CARLOS MARMOL, Cubs RICKY NOLASCO, Marlins JONATHAN SANCHEZ, Giants JOHAN SANTANA, Mets



RESERVE PLAYERS



PEDRO ALVAREZ, Pirates ANDRE ETHIER, Dodgers PRINCE FIELDER, Brewers ADRIAN GONZALEZ, Padres JASON HEYWARD, Braves RYAN HOWARD, Phillies OMAR INFANTE, Braves YADIER MOLINA, Cardinals JOSE REYES, Mets JUSTIN UPTON, Diamondbacks









Of the four rosters, I would have to say the Minority American League Roster is the best… 3 legit Cy Young candidates, power from both sides of the plate and a defensive outfield of Crawford, Hunter and Ichiro which would cut down doubles against any team.



Each team has its strengths and weaknesses, but one thing is certain:



Baseball is better with these 4 rosters combined into 2… and I am NOT talking about the Whites of both leagues versus the Minorities.



Once again, we can give thanks to Jackie Robinson, Monte Irvin, Satchel Paige, Larry Doby, Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe for paving the way… lament that Josh Gibson, Judy Johnson, Oscar Charleston and Cool Papa Bell never had their shot… and be happy that we don’t have to wonder what it would be like to see Joe Mauer face Mariano Rivera.



I’m sure Chris Rock would agree.







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