Red Tin Noodles

Eddie Collins’ teams were series champions six times.
Once was with the "Black Sox," but he was absolved of crimes.

Eddie Bressoud played both coasts for Giants, then back east,
Traded to the Red Sox for Don Buddin, fielding beast.

Gates Brown played thirteen years with Tigers, famous for pinch hits.
Got series ring and coached seven more years, then called it quits.

Hideki Irabu left Japan to be a Yank.
Pitched three years there, won two rings, then went into the tank.

"Babe" Danzig played six games for Red Sox in nineteen-oh-nine.
Had two hits in thirteen at bats, died young: life is unkind.

Bob Hendley threw a one-hitter with Cubs, his claim to fame.
Unfortunately lost, to Sandy Koufax perfect game.

Phil Garner, in his playing days, was oft considered brash.
He won one ring and managed, but is known for his mustache.

Joe Strain played infield just three years, as Giant, then as Cub.
His Wikipedia bio’s so short it’s called a "stub."

Ed Charles, while with the K.C. A’s, had quite a rookie year.
But playing third for sixty-nine Mets capped off his career.

Luis Aparicio, best shortstop of his day,
Won gold gloves and one series ring, from Venezuela way.

Tom House, bespectacled reliever, known more for his coaching tips than saves,
Caught Hank Aaron’s record homer, standing in the bullpen for the Braves.

Ron Washington, in seven years, has guided Rangers to the series twice.
Emotional, the manager admits once having cocaine as a vice.

Tom Sturdivant twice won sixteen in Yankee pennant seasons,
Then bounced around for several years; arm troubles were the reasons.

Pedro Ramos lasted fifteen years of righty tosses.
With Senators and Twins he lead the league four times in losses.

Tom Browning, good Reds lefty, had a ring and perfect game.
He broke his arm while pitching, career-ending, quite a shame.

Barry Larkin, nineteen years a shortstop for the Reds,
Made the Hall, now oft is one of baseball’s talking heads.

Rogers Hornsby twice won triple crowns and MVP’s.
"The Rajah’s" personality, however, failed to please.

Enos Slaughter’s ‘mad dash’ home won Cards a series ring.
In long career, he won three more, a "Country" king of bling.

Willie Upshaw played first base for Jays and Cleveland, too.
He’s all time home run leader whose last name begins with "U.’

Chris Carpenter pitched good years for the Cards and won a Cy.
He won two rings, but had to hang it up, an injured guy.

Sal "The Barber" Maglie pitched for all three New York teams.
His close-shave brushback pitches gave good hitters some bad dreams.

Virgil "Fire" Trucks threw blazing fastballs just like flames.
Threw two no-hitters in a year when he lost nineteen games.

Amos Otis roamed the Royals’ pasture many seasons.
His stats were good. Perhaps his corked bat was one of the reasons.

Mike Scott, Astros’ big right-hander, fooled many a hitter.
His career took off when Roger Craig taught him the splitter.

"Pop" Lloyd, the greatest shortstop in Negro league history,
Is in the baseball Hall of Fame, his average: three-four-three.

Fred Haney played just seven years, is not well known for them.
He gained his fame as Braves skipper and then Angels’ G.M.

Lew Krausse came up when just eighteen, a righty for the A’s.
He had one good year, fought with Finley: goodbye playing days.

Tony Phillips played for eighteen years in six positions.
Five years he topped a hundred walks, made good strike zone decisions.

Omar Vizquel had fielding skills no shortstop could approach.
He once won nine straight gold gloves. Now he’s a Tiger coach.

"Chipper" Jones, a lifelong Brave, is destined for the Hall.
His switch-hit stats rank him amongst the best in all baseball.

Bill Singer was a righty slinger, mostly on the coast.
Won twenty twice and had a no-no, of which he can boast.

Carlos Beltran has a great post-season history,
Despite an NLCS series-ending called strike three.

Harry Coveleski’s pitching record wasn’t great.
Was called "The Giant Killer" for his exploits in oh-eight.

Jim Bottomley was so upbeat that "Sunny" was his name.
He still co-holds the record for most ribbies in a game.

Warren Spahn amassed more wins than any lefty, ever.
A longtime Brave with high leg kick, he was both fast and clever.

Andruw Jones won ten gold gloves for Braves in center field.
He’s still a DH in Japan, will bend but will not yield.

Mickey Vernon, two-time bat champ, played a slick first base,
Loved by Senators and fans, though often in last place.

John Orsino was a catcher whose stats were so-so.
Ten years after playing days he became a golf pro.

David Clyde, whose career died of shoulder injury,
Pitched just five years, a burned-out phenom now his legacy.

Terry Francona played for five teams over ten seasons.
Gained fame as Bosox manager, two series wins the reasons.

Joe McCarthy helmed the Yanks from Babe up to The Clipper.
Bomber bats and pennant runs made him a happy skipper.

Gary Peters, savvy lefty, pitched for both White and Red Sox.
Also hit nineteen home runs, a menace in the batter’s box.

Jesse Orosco has two rings and many accolades.
He pitched more games than anyone and lasted four decades.

Ken Caminiti, when on steroids, blew up like a moose.
He won one N.L. MVP, but lost to drug abuse.

Preston Gomez was called Pedro, down in Cuban climes.
Here he managed three teams, six years, finished last four times.

Tommy Hutton could have hit two-fifty were he faster.
Played good first for several years then became a broadcaster.

Milt Wilcox was a good third starter, Tigers ’84.
Won seventeen in season and in playoffs won two more.

Don Mattingly was dubbed by Yankee fans, "Donnie Baseball."
He never made the playoffs. And he’ll never make the Hall.

Bucky Walters pitched the Reds to series victory.
In thirty-nine, he was sublime, the N.L. MVP.

Harry Craft played until service called in forty-two.
Became first manager of Colts and, later, Astros, too.

Rick Miller broke in with the Sox and then came back again.
But center field was given to a kid named Freddie Lynn.

Frank Viola, with the Twins, won series MVP.
And next year won Cy Young award, a crafty lefty he.

"Wahoo" Crawford was a slugger in the dead ball age.
Top-ten hitter of all time, according to one gauge.

Duffy Lewis roamed the left field cliff at Fenway Park.
His team won three series and he often was the spark.

Von McDaniel lost control after his rookie year.
His older brother, Lindy, had a very long career.

Jim Eisenreich’s Tourette’s syndrome made baseball life a strain.
He persevered for fifteen years, a hero, it is plain.

Alexander Cartwright wrote the early rules of play.
But credit, as inventor, went to Abner Doubleday.

"Cap" Anson may have been the first superstar of the game.
But gambling and his racist bent have long since soiled his name.

Solly Hemus was a battler. He could give and take it.
Not too wise, he told Bob Gibson he would never make it.

Marquis Grissom hit in fifteen straight world series games.
Yet, in lists of his time’s stars, he’s not amongst the names.

Paul Waner was "Big Poison" and his brother Lloyd was "Little."
He holds a record, fourteen straight games with extra base hittle.

"Dutch Leonard" had the lowest single season ERA.
He feuded with Ty Cobb, as did most players in his day.

Jim Lonborg made Sox dream come true with Cy Young victory.
He could have had a long career, but he preferred to ski.

Bob Montgomery, backup backstop, career BoSock Red,
Was the last to bat without a helmet on his head.

John Stephenson played ten years but not many know his name.
He pinch hit the last out in Jim Bunning’s perfect game.

Jeff Bittiger won just four games, an unimpressive stat.
He did, however, hit a homer in his first at bat.

Wes Chamberlain got into one World Series as a Phil.
Got traded to the Red Sox when he was over the hill.

Doug Strange is strange in that he went ten years with little trace.
Though in the field it could be said he played most every place.