The Southpaw

Casey Stengel's All-Time All-Stars

In 1961, Casey Stengel wrote an "as told to" article for the Saturday Evening Post, and it includes two highlights: his All-Time All-Stars (from 1912, when he played his first major league game, to 1960), and his All-Star Yankee Squad (from 1949-60).

Here you go:

Stengel's All-Time National League All-Star Squad (1912-1960)

First Base
Bill Terry
Johnny Mize

Second Base
Rogers Hornsby
Jackie Robinson

Shortstop
Hans Wagner
Ernie Banks
Glenn Wrighht

Third Base
Frank Frisch
Pie Traynor

Left Field
Stan Musial
Zach Wheat

Center Field
Willie Mays
Edd Roush
Duke Snider

Right Field
Paul Waner

Catcher
Gabby Hartnett
Roy Campanella
Ernie Lombardi

Pitcher
Grover Alexander
Christy Mathewson
Carl Hubbell
Dizzy Dean
Warren Spahn
Ed Reulbach
Dazzy Vance

AL and Yankee Squads after the jump

Top 10 Joe Schultz Quotes

Middle of winter, icy rain coming down, and as usual Ball Four provides me with some baseball comfort -- and lots of laughs. It's remarkable, when you think about how businesslike today's game is, to consider just how loose and informal Pilots manager Joe Schultz was with his players in 1969, which, to me at least, wasn't all that long ago.

While perusing Ball Four this year, I decided to focus particularly on Schultz's wit and wisdom, and after gathering some quotes, ranked them. You may disagree with my ranking. But I hope you'll laugh.

The 10 list follows after the jump.

The Most Influential Americans -- Jackie Robinson and Babe Ruth

In the Dec. 2006 issue, The Atlantic lists the 100 Most Influential Americans. Only two athletes are on the list: Jackie Robinson, who ranks 35th, and Babe Ruth, who ranks 75th. (No Muhammad Ali.)

The Atlantic, on Robinson, who's sandwiched between Jonas Salk and William Jennings Bryan: "He broke baseball’s color barrier and embodied integration’s promise."

On Ruth, who's preceded by Brigham Young and followed by Frank Lloyd Wright: "He saved the national pastime in the wake of the Black Sox scandal—and permanently linked sports and celebrity."