Tonight the Giants start a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves. To mark the occasion, I’ve utilized Baseball-Reference’s multi-franchise tool and compiled a team out of the guys who played for both the Braves and the Giants. In the case of the two teams, they’ve shared 248 players. I whittled it down to a 25-man roster. I judged players on the strength of their peaks or whole careers, not necessarily how well they did in either Boston/Milwaukee/Atlanta or New York/San Francisco.
Starting Lineup:
C – Ernie Lombardi
1B – Orlando Cepeda
2B – Rogers Hornsby
SS – Dave Bancroft
3B – Darrell Evans
LF – Bob Elliott
CF – Kenny Lofton
RF – Felipe Alou
This lineup is pretty solid. Rogers Hornsby alienated everyone he ever had anything to do with, so he only played for the Giants in 1927, after which they traded him to the Braves, where he lasted one season before being traded to the Cubs. Despite his poor defense, you have to take him over Eddie Stanky, who still makes our bench.
Bench:
SS – Al Dark
3B/OF – Sid Gordon
C – Walker Cooper
IF – Red Schoendienst
OF – Brett Butler
IF – Eddie Stanky
Backing up the lineup is a strong bench. One could argue that Butler should start instead of Alou, but I like Alou’s arm, rather than Butler’s, in right. Also, Orlando Cepeda better not get hurt.
Brave Tim Hudson leaves the mound during a game in San Francisco, May 10, 2013 (courtesy Associated Press)
Two Hall-of-Famers top a good rotation. And look at Tim Hudson, whom I wasn’t expecting to include! He’s actually had a better career than Johnny Antonelli, Jesse Barnes, and other Giants-Braves players I thought I’d see in this rotation.
Bullpen:
There’s another Hall-of-Famer, which makes for three on the pitching staff. This is an excellent bullpen with strong arms able to come in and help out if any of the guys in our rotation were to stumble.
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