24 is my favorite number. I wore it throughout my college and high school baseball career as my favorite player, Miguel Cabrera wore it. As I got older I started to realize that just about every player that wore 24 is really good at baseball, so let's take those players that wore 24 for a majority of their time as a big leaguer and make a team out of them.
Starting Pitcher - Early Wynn
Not only does our starting pitcher have a dope ass name, but he is also a Hall of Famer with a Cy Young award and 300 career wins on the dot. Only real Cleveland Indians fans remember the 3 headed pitching monster of Bob Feller, Bob Lemon, and Early Wynn of the 1950's. Hopefully Early can get us the win.
Relief Pitcher - Andrew Miller
Finding a reliever that wore the number 24 was maybe the hardest thing I have done in a long time. Finding a good reliever was even harder. Andrew Miller came to save the day and relieve me of finding a relief pitcher. Miller was a great post season pitcher and was one of the better lefty relievers in the last 20 years.
Catcher - Gary Sanchez
This is by far the slimmest of pickings out of any position. For some reason catcher's do not like to wear the number 24. Maybe that's why my catchers career ended before it even started. Gary is a 2 time all star and might be the worst defensive catcher in baseball history. Hopefully we do not need to rely on him to make a big play.
First Base - Tony Pérez
Another Hall of Famer on the line up card. Tony Pérez was a key piece to the Big Red Machine for the 1970's Cincinnati reds. And who could forget that Tony was part of the 1983 Phillies team, the Wheeze Kids when he was at the ripe age of 41. Tony is going to be holding down the fort at first base.
Second Base - Robinson Cano
Robinson Cano was really good at baseball. Like really really good. Like winning 2 Gold Gloves and 5 Silver Sluggers before he was 30 type of good. He was still consistent in his mid to late 30's, but then he got traded to the Mets, and then he did steroids. Now he plays in the Mexican and Dominican leagues and just tears it up down there. But he can tear it up for our #24 team.
Third Base - Miguel Cabrera
You wanna talk about a first ballot Hall of Fame player. Here ya go. 2 MVP's a Triple Crown, 3,000 hits, 500 home runs, and a career batting average above .300. This guy just does it all. Such a consistent and impactful player, Miguel Cabrera simply put, could hit a god damn baseball. Not to mention he received MVP votes every single year he played from 2003-2015. That's longer than Sandy Koufax's entire career.
Shortstop - Dick Groat
There is a lot of low hanging jokes here, but I am just not going to say them. Get it, low hanging, his name is Dick, low hanging Dick. Ok, I am done now. Mr. Groat was a 1 time MVP when he led the league in batting average in 1960. Which was also the year he led the Pittsburgh Pirates to a World Series title. He was an absolute vacuum at shortstop, leading the league in put outs multiple times.
Left Field - Rickey Henderson
RIP in peace right off of the bat. Get it, bat, I am talking baseball, there are bats in baseball, right off of the bat. Ok, I am actually done now. Rickey, in his own words, is the greatest of all time. Swiping bags, hitting home runs, this guy will bring the electricity to our team that is very much needed.
Center Field - Willie Mays
Who else but the Say Hey Kid could hold down center field for the all #24 team. He is in some peoples eyes the Greatest of all time, sometimes referred to as the GOAT. There is really not a whole lot else to be said about Willie Mays. If Willie Mays Hayes wore 24, he might be on this list instead, but Willie Mays will do just fine.
Right Field - Ken Griffey Jr
You know what might be better than the Say Hey Kid, The Kid. If Ken Griffey Jr had a body not made of glass once he turned 30, then he might've broke just about every record that there was to break in baseball. The Kid is a cultural icon of the 90's. Maybe the first modern superstar of baseball. No one wore their hat backwards until Griffey started doing it.
Designated Hitter - Manny Ramirez
Manny Ramirez could not field for shit, but oh baby could he hit the shit out of a baseball. His 165 RBIs in a single season is the most since the 1950s. His undeniable swagger is also all time as here he is taking his batting gloves off before his home run has even landed.
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And that is todays Tea, with T
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