At the height of his career, Jordan could take off from the free-throw line and dunk the basketball. The ever-flamboyant star has also had his run-ins with the law but will go down as a tremendous athlete with a killer nickname. "Babe" Ruth: "The Great Bambino/The Sultan of Swat". This obvious alias comes from the "Wizard of Oz," and is in combination with Smith's shortened first name, "Oz.". Michael Jordan (23) We bet you see this coming. Steelers commentator Myron Cope is responsible for Bettis' legacy as "The Bus," noting a Notre Dame teammates' adjective when calling Bettis "Bussy.". John G. Zimmerman/SI. The best player on the greatest dynasty in professional sports was Bill Russell. LISTING OF PRIMARY NUMBERS IN CAPS; Secondary Numbers in lower case. Michael Jordan's #23. Birth City: Oakville. Source: Getty Images One of the greatest athletes ever, Usain Bolt is popular by the nickname 'Lightning Bolt'. Pro Football Hall of Famers by Jersey Numbers Class of 2004 inductee Bob Brown wore #76 with the Eagles, Rams, and Raiders. Jones owes his alias to his family, who constantly told him he was "A chip-off-the-old-block," in reference to his father. The school's mascot is the Owl and the obvious lack of a vowel letter in his last name was the second half of a legendary nickname. 22: Joey Bats (Jose Bautista) Bautista once did a very funny sketch that was a version of the baseball bat scene in "The Untouchables." Lee Chong Wei. Dan Marino, practically reversed the belief that 13 is an unlucky number. Beginning in March, Tyson will be featured in a six-part series on Animal Planet entitled, "Taking on Tyson." Johnston got his moniker from a teammate on the Dallas Cowboys, Babe Laufenberg, a second-string quarterback. Robinson was a six-time All-Star, World Series Champion, and the 1949 National League MVP. The sports television outlet have come up with a formula that combines endorsements with social media following and the amount of intern Full Site Menu. The defensive back has become known for two things: His "bump-and-run" coverage on receivers that earned him the nickname "Molester" for the brutal way he treated receivers coming off the line of scrimmage and for using Stick 'Em on his hands before the league banned the substance and named the rule after Hayes. It has been said that Floyd actually fell asleep several times during games in his career, and his hooded eyelids certainly didn't help refute the claims. Cocaine usage peaked in the United States 1982 with 10.4 million users. Grange was drafted by, and finished his career with, the Chicago Bears. The best of the bunch is Brown, who is a name from the past. However, it was as a fullback that got him his alias, and it would stick with him long after his playing days were over. Paralympic athletes are a source of hope and optimism for many people. mark reinstein/Shutterstock. Applicants are ranked on creativity, unique jargon and consideration of prominence. Name: Jesse Owens. August 10, 2021 9:00 am. After Milwaukee, Payton played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics and Miami Heat. The Neon legend was born in Tallahassee, where Sanders was a two-time consensus All-America, and a Jim Thorpe . LINK Famous athletes who wore the number 32: 1. Orenthal James was shortened to O.J., which is an acronym shared by "Orange Juice," and there you have it. While most remember him for his playing days in baseball, Williams is also a true American hero, leaving the game twice to enlist in the United States Armed Forces as a Marine Corps pilot. Mario Lemieux is a hero to many hockey fans, but not only because of his contributions to the Pittsburgh Penguins on the ice. He spent 12 years in the NBA with the Charlotte Hornets and New York Knicks. In this sport, Lee Chong Wei sits on the throne. Davis would often cry to his coach, begging the man to let him play with his friends and the coach would say, "stop crying, you big baby!" Jeter was named to fourteen All-Star teams and won the World Series five times during his career with the Bronx Bombers. Right after the Bulls and Michael Jordan won the 1991 NBA title, Gatorade la Hall of Famers by Jersey Number. He appeared in six postseasons with the Dodgers (1949, 195253, 195556, 1959), facing theNew York Yankeesin the first five and theChicago White Soxin the final. Possibly one of the most well-known athletes of all-time, George Herman Ruth could have had his nickname "Babe" included with Tiger Woods, Magic Johnson, and Boomer Esiason, but it was just one of many for the 22 year pitcher turned outfielder. After playing for a minor . 5 - Joe DiMaggio. So, Jordan divided it in half and wore #23. He is a nine-time NBA All-Star, was the NBA scoring champion in 1986 and won two dunk contests (1985, 1990). He also played for the New York Yankees of the American Football League for just one season before they absolved into the NFL. Malone was known for his consistency and durability and for teaming up with a sprightly white guy in short shorts all those years as a member of the Utah Jazz. the bat to Trumper. Poor preparation, missing an important detail, or completely offend a certain segment of the audience. "Sugar" Ray Leonard owes his legendary moniker-alias toSarge Johnson, assistant coach of the U.S. Olympic Boxing Team. The "Golden Bear" moniker given to the famous golfer was the result of Melbourne Age writer Don Lawrencereferring to the "large, strong, and blond" player as the Golden Bear, and the nickname seemed fitting. George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona, David Beckham, and Cristiano Ronaldo have all sported the #7 during their successful exploits with the club. Return to Top; Players. Elway possessed an uncanny ability to lead his teams to victory when they trailed late in games. It has been said that he could run 100 yards in 10 seconds and high jump over six feet. He retired with the most wins of any quarterback in NFL history (which would later be broken by Favre, Brady, and Manning). 6 during his days with the Boston Celtics. He is a two-time NBA MVP and 13-time NBA All-Star selection and is currently ranked second all-time in NBA scoring. The obvious nickname is the third generation of his birth name. Steve Carlton (Philadelphia Phillies) 3. William Wilson received the nickname "Mookie" as a child, when his mother noticed he was having trouble asking her for more "milk.". Jordan is widely considered to be the greatest basketball player of all-time, with six NBA titles, five MVP awards, and fourteen All-Star Game appearances. Elgin Baylor. What was your favorite jersey number that numerous legends wore? "The Great Bambino," "The Sultan of Swat," "The Colossus of Clout," and simply "The Babe," are all references to baseball's greatest legend. In 1993, he signed the most lucrative contract in NBA history (at that time) to play for the Hornets, a 12-year, $84 million deal. Turns out the nickname is a motivational tool to remind Eldrick to fight for his dreams and accomplishments.". Playing for the University ofColoradoBuffaloes in 1994, Kordell Stewart completed a Hail Mary passto beat theUniversity of Michigan27-26, a play known as "The Miracle at Michigan.". 1. 99 for years because of an admiration for the football playerMark Gastineau, who also wore No. His nickname suggests as much, as it is indicative of a man who . It shows that the number 42 signifies a piece of history in baseball. The Nigerian giant stood 7-feet tall and weighed 255 pounds in his playing days. Childhood friend and neighbor, Wilber Hines, said he gave Paige the nickname after he was caught trying to steal a bag. No. 1 1. Athletes have been blessed with some inventive and fun nicknames. Hirsch made his NFL debut for the Chicago Rockets before finishing his career with the Los Angeles Rams. The obvious alliteration is a testament to his power-hitting prowess and home run tally as a player. Here are the nicknames of some of the other Olympians. This is a list of sportspeople with nicknames. Emmitt Smith. Players could put whatever name they wanted back there, and Smart's "He Hate Me" was the best of them all. Seriously, the man eclipsed Rosie O'Donnell. (Trivia time: Which Buls player wore No. Di Maria will be the next to carry on the tradition associated with the #7 at Man U. Wayne Gretzky, the greatest hockey player of all time, can easily be identified by his #99. Moses Malone . As if the Venezuelan pitcher needs any more names,Garcs' tongue-in-cheek nickname is a poke at his stature, and friends and teammates commonly refer to him by his moniker. Baseball stars have had success with the number as well with Don Mattingly, Ryne Sandberg, and Zach Greinke thriving with the number 23 in . Jeffries boxed in a time where blacks were heavily persecuted, and "The Great White Hope" was a moniker for his desire to destroy all blacks with his boxing abilities. He is also one of the most dominant. In true legendary boxer style, Ali gave himself the nickname "The Greatest," but also deserves it. ", "Welcome Home Kovy: Alex(ei) Kovalev Wins It in a Shootout", "Rusty Kanokogi Receives Award of Distinction from Japan Women's Sports Foundation", "Soundcheck: Bam Margera: Jackass/international Celebrity", "Gebrselassie and Ndereba supreme over 15km in Melbourne", "Athletics: Bekele ready to shred the record books More Sports, Sport", "Top 10 sports scams cheating and great sport scandals", "China News Headlines | Hong Kong's premier newspaper online", "Female Pro Athlete Christine Wellington", "Sand supremacy: Misty, Kerri defend title", "Chinese Sporting Beauties Remain Single > PROFILES > SPORTSWOMEN", "Legendary yachtsman 'Biltong' Bertie Reed dies Mail & Guardian Online: The smart news source", "Mr Stanley John "Bertie" REED (Profile) Who's Who of Southern Africa", "Features Landing Page | features.boats.com", "'Baltimore Bullet' has history in his sights", "AFP: Aussie coach sells training program secrets to China report", https://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=/archive/1999/01/16/somott16.html, "Bowling: Iron Lady Wendy still has fire in her belly", "Trinity reflex: The "Magic" returns | Radio Control Car Action | Find Articles at BNET", "Hong Kong News Headlines | Hong Kong's premier newspaper online", "/ online", " ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_sportspeople_with_nicknames&oldid=1139509378, Lists of people with nickname by occupation, Articles with German-language sources (de), Pages with login required references or sources, All articles with bare URLs for citations, Articles with bare URLs for citations from March 2022, Articles with PDF format bare URLs for citations, Articles with dead external links from June 2016, Articles with dead external links from January 2018, Articles with permanently dead external links, Articles with dead external links from January 2017, Articles with dead external links from November 2009, Articles with dead external links from July 2021, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing Japanese-language text, Articles containing Spanish-language text, Articles containing Afrikaans-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, "Mo Santa" (Portuguese for "Holy Hand") =, This page was last edited on 15 February 2023, at 14:20. Sometimes just called Michael "Air" Jordan, the greatest basketball player to ever live has been called many other things as well. The world's 50 highest-paid athletes collected an astounding $2.97 billion before taxes and agents' fees over the last 12 months, smashing last year's record total by 8%more than $200 . Although he personally disliked the nickname, Wooden became known as the "Wizard of Westwood" during his days as UCLA basketball head coach, where he was noted for turning troubled athletes into upstanding stars. Hayes earned many nicknames during his playing days, such as "The Judge" and his self-proclaimed "Jedi" alias for his pre-Super Bowl XVIII quotes stating he was "The only true Jedi in the NFL" (Star Wars was immensely popular in the late '70s and early '80s). Venus and Serena Williams. Author: SI Staff. Maravich earned his nickname in high school, from his habit of shooting the ball from his hip, as if firing a revolver. The nickname stuck throughout his career and separated his fairly common name from the rest of the herd. As far as nicknames go, this one isn't much fun, but at least it's better than "Baby Shaq.". Jon Lieber (Chicago Cubs) 7. Jeter was the cornerstone of the Yankees during their tremendous success in the 1990s and 2000s. Steve Nash - Jackson is No. This list rewards creativity, and while Ali is the greatest boxer ever, his nickname isn't the most creative moniker in sports. Boyd played parts of nine seasons in the majors, and compiled a career 78-77 record, with 799 strikeouts. 15: Carlos Beltran. These individuals are synonymous with these names and will always remember their playing days and the monikers we used to make them legends of the lingo. Deion Sanders dazzled the nation as he high stepped into the end zone after interceptions and punt returns, frustrating football purists and giving birth to the moniker Prime Time. Along with Aaron's power, his longevity also is worth noting. Still yet another story says he was named "Satchel" simply for the immense size of his feet, looking like two satchel bags on the end of his ankles. Before these famous images went viral, Oscar De La Hoya was boxing's "Golden Boy," a heavy-hitter with a squeaky-clean image. 31.April (Latin origin) meaning "open". News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. In the postseason, no one is more dominant in baseball than Jeter. Just the mere mention of "The Great One" in reference to hockey brings memories of nearly 900 goals and a memorable trade that landed the hockey star in Los Angeles. He plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League and has been the team's captain since 2013.His record list includes the fastest century by an Indian . A 7'1" tree with more nicknames than points per game (4.0 career average), Joel Przybilla is a force to be reckoned with; if mostly in the Name Hall of Fame. Glen Davis was a big kid. The legendary coach lived to be 99-years-old, passing away last June. "The Owl Without A Vowel" only played one season in the NBA with the Philadelphia Warriors (now the Golden State Warriors), but the nickname has stuck with him ever since college. He played professional football in the NFL with theAtlanta Falcons(19891993),San Francisco 49ers(1994),Dallas Cowboys(19951999),Washington Redskins(2000) andBaltimore Ravens(20042005). These two sisters dominate women's tennis, changing the sport from one of finesse and skill into one characterizing violent power. Comment below!JOIN THE TOTALPROSPORTS TEAM and SUBSCRIBE! Ryan recorded 5,714 strikeouts, 324 wins and a TKO of Robin Ventura in his 27-year career. Manager Alfred Lawson chose to put numbers on his teams jerseys in order for fans to easily identify each of th. 2 2. WIZARDS OF CRICKET. In many other sports, numbers of club legends are retired from use and placed in the rafters to be revered by generations of fans. In less than a decade, both MLB catchers will be Hall of Fame members. The Team clue is for the team that that athlete is most notable for while wearing the #23, not their current teams. It's one of the more unique and popular nicknames of the modern era.". Eighty-eight years ago this week, the New York Yankees became the first professional sports team to permanently wear numbers on their uniforms. He collided with teammate Tim Raines, and other teammates shouted, "You're a big unit.". At every turn, Ronaldo has succeeded and proved to be the best. The legend became the Baseball Hall of Famer in 1962. From Quiz: American Sports Nicknames. He was also the second most prolific passer in NFL history, with 51,475 career passing yards, despite only leading the NFL in passing yardage once. He stood 6'-and-a-half inches tall and weighed 225 lbs, a very large size in his time. Truly the champion of the nickname, Ruth is also the symbol of achievement in our nation's greatest past-time. Seriously? He has worn the iconic #7 for Manchester United as well as the Portuguese National Team and his current club Real Madrid. The multi-sport star was perhaps one of the biggest self-promoters the sports world has ever seen but also a very talented individual. Indiana Pacers ( 19) New York Knicks ( 19) Milwaukee Bucks ( 22, 23) Don May. . This May, he earned his second UEFA Champions League title and scored in the Final against Atletico Madrid. He amazed hockey fans from the moment he stepped onto the ice with the Edmonton Oilers in 1978. Hall of Fame linebacker got the nickname Mad Stork for his gangly frame (6-7, 220-pounds). Douglas, standing at 5' 2", also won . Jones is said to have 106 sacks unofficially and is one of the most notorious pass-rushers in the history of the game. White was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006 and was a 13-time Pro Bowl selection. He pitched parts of 11 seasons with theMinnesota Twins(1990,1993),Florida Marlins(1995),Chicago Cubs(1995) andBoston Red Sox(1996-2002). If pressed to name a national sport, Malaysians would say "badminton.". . Very few athletes have earned their nickname quite like Dominique Wilkins. His tall and skinny build makes him look like a satchel tree. He began to garner the nickname "Iron" for his toughness and seemingly total resistance to go down. He played in the NFL as well as the NBL . He added an "H" to his name later in his career in homage to his Muslim faith. His other famous nickname, "The Yankee Clipper," also deserves a mention on the countdown. Lemieux also overcame Hodgkins Lymphoma, which caused him to miss the entire 1994-95 season. the sword to D'Artagnan . 7 - Mickey . Either way, the nickname is very fitting of one of the most dominant strike-out pitchers the game has ever seen. In modern sports, athletes are valuable assets that are the centerpiece of advertising campaigns and the faces of their organizations. As far as boxing nicknames are concerned, "The Executioner" isn't very imaginative but still intimidating. The long red locks flowing from his helmet while he seems impenetrable by gravity seems to make this nickname non-inventive, but still a perfect fit. When he was not allowed to play with his friends on the peewee team due to his size, he was told he must play with older kids. Also called "Golden Joe"and "Comeback Joe," Joe Montana earned his nickname for his ability to stay calm under pressure and come through in the clutch with key passes and throwing accuracy. He built a contraption out of poles that allowed him to carry more bags than his co-workers. In 21 total fights, Jeffries had 18 victories and 14 knockouts, with just one loss and two draws. https://goo.gl/tX6CcK-~-~~-~~. Likewise, his relationship with his father remains strong; therefore when Chipper was progressing through the ranks of baseball, he decided to keep the name. "The Human Highlight Film" has got to be one of the coolest nicknames in sport and it was perfect for Dominique Wilkins. (Featuring @ann76 as Author)", "Wereldtitel Van Dijk met Specialized-Lululemon", "March 31, 2007 Sarasota Herald Tribune article", United States Olympic Committee document confirming Harris's first name (page.44 *.pdf file. The Galloping Ghost was also a film star, appearing in two silent films in the mid-'20s. Gender: Male. "When he joined the Cubs, his extravagant wind-up and release and his frequent wild pitches inspiredWrigley Fieldorganists to playThe Troggs'Wild Thingas he came out of the bullpen. Rickey Henderson. Jim Thorpe. Most recently, Suarez brought the shirt some disgrace with his on-field antics, but he also helped Liverpool mount their best title challenge in over a decade. The nickname seems to describe his abilities perfectly, and Jordan and the moniker are now inseparable. Elway played all sixteen seasons with the Denver Broncos wearing the #7. The term has become synonymous with small stature, which Reese also had. . Payton's defense is the stuff of NBA legend. Jackson was also a prolific hitter, and many historians feel he could have broken several records had he not been banned from baseball after the 1920 season. Kukowas a member of the Chicago Bulls dynasty of the late '90s, where he gained his nickname for his superb play and country of origin. > All Players To Wear Number 23. Oh yeah, he also played basketball for five NBA teams in 15 years and won four NBA championships with three different teams. Wayne Gretzky is widely considered the best hockey player ever to play the game, in the same conversations with Gordie Howe and Brett Hull. LeBron James's net worth 2018 is around $485 million. But who makes it into Australia-only top 10? He was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his nine NFL seasons, led the league in rushing eight times, and earned four MVP awards. He was part of the Brazilian national teams that won three World Cup championships (1958, 1962, and 1970). Plummer is currently a racquetball champion in his native Idaho and was recently interviewed and quoted as saying he loves his life in his small town. However, "His Airness" seems to be the most creative, citing his incredible leaping ability. BATS THAT THEY HAVE WIELDED E. MAYNE'S PRICELESS COLLECTION The Stradivarius to Kreisler . Fisk held the MLB record for games played at the catcher position (2,226) until Rodriguez broke it in 2009 with the Texas Rangers. Johnson was first dubbed "Magic" while playing Everett High School high as a 15-year-old sophomore. One look at the high-flying X-Games star, and it's easy to see why he is called "The Flying Tomato.". 32 and 34 for the first 17 of his 19 NBA seasons, before adopting No. Lists of nicknames - nickname list articles on Wikipedia 99. Although Williams' long mullet locks are long gone, the moniker follows him wherever he goes. While playing on youth baseball teams, Andre would attack the ball like a hawk, while teammates would shy away. Kansas City-Omaha Kings ( 75) Jerry McKee. But those come from the big four traditional sports: baseball, football, basketball and hockey. He has a career batting average of .356 and 1,772 hits. Gretzky won four Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers during the 1980s, before he was dealt in a blockbuster deal to the Los Angeles Kings. Toggle the table of contents . "The Mailman always delivers" was the phrase that followed Malone from his college days until the end of his career and beyond. Alexander Karelin (Wrestling)- The . Players carefully cultivate their public images in order to maximize their value on and off the field of play. 5 Best players to wear No. He won two NBA titles with the Houston Rockets and was the NBA MVP in 1994, also with the Rockets. Bryant would grow up to be one of the most prominent figures in college sports and one of the most successful coaches in college football history, winning six national titles. The running back/receiver was a three-time Pro Bowl selection and named to the NFL 1950s All-Decade Team. Sometimes, the new moniker comes from an inside joke with . The league quirky tweaks of NFL rules, including a mad dash to midfield to gain possession of the ball, rather than a kickoff. Carry on with the slideshow, and impress your friends with your newfound street cred. "Joltin' " refers to his speed and ability to get a jump on the ball off the bat in the outfield and his smart baserunning abilities. The wily pitcher was a fan favorite despite his volatile personality, and his moniker is indicative of his aggressive pitching style. He became known as "The Ryan Express" when he came into games because of his fastball that easily topped 100 mph on a routine basis. Wilkins earned his alias with gravity-defying dunks and prolific scoring. Hardaway was a four-time NBA All-Star, two-time NBA first team selection and NBA All-Rookie first team selection (1994). Cristiano Ronaldos image is inseparable from his favored #7. There are those names that just seemsoright. 4 - Lou Gehrig by a sliver over Bobby Orr. He holds the world record for 100 metres, 200 metres and 4 100 metres relay and is the only sprinter to win Olympic 100 m and 200 m titles at three consecutive Olympics (2008, 2012 and 2016). This nickname is clever, scores big points for rhyming with the name and personifies Holyfield to the fullest. application of binomial distribution in civil engineering eames replica lounge chair review eames replica lounge chair review At nine years old, Davis was already 5'6" tall and weighed 160 lbs. 5. For most of his career, Jordan sported the #23, except for one season during which he donned #45 after his return from retirement. The injury was a blessing in disguise, actually giving him an edge on the mound. Venus Williams has seven grand slam titles, of which 5 are at Wimbledon, making her one of the best in the game. McCovey got his nickname from his slender-but-tall build. However, he only made one broadway appearance, covered here by Wikipedia: "he made his only appearance on Broadway as a cast replacement in a revival ofThe Caine Mutiny Court Martial. Rodman earned his moniker with aggressive and often over-the-top defense. 6. Can you imagine trying to pass through airport security with his full name on a passport? 23 in NBA history. Surprisingly, no one calls him "Kazaam," but that could be because they are afraid of being sit on by a 7'1", 325 lb man. The styleearned him the nickname "Crazy Legs.". Whether they describe physical appearance, a catch phrase, or an extreme and unique ability, these nicknames follow their host, even beyond the grave. The nickname given to Camacho seems born out of synergy, contained in, and rhyming with, his last name. The tall glass of water is a solid shooter, and therefore, the gun jokes just flow. In related news, the US Congress prosecuted a rocket for perjury for the first time in history. Joe was never a stranger to the media, providing plenty of quotes and controversy in his days, and "Broadway Joe" seems fitting despite the limited experience in actual theatre. He followed that up by winning the same titles in the European Athletics Championships in 2014. He hit 40 or more home runs in five consecutive seasons (195357) and averaged 42 home runs, 124RBI, 123 runs and a .320 batting average between 1953-1956. When he recorded atriple-doubleof 36points, 18reboundsand 16assists. Penny has attributed his successes in life to his grandma, who raised him up as a child while his mother was away working. Aside from the final stop of his football career in Baltimore, he wore #21 for his other four teams. While Wilt's playing career and infamous personal dealings with women are the stuff of legend, his nickname seems a little weak for his accolades. Wooden disapproved so mightily of individual achievement, he wouldn't even allow his players to dunk the ball. Either way, the nickname stuck, as did the movie. Is it still cool to diss her or is it too far gone now? However, Newton underwent verticalgastrectomy,in February 2010,a surgical operation that removes up to 75 percent of a patient's stomach and staples the remainder. Was the famous number 23 of the Chicago Bulls? Full list of Olympic athletes, including Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka and Michael Phelps. 23 Other. The name stuck throughout Rich Gossage's playing days, and he is affectionately known by the moniker to this day. He was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987, with 76.27 percent of the vote, just over the necessary 75 percent to qualify. Rodman embraced the nickname and fed off the hype. Newton once weighed as much as 400 pounds and was said to be even bigger than William "The Fridge" Perry, therefore earning him the nickname "The Kitchen.". Johnston was also the first fullback ever elected to the Pro Bowl, a position officially recognized by the NFL because of Johnston's efforts as a blocker and occasional runner. Jackie Robinson passed away on October 24, 1972, at age 53. The left-handed hitting slugger is the current face of the Boston Red Sox franchise and spent many years in a potent lineup with Manny Ramirez. 50 - Jamie Moyer One of the most flammable pitchers in the league in his 20s, Moyer looked like he might wash out of baseball after spending the .