As we approach the start of another January, I am reminded of one of my favorite episodes of the sitcom. Seinfeld. Entitled “The Millennium”, the plot focused on the competition between Kramer and Newman to attract people to their respective New Year’s parties.
Although Newman was frequently the antagonist of the series, he was actually worth supporting in this particular episode. After all, his very name makes him the most worthy to throw a New Year’s Eve party.
If baseball were played at that particular time of year, multiple players could form a team based solely on their names. Here’s what that list would look like, made up of guts whose name includes the syllable “pronounced new.”
Pitcher: Hal Newhouser
Outside of his last two years with the Cleveland Indians, the Hall of Fame left-hander spent his entire career with the Detroit Tigers. He won back-to-back MVP awards in 1944 and 1945, racking up 54 wins in that short span. He ended up with over two hundred career wins from him and led the American League in wins four times.
Pitcher: Don Newcombe
After winning Rookie of the Year and five All-Star appearances, the legendary pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers won not only the Cy Young Award in 1956, but also the National League Most Valuable Player Award.
Pitcher: Bobo Newsom
Bobo pitched for nine teams, primarily with the Washington Senators and St. Louis Browns from the 1930s through 1950s. He achieved the rare feat of not only winning over two hundred games, but also losing over two hundred.
Receiver: Sam Agnew
He spent the second decade of the 20th century splitting his time between the Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Browns, finishing as runner-up in the AL MVP category after hitting .312 in 1915.
First baseman: Jeff Newman
An All-Star who hit more than twenty home runs for the A’s in 1979, Newman also played catcher and spent his final two seasons with the Boston Red Sox.
Second Base: Al Newman
Beloved by Minnesota fans for the two World Series titles he helped bring to the Metrodome, Newman became a Twins coach long after retiring.
Shortstop: Skeeter Newsome
Skeeter played for the Philadelphia and Boston Red Sox teams during the 1930s and 1940s, when he received strong consideration for Most Valuable Player in 1943 and again in 1945.
Third Base: Eduardo Nunez
One of the most versatile players in the majors today, he became a star in Minnesota before the Giants acquired him for their pennant run in 2016.
Right field: Warren Newson
He played with the White Sox and Rangers throughout the 1990s, including back-to-back seasons in which he hit double figures for home runs.
Center Garden: David Newham
A total of five teams used the versatile athlete during the early part of this century, and his best season was when he hit .315 for the Baltimore Orioles.
Left field: Marc Newfield
He played for three teams in the 1990s, enjoying his best season in 1996. That year he hit double figures in home runs, an encouraging enough performance that the Brewers gave up slugger Greg Vaughn for him.
