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Baseball name synchronicity


Here is a little something that has been nagging at me for awhile. Perhaps it's been nagging at you (but not likely).

When former Giants and Phillies pitcher Al Holland arrived in the major leagues in the late '70s, he was the first MLB player with the last name of Holland since a guy named Bill Holland pitched three games for the Senators in 1939.

OK, not that weird, right?


But, to me, this is.

Since 2010, there have been two pitchers in the major leagues with the last name of Holland. And they're not related.

Derek Holland, who is from Ohio, and Greg Holland, who is from North Carolina, are the first Hollands to appear in the majors since Al Holland exited in 1986. It's the largest "Holland epidemic" since the 1930s when there were a handful of marginal players with that name.

And these two Hollands showed up at basically the same time (Derek in '09 and Greg in '10).

OK, maybe still not that weird for you.

How about this?


Tigers pitcher Michael Fulmer, who made his big league debut in 2016 was the first Fulmer to appear in the majors since way back in the 1880s when a couple of guys named Chris and Chip Fulmer played for a few years.

Sure, there was Brad Fullmer about 15 years ago, but he spells his name with two Ls.

And, that's a minor detail because I'm too busy being baffled by this:


White Sox pitcher Carson Fulmer also made his big league debut in 2016. So both Carson and Michael -- not related -- are the first Fulmers to show up in major league baseball in 125 years and THEY SHOW UP IN THE SAME YEAR AND BOTH ARE PITCHERS???

Does this blow anyone else's mind?

Here is another one that has amazed me for years. And once again it involves a couple of pitchers.


Tim Stoddard was called up to the major leagues for the first time in 1975. He had a few scattered appearances in '78 but made his mark in 1979 with the AL champion Orioles.

Then in 1981, with Tim Stoddard still pitching for the Orioles, Bob Stoddard makes his pitching debut with the Mariners.

THEY ARE THE ONLY STODDARDS TO PLAY IN THE MAJORS!

THEY ARE NOT RELATED.

Tim Stoddard, who grew up in East Chicago, Indiana, played until the 1989 season. Bob Stoddard, who grew up in the San Jose area, played until 1987.

For seven glorious and weird years, there were two pitchers named Stoddard and it had never happened before or has since.

There has to be a name for this phenomenon.

And if there isn't, I'm coming up with something.

Comments

Brett Alan said…
Here's one I came across recently as I finish my virtual Frankenset project. There have been two players in the entire history of baseball with the first name Marlon: Marlon Anderson and Marlon Byrd. They entered the league a couple of years apart, which isn't that surprising given that they were born in the mid-70s. (If you're wondering why kids named Marlon would have been born in the mid-70s, consider that Jermaine Dye was born around the same time.) But both came up with the Phillies, and both played for my Mets and the Nationals as well.

This is likely a preview of the post for card #69 of my virtual Frankenset blog, when that gets going, as both of them have cards as Phillies with that number. Disclaimer: I'm basing my assertion that there were no other Marlons on the fact that if you put that name in the search bar at Baseball Reference, no one else appears.
Unknown said…
This is awesome. Reminds me of my fascination with Dave Roberts. The Padres first season, 1969, had a rookie named Dave Roberts (https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/roberda05.shtml). They traded him to Houston in Dec '71. Then, as if the front office suddenly realized they were down 1 Dave Roberts, they drafted a new Dave Roberts (https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/roberda06.shtml) the following June and immediately put him on the major league roster. The next Dave Roberts (https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/roberda07.shtml) who came to the majors would end up playing for San Diego in '05-'06. So, the last three Dave Roberts to play in the majors, each wore a Padre uniform at some point. The only Dave Roberts (https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/roberda03.shtml) in MLB who didn't play for San Diego, was a guy who retired in '66, before the Padres were a National League team. And oddly, the first 3 of these guys also played for Houston at one point in their careers. The most recent one (and Dodger manager) broke that mold. WOuld've been insanely crazy if he did.
There have been four major leaguers named Bob Miller, and all were pitchers.

Two of the Bob Millers were on the 1962 Mets. (One of those, Bob L. Miller, later pitched for the Dodgers in the 1965 and 1966 World Series.)
Billy Kingsley said…
A couple of years ago, the Detroit Pistons had two rookies, both named Tony Mitchell. The same season! I would have written a post about them but only one got cards.
Old Cards said…
In 1957 there was Hal Smith, starting catcher for St. Louis Cardinals and Hal Smith, starting catcher for Kansas City A's and don't forget Al Smith, starting 3rd baseman for the Indians. Wonder if there will ever be another Yastrzemski unrelated to Carl.
Jupiterhill said…
In the NFL there is an Akeem Hunt and a Kareem Hunt. Both happen to play on the Kansas City Chiefs.
Brett Alan said…
The 2000 Mets had two pitchers named Bobby Jones.
Johngy said…
There have been 4 NFL players named Youngblood. Two were with the Rams for most of the 70's, both were J. Youngblood, too. None were related.
Fuji said…
Damn. This is some mind blowing baseball trivia. How do you come across this stuff? Were you up late one night and these players just popped into your head? Regardless... I love this kind of random, useless, yet highly entertaining information.
Anonymous said…
Tim and Todd Stoddard look like the same guy.
Don said…
Marlon Jackson (of the Jackson 5)