For the Love of the Name

A look at a century of the goofiest Tiger names

By Michael Jackman

Apr 6, 2011 at 12:00 am

Audio By Carbonatix

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With this year's Tiger spring training roster including such a great name as Charlie Furbush, now seems a fitting occasion to look back on some of the most delightfully unusual names ever to grace a Tiger uniform. According to an informal office poll, here they are.

Boom-Boom Beck
Pitcher, 1944

Red Cox
Pitcher, 1920

Snooks Dowd
Second Base, 1919

Goose Goslin
Outfielder, 1934-1937

Howard Johnson
Third Base, 1982-1984

Rusty Kuntz
Outfielder, 1984-1985

Slim Love
Pitcher, 1919-1920

Heinie Manush
Outfielder, 1923-1927

Dick Sharon
Outfielder, 1973-1974

Kid Speer
Pitcher, 1909

Tuck Stainback
Outfielder, 1940-1941

Dizzy Trout
Pitcher, 1939-1952

Coot Veal
Shortstop, 1958-1960, 1963

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Culture

About The Author

Michael Jackman

Born in 1969 at Mount Carmel hospital in Detroit, Jackman grew up just 100 yards from the Detroit city line in east Dearborn. Jackman has attended New York University, the School of Visual Arts, Northwestern University and Wayne State University, though he never got a degree. He has worked as a bar back, busboy,...