Oldest Ringless Players: 2015

Another postseason is here, which means it's time to look at the Oldest Ringless Player for each championship contender. You know the drill. 40-man roster, oldest player without a championship ring. Here we go:

Chicago Cubs: Fernando Rodney (March 18, 1977)
Houston Astros:Chad Qualls (August 17, 1978)
Kansas City Royals: Jeremy Guthrie (April 8, 1979)
Los Angeles Dodgers: Joel Peralta (March 23, 1976)
New York Mets: Bartolo Colon (May 24, 1973)
New York Yankees:Carlos Beltran (April 24, 1977)
Pittsburgh Pirates: Aramis Ramirez (June 25, 1978)
St. Louis Cardinals: Matt Belisle (June 6, 1980)
Texas Rangers: Adrian Beltre (April 7, 1979)
Toronto Blue Jays: LaTroy Hawkins (December 21, 1972)

Funny how these lists often end up being full of journeyman relief pitchers. It really takes the fun out of making them.

The Athletics Franchise Deep Six

Of the Original 16 franchises, we've finally come to the last one, the Philadelphia/Kansas City/Oakland Athletics! Let's take a look at this much-traveled franchise, whose history is a hodgepodge of dynasties and fire sales.

	P	C	1B	2B	3B	SS	LF	CF	RF
1st	Lefty Grove	Mickey Cochrane	Jimmie Foxx	Eddie Collins	Home Run Baker	Bert Campaneris	Rickey Henderson	Dwayne Murphy	Reggie Jackson
2nd	Rube Waddell	Terry Steinbach	Mark McGwire	Max Bishop	Sal Bando	Eddie Joost	Al Simmons	Dave Henderson	Jose Canseco
3rd	Eddie Plank	Frankie Hayes	Jason Giambi	Mark Ellis	Eric Chavez	Jack Barry	Bob Johnson	Amos Strunk	Socks Seybold
4th	Tim Hudson	Wally Schang	Harry Davis	Danny Murphy	Carney Lansford	Miguel Tejada	Joe Rudi	Bill North	Josh Reddick
5th	Eddie Rommel	Kurt Suzuki	Stuffy McInnis	Dick Green	Josh Donaldson	Mike Bordick	Topsy Hartsel	Coco Crisp	Wally Moses
6th	Chief Bender	Ossee Schrecongost	Ferris Fain	Nap Lajoie	Lave Cross	Walt Weiss	Tillie Walker	Rick Monday	Mike Davis

That's one great 1st Team. All but two are Hall of Famers. The 2nd Team, though, feels like a huge dropoff. Waddell and Simmons are all-timers, and Bando and McGwire are both borderliners, but the rest? Fine players, not immortals.

The position that really surprised me this time was third base. The A's have more depth there than I would've expected. With the season Josh Donaldson is currently having, he might've stood to rank even higher if he hadn't been traded.

I was frustrated trying to pick guys for the lower teams at several of these positions. There was just too much mediocrity. For a franchise that's won nine World Series, they sure aren't that deep. The great Athletic teams tended to burn brightly and be snuffed out quickly.

I plan to continue this series with the expansion franchises, but since they don't have as much history, I won't be doing a Deep Six. For the 1961-77 franchises I'll be doing a Deep Four, and for the 1993-98 franchises I'll be doing a Deep Three. We'll see those after this season is over.

The Dodgers Franchise Deep Six

And the last of the classic eight National League franchises is off the board! And there's only one classic AL team to do after this one! So how do the boys from Brooklyn and L.A. look?

	P	C	1B	2B	3B	SS	LF	CF	RF
1st	Dazzy Vance	Mike Piazza	Gil Hodges	Jackie Robinson	Ron Cey	Pee Wee Reese	Zack Wheat	Duke Snider	Carl Furillo
2nd	Sandy Koufax	Roy Campanella	Dolph Camilli	Davey Lopes	Adrian Beltre	Bill Dahlen	Jimmy Sheckard	Willie Davis	Dixie Walker
3rd	Don Drysdale	Mike Scioscia	Jack Fournier	Jim Gilliam	George Pinkney	Maury Wills	Gary Sheffield	Mike Griffin	Reggie Smith
4th	Clayton Kershaw	John Roseboro	Steve Garvey	Tom Daly	Joe Stripp	Bill Russell	Dusty Baker	Matt Kemp	Shawn Green
5th	Nap Rucker	Paul Lo Duca	Jake Daubert	Eddie Stanky	Red Smith	Rafael Furcal	Pedro Guerrero	Pete Reiser	Babe Herman
6th	Jeff Pfeffer	Russell Martin	Wes Parker	Steve Sax	Cookie Lavagetto	Germany Smith	Wally Moon	Brett Butler	Willie Keeler

Pretty good indeed! Three of their four infield spots on the 1st Team are from the Boys of Summer era, as are two of the three outfield spots. Is it safe to say that was the greatest period in Dodger history?

Some people might be upset that I named Dazzy Vance starting pitcher for the 1st Team over Sandy Koufax, but I thought the numbers merited it. Koufax had an incredible peak, but Vance's was plenty dominant as well. The main difference is that Koufax is a legend of living memory, while Vance played in the 1920's for the Daffiness Boys. Clayton Kershaw is making his way up the list too, so this generation may have its own immortal Dodger hurler to tell their grandchildren about.

Third base was definitely the weakest position here. I never realized how few great third basemen the Dodgers have had. I wasn't familiar with George Pinkney, the 3rd Team third sacker, until I compiled this list. And to think he was the greatest Dodger third baseman until the 1970s.

The Indians Franchise Deep Six

After doing these pretty steadily for a while, I guess I got preoccupied in the last month. But I'm back, and I have a new Deep Six for you, my beloved audience! Today we shall look at the Cleveland Indians!

	P	C	1B	2B	3B	SS	LF	CF	RF
1st	Bob Feller	Victor Martinez	Jim Thome	Nap Lajoie	Al Rosen	Lou Boudreau	Albert Belle	Tris Speaker	Joe Jackson
2nd	Stan Coveleski	Steve O'Neill	Hal Trosky	Roberto Alomar	Bill Bradley	Joe Sewell	Charlie Jamieson	Kenny Lofton	Manny Ramirez
3rd	Addie Joss	Carlos Santana	Andre Thornton	Joe Gordon	Ken Keltner	Terry Turner	Jeff Heath	Larry Doby	Elmer Flick
4th	Sam McDowell	John Romano	Ed Morgan	Bobby Avila	Buddy Bell	Ray Chapman	Joe Vosmik	Earl Averill	Rocky Colavito
5th	Gaylord Perry	Ray Fosse	George Burns	Carlos Baerga	Graig Nettles	Omar Vizquel	Dale Mitchell	Grady Sizemore	Shin-Soo Choo
6th	Mel Harder	Joe Azcue	Mike Hargrove	Jason Kipnis	Toby Harrah	Asdrubal Cabrera	Michael Brantley	Brett Butler	Braggo Roth

The Indians are pretty darn good at starting pitcher. Gaylord Perry wasn't an Indian for very long, but he wore the uniform long enough, and was dominant enough to make it.

Center field and shortstop were probably the deepest fielding positions, and third base was a lot stronger than I expected it would be. Right field ain't too shabby neither.

Catcher and first base were weaker than perhaps you realized. Victor Martinez and Carlos Santana, both current-day players who were pretty good for a while crack the Top 3 catchers. Hal Trosky was a fine first baseman who had the misfortune of playing in the American League at the same time as Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, and Hank Greenberg. He's a solid 2nd Teamer behind the great Jim Thome. After those two, there's not a lot to write home about.

Second base was the position where stars burnt briefly but brightly. Lajoie was an easy choice for the 1st Team, but the two Hall of Famers who follow him down the column, Roberto Alomar and Joe Gordon, played only three and four years, respectively, with the Tribe. But oh, how great they were. I wanted to give Bobby Avila some extra credit for his longevity, but in the end, I just thought those two deserved to be ahead of him. Jason Kipnis has been impressive so far, and is already close to passing up Baerga. Can he continue his ascent?

The Reds Franchise Deep Six

Back for another Deep Six, this time for a franchise that was frustrating to compile. The lower levels of several of these positions were so mediocre that trying to pick the right guys was tough. I hate it when it's a close call.

	P	C	1B	2B	3B	SS	LF	CF	RF
1st	Noodles Hahn	Johnny Bench	Joey Votto	Joe Morgan	Heinie Groh	Barry Larkin	George Foster	Vada Pinson	Frank Robinson
2nd	Jim Maloney	Ernie Lombardi	Ted Kluszewski	Bid McPhee	Tony Perez	Dave Concepcion	Pete Rose	Eric Davis	Ken Griffey
3rd	Bucky Walters	Ed Bailey	John Reilly	Lonny Frey	Chris Sabo	Roy McMillan	Bob Bescher	Edd Roush	Ival Goodman
4th	Jose Rijo	Bubbles Hargrave	Jake Beckley	Brandon Phillips	Todd Frazier	Leo Cardenas	Kal Daniels	Cy Seymour	Reggie Sanders
5th	Frank Dwyer	Johnny Edwards	Frank McCormick	Miller Huggins	Hans Lobert	Buck Herzog	Charley Jones	Bobby Tolan	Curt Walker
6th	Eppa Rixey	Larry McLean	Lee May	Johnny Temple	Arlie Latham	Frank Fennelly	Adam Dunn	Bug Holliday	Jay Bruce

Yes, friends, Joey Votto is already the greatest Reds first baseman of all time. First base was a strong position for this franchise, with lots of very good players but few great ones. You have to love the consistency of it. Just missing the cut was "the Mayor," Sean Casey.

Did you realize the Reds haven't had that many dominant pitchers in their history? Now you do. They've never had a Cy Young winner either.

Tony Perez is better known as a first baseman, but his greatest years while playing third base forced me to put him there. Also at the hot corner, Todd Frazier is quickly working his way up the list. Appreciate what you're seeing, Cincy fans. He's a special one.

The most disappointing part of this was Pete Rose. He played all over the field, and I felt that his best years were in left. However, if you rank him purely as a left fielder, he comes in behind George Foster. There was no way he was going to beat out Votto, Morgan, Groh, or Robinson at their positions either. While he may be the ultimate Cincinnati Red, there wasn't a way to get him on the 1st Team. But I suppose Rose has some experience with being excluded.