Due to an intestinal bug suffered by Cole Hamels, the Phillies are giving rookie Tyler Cloyd the start tonight. It’s Cloyd’s big league debut. When I saw the name, I thought of this guy, and apparently so did Andy, of the always-interesting High Heat Stats. Andy tweeted the following:
High Heat Stats
@HighHeatStatsPhillies pitcher Cloyd making MLB today sounds like contraction of former major-leaguer Cliff Floyd.
Then Andy tweeted to me:
High Heat Stats
@HighHeatStats
@dianagram My Cloyd = Cliff Floyd tweet was just for you 🙂
Its good to have folks of like minds. 🙂
Anyhow, Andy’s tweet made me wonder how many other player names have the same “contraction” aspect to them. That is, if you drop the first letter of their last name, and place the first letter of their first name in its place, do you get the name of another player?
It turns out, its happened nearly 300 times in history, through 2011. The first column is the “root name” and the second column is the “contracted name”. Some managers/non-players may be included here:
Al Myers Bill Ayers
Bob Mabe Loren Babe
Bill Dailey Andrew Bailey
Bob Cain Loren Bain
Brandon Laird Al Baird
Bob Hale John Bale
Bert Hall Art Ball
Bill Gannon Jimmy Bannon
Bob Garber Brian Barber
Bryan Ward Daniel Bard
Bill Garfield Jesse Barfield
Billy Parker Al Barker
Bill Carney Darwin Barney
Benn Karr Bob Barr
Buck Marrow Ed Barrow
Buddy Hassett Charley Bassett
Brent Gates Aaron Bates
Bill Patton Chris Batton
Bill Day Harry Bay
Ben Tayl or Don Baylor
Brent Mayne Bill Bayne
Brent Leach Jack Beach
Bill Leard Dave Beard
Bob Uecker Beals Becker
Bob Wellman Jack Bellman
Babe Herman Bob Berman
Bob Dernier Carlos Bernier
Bob Perry Charlie Berry
Billy West Karl Best
Buzz Wetzel Bruno Betzel
Bobby Clack Bill Black
Bill Clowers Mike Blowers
Bill Doak Chet Boak
Brett Jodie Ping Bodie
Billy Goeckel Tony Boeckel
Ben Koehler George Boehler
Bill Holden Bill Bolden
Brian Holton Cecil Bolton
Bob Cone George Bone
Barry Jones Ricky Bones
Bill Long Jung Bong
Buck Hooker Buddy Booker
Bubba Morton Babe Borton
Brandon Moss Harley Boss
Boob Fowler Grant Bowler
Bill Coyle Buzz Boyle
Brad Voyles Harry Boyles
Bill Gray Bill Bray
Bill Price Alan Brice
Bill Wright Harry Bright
Billy Lush David Bush
Butch Huskey Joe Buskey
Bill Ayers Bill Byers
Chick Galloway Ron Calloway
Cotton Nash Dave Cash
Charlie Bates Eli Cates
Craig Eaton Howdy Caton
Clare PattersonTom Catterson
Carl Taylor O.P. Caylor
Chris Gissell Bill Cissell
Cy Blanton Uke Clanton
Chuck Goggin Dave Coggin
Carl Boles Cad Coles
Chick Tolson Loyd Colson
Cecil Bolton Larry Colton
Chris Hook Aaron Cook
Chet Morgan Chuck Corgan
Cum Posey Ray Cosey
Chad Fox Bill Cox
Carl Doyle Bill Coyle
Cory Doyne Toots Coyne
Clarence Kraft Harry Craft
Chuck Kress Walker Cress
Charlie Fritz Hughie Critz
Charlie Mullen Jack Cullen
Chick Fulmer Wil Culmer
Craig Kusick Jack Cusick
Doyle Lade Paul Dade
Dad Hale Carl Dale
Danny Walton Jack Dalton
Dick Baney Art Daney
David Manning Harry Danning
Darrell May Bill Day
Denny Neagle Ren Deagle
Donald Veal Charlie Veal
Domingo Jean Chubby Dean
Dale Gear Buddy Dear
Dillon Gee Jim Dee
Dave Geisel Pat Deisel
Don LeJohn Mark DeJohn
David Bell Wheezer Dell
Drew Henson Drew Denson
Doug Bernier Bob Dernier
Dennis Higgins Ben Diggins
Dave Hillman Bill Dillman
Dave Kingman Craig Dingman
Donell Nixon Ken Dixon
Don Hoak Bill Doak
Dave Cole Lester Dole
Dan Norman Charlie Dorman
Dan Cotter Gary Dotter
Dixie Howell Ken Dowell
David Huff Larry Duff
Don Hurst Cedric Durst
Everett Fagan Bill Eagan
Ernie Mason Mal Eason
Ed Wells Harry Eells
Frank Harris Eric Farris
Fred Lear Vern Fear
Felix Hernandez Alex Fernandez
Fin Wilson Pete Filson
Fred Link Herman Fink
Frank Zinn Neal Finn
Footsie Blair Al Flair
Fred Norman Bill Forman
Fred Koster Alan Foster
Frank Cox Andy Fox
Frank Brill John Frill
Freddie Muller Ed Fuller
Gene Dale Rich Gale
George Hall John Gall
George Carman Mike Garman
Gary Weiss Bill Geiss
Gary Pettis Byron Gettis
George Meyer Rube Geyer
Garry Hill Ed Gill
Gary Wilson Hal Gilson
German Jimenez Chris Gimenez
George Winn Tinsley Ginn
George Winter Keith Ginter
Gordon Slade Fred Glade
George Flynn Bill Glynn
George Wood Andrew Good
George Foss Howie Goss
Grover Powell Larry Gowell
Grant Briggs Art Griggs
Harold Baines Hinkey Haines
Howard Wall Al Hall
Heinie Sand Brad Hand
Harry Danning Loy Hanning
Howie Carter Frank Harter
Harry Patton Grady Hatton
Heinz Becker Guy Hecker
Heinie Meine Bud Heine
Howie Kendrick George Hendrick
Henry Benn Sean Henn
Haddie Gill Aaron Hill
Hack Miller Chuck Hiller
Harry Little Lloyd Hittle
Hank Foiles Chris Hoiles
Hub Collins Damon Hollins
Harry Wood Abie Hood
Harry Moran John Horan
Harland Rowe Art Howe
Hosken Powell Dixie Howell
Henry Boyle Tex Hoyle
Howie Judson Charles Hudson
Henry Luff Aubrey Huff
Hap Myers Tim Hyers
Jed Hansen Kenley Jansen
Jordan Tata Paul Jata
Joe Savery Al Javery
Jason Bay Joey Jay
Joe Bean Domingo Jean
John Peltz Steve Jeltz
John Hester Virgil Jester
Jeff Holly Dave Jolly
Joe Foy Pop Joy
Jesse Hudson Howie Judson
Jeff Yurak Ed Jurak
Jack Cust Joe Just
Kermit Wahl Nick Kahl
Kid Camp Ike Kamp
Ken Ray Bill Kay
Kevin Bearse Eddie Kearse
Karl Meister Bill Keister
Kevin Bell George Kell
Kyle Denney Art Kenney
Kid Mohler Henry Kohler
Ken Holloway Don Kolloway
Kevin Romine Shane Komine
Kevin Foster Fred Koster
Lew Camp Dennis Lamp
Loy Hanning Johnny Lanning
Len Barker Norm Larker
Lou Marson Brandon Larson
Logan Easley Bill Lasley
Luis Matos Mat Latos
Lou Bauer Chuck Lauer
Lefty Hayden Gene Layden
Lindsay Deal Luis Leal
Larry See Bill Lee
Lefty Willis Bob Lillis
Lloyd Hittle Bryan Little
Les Rock Don Lock
Les Rohr Howard Lohr
Lew Ford Bris Lord
Les Howe Bobby Lowe
Larry Gowell Mike Lowell
Larry Duff Henry Luff
Moose Haas Duke Maas
Mark Wagner John Magner
Matt Cain Alex Main
Mike Capel Rolla Mapel
Mike Darr Lefty Marr
Matt Carson Lou Marson
Mal Eason Charlie Mason
Matt Kata Frank Mata
Mike Cather Joe Mather
Mat Latos Francisco Matos
Mike Paul Al Maul
Mark Dav is Bob Mavis
Mike Payne Brent Mayne
Manuel Lee Tommy Mee
Mark Higgins Larry Miggins
Marcus Giles Aaron Miles
Matt Riley Dave Miley
Maury Wills Alan Mills
Miguel Dilone Tom Milone
Matt Roney Don Money
Mark Corey Dave Morey
Mike Dorgan Bill Morgan
Mark Worrell Bill Morrell
Mike Norris Bugs Morris
Mark Ross Brandon Moss
Mark Lowe Ray Mowe
Melvin Bunch Jake Munch
Michael Dunn Horatio Munn
Mike Dyer Buddy Myer
Norm Cash Billy Nash
Pat Ragan Angel Pagan
Pep Harris Steve Parris
Pop Tate Bob Pate
Pat Deasley Marv Peasley
Phil Hiatt Adam Piatt
Pete Hill Brett Pill
Paul Hinson Vada Pinson
Pete Rose Scott Pose
Pete Cote Lou Pote
Pat Howell Abner Powell
Rich Hand Dick Rand
Rudy May Carl Ray
Rick Leach Al Reach
Rich Becker Anthony Recker
Rich Gedman Mark Redman
Roy Heiser Pete Reiser
Razor Shines Billy Rhines
R.A. Dickey Branch Rickey
Rocky Biddle Elmer Riddle
Reese Diggs Adam Riggs
Randy Wiles Ernest Riles
Ray King Jimmy Ring
Ray Poat Fred Roat
Ray Collins Jimmy Rollins
Rod Booker Jim Rooker
Ray Moss Bob Ross
Ray Mowe Dave Rowe
Red Howell Bama Rowell
Rob Bowen Ed Rowen
Ryan Tucker Dave Rucker
Randy Bush Andy Rush
Rich Nye Gene Rye
Sam Page Harry Sage
Sugar Cain Johnny Sain
Sammy Hale Chris Sale
Sam Lanford Chance Sanford
Scott May Jimmy Say
Sammy Taylor Phil Saylor
Steve Yeager Kyle Seager
Sam Weaver Tom Seaver
Shorty Dee Charlie See
Sam Mele Aaron Sele
Skeeter Kell Epp Sell
Spike Merena Bill Serena
Shane Bowers Jeremy Sowers
Troy Cate Al Tate
Ted Reed Dick Teed
Tom Berry Adonis Terry
Trey Hillman Bob Tillman
Ted Simmons Ozzie Timmons
Thornton Kipper Jim Tipper
Tom Dodd Al Todd
Tom Dolan Bobby Tolan
Ted Gray Jim Tray
Vada Pinson Charlie Vinson
Warren Hacker Charlie Wacker
William Zay Bob Way
Walt Meinert Lefty Weinert
Wally Gerber Billy Werber
Warren Giles Randy Wiles
Wade Miley Mark Wiley
Warren Gill Bob Will
Willie Mills Bump Wills
Wilbur Good Blake Wood
Zach Day William Zay