7 MLB icons who are best known by their nicknames ft. Mookie Betts, Chipper Jones & more

Many ballplayers in the MLB are known by their nicknames. While many have retired, some are still active.

On that note, let's take a look at some of the most famous baseball players who became known by their nicknames.

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Seven MLB icons who are best known by their nicknames

1) Dusty Baker (Johnnie Baker)

Former Astros manager Dusty Baker is a renowned figure in the sport of baseball, both as a player and a manager. His original name is Johnnie Baker, but his nickname, Dusty, has caught up with the MLB nation.

It was his mother who gave him the nickname 'Dusty' due to his tendency to play in the dirt in the backyard when the family used to reside in Riverside, California. He won the World Series twice, first as a player with the LA Dodgers in 1981 and then as an Astros manager in 2022.

2) Mookie Betts (Markus Lynn Betts)

Arguably one of the most versatile players in the MLB now, Mookie Betts is actually Markus Lynn Betts. No words are enough to define the talent he possesses in both aspects of the game.

Betts received his nickname from his parents, Willie Betts and Diana Benidict, who admired former NBA star Mookie Blaylock, which became the source of his byname.

Mookie is a two-time World Series champion, with the Red Sox in 2018 and the Dodgers in 2020. He's making strides to complete his rehab and rejoin the Dodgers roster for the remainder of the 2024 season.

3) Jazz Chisholm Jr. (Jasardo Chisholm Jr.)

The 26-year-old versatile left-handed slugger made his move to the Bronx before the MLB deadline in July. His original name is Jasardo Prince Hermis Arrington Chisholm Jr., and he was given the nickname Jazz by his parents in the Bahamas.

The Diamondbacks signed Jazz as an international free agent, but he only made his big league debut in 2020 with the Miami Marlins. He's now flourishing in both aspects of the game with the Yankees.

4) Chipper Jones (Larry Jones)

The legendary Hall of Famer played all his life with the Atlanta Braves until he hung up his cleats in 2012. Thereafter, since 2021, he has been a coach with the Braves.

Chipper's original name is Larry Jones, and as a youngster, Larry was "chip off the old block," so his family members, especially his father, nicknamed him "Chipper." He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018 with 97.2% first-ballot voting.

5) Buster Posey (Gerald Posey)

Gerald Posey, famously known as Buster Posey, is a San Francisco Giants legend who played 12 seasons in the MLB. During his big league career, he earned seven All-Star nods and won three World Series.

He was named the NL MVP and won the batting title in 2012 as well. Posey's father was also nicknamed "Buster" during his childhood days, and this monicker then got transferred to the Giants star after his birth.

6) Cy Young (Denton True Young)

Arguably one of the greatest pitchers in the MLB, Denton True Young, has an award named after him. He's better known by his nickname, Cy Young.

His moniker is derived from the word cyclone, as he used to tantalize batters like a powerful wind storm. He won the World Series in 1903 with the Red Sox. Young finished with a record of 511-315, a 2.63 ERA and a whopping 2,803 strikeouts.

7) Bo Jackson (Vincent Jackson)

Bo Jackson's versatility was something to behold during his era in US sports history.

His original name was Vincent, but he received his nickname from his parents during his childhood, as they referred to him as a "wild boar hog" due to his tendency to get into trouble.

He made a name for himself, both in the NFL and the MLB. He played with three different ballclubs in major league baseball, earned an All-Star nod in 1989 and is also a member of the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame.