Major League Baseball players often acquire nicknames that are used by fans, reflecting the significance of these monikers in baseball culture. These names can derive from various sources, including physical attributes, playing style, or personal traits, and foster a shared identity within each team.
Players with nicknames often experience a sense of individuality and even establish their own personal brand. These nicknames are embraced by fans as rallying cries during games, demonstrating unwavering support for their beloved athletes. It is not uncommon to witness supporters proudly donning jerseys adorned with a player's distinctive alias across the back.
Not only players and fans, but the MLB itself recognizes the importance of nicknames. They organize special events like "Players' Weekend," urging players to wear jerseys displaying their nicknames.
List of MLB Players with Nicknames
A compilation of the top 50 MLB player nicknames has been created by MLB.com. These nicknames were selected based on their popularity among fans and their representation of the players' personalities or playing styles. While there are several players in MLB with their own unique names, this list presents some of the best 50 according to MLB.com.
| Player Name | Nick Name |
| Javier Báez | El Mago (The Magician) |
| Pete Alonso | Polar Bear |
| Fernando Tatis Jr. | El Niño (The Kid) |
| Juan Soto | Childish Bambino |
| Luis Robert | La Pantera (The Panther) |
| Noah Syndergaard | Thor |
| Willians Astudillo | La Tortuga (The Tortoise) |
| Shohei Ohtani | Sho Time |
| Rafael Devers | Carita (Babyface) |
| Josh Donaldson | Bringer of Rain |
| Albert Pujols | La Maquina (The Machine) |
| Nelson Cruz | Boomstick |
| Aaron Judge | All Rise |
| Mike Trout | The Millville Meteor |
| Félix Hernández | King Félix |
| Carl Edwards Jr. | Stringbean Slinger |
| Francisco Lindor | Mr. Smile |
| James Paxton | Big Maple |
| José Abreu | Pito (Whistle) |
| Manny Machado | El Ministro de la Defensa (The Minister of Defense) |
| Gary Sánchez | The Kraken |
| Triston McKenzie | Dr. Sticks |
| Bryce Harper | Bam Bam |
| Luis Arraez | La Regadera (The Sprinkler) |
| Blake Snell | Snellzilla |
| Todd Frazier | The Toddfather |
| Matt Adams | Big City |
| Eric Sogard | Nerd Power |
| Yasiel Puig | Wild Horse |
| Pablo Sandoval | Kung Fu Panda |
| Brandon Belt | Baby Giraffe |
| Jeff Samardzija | Shark |
| Randy Arozarena | El Cohete Cubano (The Cuban Rocket) |
| Jose Altuve | El Pequeño Gigante (The Little Giant) |
| (tie) Chris Davis / Khris Davis | Crush Davis / Khrush Davis |
| Jeff McNeil | The Squirrel |
| Chris Archer | Flaco Fuerte (Skinny Power) |
| Carlos Carrasco | Cookie |
| Chris Paddack | Sheriff |
| Dustin Pedroia | Laser Show |
| Fernando Rodney | La Flecha (The Arrow) |
| Michael Brantley | Dr. Smooth |
| Yuli and Lourdes Gurriel | Piña & Piña Power (Pineapple and Pineapple Power) |
| Ryan Braun | The Hebrew Hammer |
| Franmil Reyes | La Mole (The Beast) |
| Travis Shaw | The Mayor of Ding Dong City |
| Marcell Ozuna | El Oso (The Bear) |
| Tommy La Stella | 3 a.m. |
| Tony Gonsolin | The Cat Man |
| Sean Manaea | The Throwin' Samoan |
Hall Of Fame Players Nicknames
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, situated in Cooperstown, New York, stands as a revered institution that pays tribute to exceptional individuals who have excelled in playing, managing, and serving the sport of baseball.
Here is the list of all players who have been honored with the Hall of Fame while having interesting nicknames:
| Player | Career | Nickname |
| Vladimir Guerrero | 1996–2011 | "Super Vlad", "Vlad the Impaler" or "Big Daddy Vladdy" |
| Frank Thomas | 1990–2008 | "The Big Hurt" |
| Ken Griffey Jr. | 1989–2000 | "The Kid" |
| Roberto Alomar Velazquez | 1988–2004 | "Robbie" |
| Greg Maddux | 1986–2008 | "Mad Dog" or "The Professor" |
| Kirby Puckett | 1984–1995 | "Puck" |
| Tony Gwynn | 1982–2001 | "Captain Video" or "Mr. Padre" |
| Wade Boggs | 1982–1999 | "Chicken Man" |
| Cal Ripken Jr. | 1981–2001 | "Iron Man" |
| Ryne Sandberg | 1981–1997 | "Ryno" |
| Paul Molitor | 1978–1998 | "The Ignitor" or "Molly" |
| Ozzie Smith | 1978–1996 | "The Wizard of Oz" or "The Wizard" |
| Eddie Murray | 1977–1997 | "Steady Eddie" |
| Dennis Eckersley | 1975–1998 | "The Eck" |
| Gary Carter | 1974–1992 | "The Kid" |
| Dave Winfield | 1973–1995 | "Winny" or the derogatory "Mr. May" |
| Rich Gossage | 1972–1994 | "Goose" |
| Mike Schmidt | 1972–1989 | "Schmidty" |
| George Anderson | 1970–1995 | "Sparky" or "Captain Hook" |
| Carlton Fisk | 1969–1993 | "Pudge" |
| Earl Weaver | 1968–1986 | "Doodles" |
| Rollie Fingers | 1968–1985 | "Rollie" |
| Reggie Jackson | 1967–1987 | "Mr. October" |
| Tom Seaver | 1967–1986 | "Tom Terrific" or "The Franchise" |
| Johnny Bench | 1967–1983 | "Little General" |
| Nolan Ryan | 1966–1993 | "The Ryan Express" |
| Don Sutton | 1966–1988 | "Black & Decker" |
| Steve Carlton | 1965–1988 | "Lefty" |
| Jim Palmer | 1965–1984 | "Cakes" |
| Ferguson Jenkins | 1965–1983 | "Fly" or "Fergie" |
| Catfish Hunter | 1965–1979 | "Catfish" |
| Phil Niekro | 1964–1987 | "Knucksie" |
| Joe Morgan | 1963–1984 | "Little Joe" |
| Willie Stargell | 1962–1982 | "Pops" |
| Carl Yastrzemski | 1961–1983 | "Yaz" |
| Lou Brock | 1961–1979 | "The Franchise" |
| Juan Marichal | 1960–1975 | "Manito", "Mar", or "The Dominican Dandy" |
| Willie McCovey | 1959–1980 | "Stretch", "Mac", or "Big Mac" |
| Billy Williams | 1959–1976 | "Sweet Swingin' Billy from Whistler" |
| Bob Gibson | 1959–1975 | "Hoot" or "Gibby" |
| Orlando Cepeda | 1958–1974 | "Baby Bull" or "Cha Cha" |
| Luis Aparicio | 1956–1973 | "Little Louie" |
| Bill Mazeroski | 1956–1972 | "Maz" |
| Don Drysdale | 1956–1969 | "Big D" |
| Brooks Robinson | 1955–1977 | "Hoover" or "The Vacuum Cleaner" |
| Roberto Clemente | 1955–1972 | "Arriba" or "Bob" |
| Henry Louis Aaron | 1954–1976 | "Hammer", "Hammerin' Hank" or "Bad Henry" |
| Walter Alston | 1954–1976 | "Smokey" |
| Harmon Killebrew | 1954–1975 | "Killer" |
| Al Kaline | 1953–1974 | "Salty", "Line", or "Mr. Tiger" |
| Ernie Banks | 1953–1971 | "Mr. Cub" |
| Willie Mays | 1951–1973 | "The Say Hey Kid" |
| Mickey Mantle | 1951–1968 | "The Mick", "The Commerce Comet", or "Muscles" |
| Whitey Ford | 1950–1967 | "Whitey", "The Chairman of the Board", or "Slick" |
| Monte Irvin | 1949–1956 | "Mr. Murder" |
| Richie Ashburn | 1948–1962 | "Putt-Putt", "Whitey", or "The Tilden Flash" |
| Roy Campanella | 1948–1957 | "Campy" |
| Satchel Paige | 1948–1953 | "Satchel" |
| Nellie Fox | 1947–1965 | "Nellie", "Little Nel", or "The Mighty Mite" |
| Duke Snider | 1947–1964 | "The Silver Fox" of "Duke" |
| Lawrence Peter Berra | 1946–1965 | "Yogi" |
| Albert Chandler | 1945–1951 | "Happy" |
| John Conlan | 1941–1965 | "Jocko" |
| Stan Musial | 1941–1963 | "Stan the Man" |
| Phil Rizzuto | 1941–1956 | "Scooter" |
| Pee Wee Reese | 1940–1958 | "Pee Wee" or "The Little Colonel" |
| Early Wynn | 1939–1963 | "Gus" |
| Ted Williams | 1939–1960 | "The Splendid Splinter", "Teddy Ballgame", "Thumper", or "Kid" |
| Hal Newhouser | 1939–1955 | "Prince Hal" |
| Enos Slaughter | 1938–1959 | "Country" |
| Bob Feller | 1936–1956 | "Rapid Robert" or "The Heater From Van Meter" |
| Johnny Mize | 1936–1953 | "The Big Cat" |
| Joe DiMaggio | 1936–1951 | "The Yankee Clipper" or "Joltin Joe" |
| Buck Leonard | 1933–1950 | "Buck" |
| Joe Medwick | 1932–1948 | "Ducky" or "Ducky Wucky" |
| Arky Vaughan | 1932–1948 | "Arky" |
| Ernie Lombardi | 1931–1947 | "Bocci" or "Schnozz" |
| Luke Appling | 1930–1950 | "Old Aches & Pains", "Luscious Luke", "Fumblefoot" or "Kid Boots" |
| Hank Greenberg | 1930–1947 | "Hammerin' Hank" and one of Detroit's "G-Men" |
| Lefty Gomez | 1930–1943 | "Lefty" or "Goofy" |
| Jay Dean | 1930–1941 | "Diz", "Dizzy" or "The Great Man" |
| Earl Averill | 1929–1941 | "Rock" or "Earl of Snohomish" |
| Chuck Klein | 1928–1944 | "The Hoosier Hammerer" |
| Carl Hubbell | 1928–1943 | "King Carl" or "The Meal Ticket" |
| Lloyd Waner | 1927–1945 | "Little Poison" |
| Joe McCarthy | 1926–1950 | "Marse Joe" |
| Mel Ott | 1926–1947 | "Master Melvin" |
| Paul Waner | 1926–1945 | "Big Poison" |
| Tony Lazzeri | 1926–1939 | "Poosh 'Em Up Tony" |
| Leo Durocher | 1925–1973 | "The Lip" or "Lippy" |
| Bill McGowan | 1925–1954 | "Little Joe Chest" |
| Jimmie Foxx | 1925–1945 | "Beast" or "Double X" |
| Lefty Grove | 1925–1941 | "Lefty" |
| Mickey Cochrane | 1925–1937 | "Black Mike" or "Mickey" |
| Red Ruffing | 1924–1947 | "Red" |
| Al Simmons | 1924–1944 | "Bucketfoot Al" |
| Charlie Gehringer | 1924–1942 | "The Mechanical Man" and one of Detroit's "G-Men" |
| Chick Hafey | 1924–1937 | "Chick" |
| Freddie Lindstrom | 1924–1936 | "Lindy" |
| Earle Combs | 1924–1935 | "The Kentucky Colonel" |
| Willie Wells | 1923, 1924–1936, 1942, 1944–1948 | "Devil" |
| Ted Lyons | 1923–1946 | "Sunday Teddy" |
| Lou Gehrig | 1923–1939 | "The Iron Horse or "Buster" or "Biscuit Pants" |
| Heinie Manush | 1923–1939 | "Heinie" |
| Bill Terry | 1923–1936 | "Memphis Bill" |
| Hack Wilson | 1923–1934 | "Hack" |
| Gabby Hartnett | 1922–1941 | "Gabby" or "Old Tomato Face" |
| James Bell | 1922–1938, 1942, 1947–1950 | "Cool Papa" |
| Jim Bottomley | 1922–1937 | "Sunny Jim" |
| Travis Jackson | 1922–1936 | "Stonewall" |
| Kiki Cuyler | 1921–1938 | "Kiki" or "Cuy" |
| Goose Goslin | 1921–1938 | "Goose" and one of Detroit's "G-Men" |
| Turkey Stearnes | 1920–1942, 1945 | "Turkey" |
| Pie Traynor | 1920–1937 | "Pie" |
| Bucky Harris | 1919–1956 | "Bucky" |
| Frankie Frisch | 1919–1937 | "The Fordham Flash" |
| Waite Hoyt | 1918–1938 | "Schoolboy" |
| Jesse Haines | 1918–1937 | "Pop" |
| Bullet Rogan | 1917, 1920–1938 | "Bullet" |
| Ross Youngs | 1917–1926 | "Pep" |
| Burleigh Grimes | 1916–1934 | "Ol' Stubblebeard" |
| Rogers Hornsby | 1915–1937 | "Rajah" |
| Dazzy Vance | 1915–1935 | "Dazzy" |
| George Kelly | 1915–1932 | "Highpockets" |
| Dave Bancroft | 1915–1930 | "Beauty" |
| George Sisler | 1915–1930 | "Gorgeous George" |
| Babe Ruth | 1914–1935 | "Babe", "The Bambino", "Sultan of Swat" or "Colossus of Clout" |
| Red Faber | 1914–1933 | "Red" |
| Harry Heilmann | 1914–1932 | "Slug" |
| Rabbit Maranville | 1912–1935 | "Rabbit" |
| Herb Pennock | 1912–1934 | "The Knight of Kennett Square" |
| Eppa Rixey | 1912–1933 | "Jeptha" |
| Ray Schalk | 1912–1929 | "Cracker" |
| Stan Coveleski | 1912–1928 | "Covey" |
| Casey Stengel | 1912–1925, 1934–1965 | "Casey" and "The Ol' Perfessor" |
| Grover Cleveland Alexander | 1911–1930 | "Old Pete" |
| Cyclone Joe Williams | 1910–1932 | "Smokey Joe" or "Cyclone" |
| Max Carey | 1910–1929 | "Scoops" |
| Zack Wheat | 1909–1927 | "Buck" |
| Harry Hooper | 1909–1925 | "Hoop" |
| Rube Marquard | 1908–1925 | "Rube" |
| Frank Baker | 1908–1922 | "Home Run" |
| Tris Speaker | 1907–1928 | "Tris", "The Grey Eagle" or "Spoke" |
| Walter Johnson | 1907–1927 | "The Big Train" or "Barney" |
| John Henry Lloyd | 1906–1932 | "Pop" |
| Eddie Collins | 1906–1930 | "Cocky" |
| Ty Cobb | 1905–1928 | "The Georgia Peach" |
| Branch Rickey | 1905–1907, 1913–1925 | "The Mahatma" |
| Charles Bender | 1903–1925 | "Chief" |
| Mordecai Brown | 1903–1916 | "Three Finger" or "Miner" |
| Johnny Evers | 1902–1929 | "The Crab", "Trojan" and part of "Tinker to Evers to Chance" |
| Rube Foster | 1902–1926 | "Rube" |
| Clark Griffith | 1901–1920 | "The Old Fox" |
| Bancroft Johnson | 1900–1927 | "Ban" |
| Christy Mathewson | 1900–1916 | "Big Six", "Matty", or "The Christian Gentleman" |
| John McGraw | 1899–1932 | "Little Napoleon" or "Mugsy" |
| Sam Crawford | 1899–1917 | "Wahoo Sam" |
| Jack Chesbro | 1899–1909 | "Happy Jack" |
| Joe McGinnity | 1899–1908 | "Iron Man" |
| Frank Chance | 1898–1914 | "Husk", "The Peerless Leader" and part of "Tinker to Evers to Chance" |
| Honus Wagner | 1897–1917 | "The Flying Dutchman" or "Honus" |
| Roger Bresnahan | 1897–1915 | "The Duke of Tralee" |
| Fred Clarke | 1897–1915 | "Cap" |
| Rube Waddell | 1897–1910 | "Rube" |
| Nap Lajoie | 1896–1916 | "Larry" or "Poli" or "Nap" |
| Connie Mack | 1894–1950 | "Connie", "Mr. Baseball", or "The Tall Tactician" |
| Willie Keeler | 1892–1910 | "Wee Willie" or "Hit 'Em Where They Ain't" |
| Hughie Jennings | 1891–1924 | "Ee-Yah" |
| Cy Young | 1890–1911 | "Cy" or "Cyclone" |
| Kid Nichols | 1890–1906 | "Kid" |
| Jesse Burkett | 1890–1905 | "Crab" |
| Amos Rusie | 1889–1901 | "The Hoosier Thunderbolt" |
| Jake Beckley | 1888–1907 | "Eagle Eye" |
| Hugh Duffy | 1888–1906 | "Sir Hugh" |
| Ed Delahanty | 1888–1903 | "Big Ed" |
| Billy Hamilton | 1888–1901 | "Sliding Billy" |
| Sam Thompson | 1885–1898 | "Big Sam |
| Bid McPhee | 1882–1899 | "Bid" |
| Charlie Comiskey | 1882–1894 | "Commy" or "The Old Roman" |
| Charles Radbourn | 1881–1891 | "Old Hoss" |
| Ned Hanlon | 1880–1907 | "Ned" |
| Buck Ewing | 1880–1897 | "Buck" |
| Tim Keefe | 1880–1893 | "Smiling Tim" or "Sir Timothy" |
| Dan Brouthers | 1879–1896 | "Big Dan" or "Alderman" |
| King Kelly | 1878–1893 | "Honest Joe" or "King" |
| Pud Galvin | 1875–1892 | "Pud", "Gentle Jeems", or "The Little Steam Engine" |
| Jim O'Rourke | 1872–1904 | "Orator Jim" |
| William Cummings | 1872–1877 | "Candy" |
| Adrian Anson | 1871–1897 | "Cap", "Pop", "Uncle" or "Captain" |
FAQs
A. There is no official regulation or requirement for players to have nicknames. The decision to use one is entirely personal and can vary among players.
A. Teammates, coaches, and even fans have the liberty to choose nicknames upon baseball players. These selections often stem from distinctive attributes, playing techniques, or personal backgrounds of the players.
A. While some players may be known more by their nicknames than their real names, official records and statistics typically use a player's legal name.
A. Yes, players have the opportunity to modify their nicknames throughout their careers, whether they desire a different identity or experience personal circumstances that warrant a name change.
Feedback
