The Ultimate Fictional Baseball Team

What happens when you assemble the best fictional baseball players and coaches from movie history? This team.

1. Center field: Willie Mays Hayes

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The showboating center fielder showed up to Indians spring training in 1989 without an invite and managed to earn a roster spot based solely on his blazing speed. Willie is the ideal leadoff hitter when he keeps the ball on the ground and is a threat to steal any base. Basically, he's the equivalent of Rickey Henderson, except he doesn't speak about himself in the third person.

2. Shortstop: Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez

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Benny is the most versatile player on the squad. He can play, and excel, at any position on the diamond. His speed and patience at the plate make him an ideal No. 2 hitter. Having The Jet and Willie Mayes Hayes on the base at the same time would wreak havoc on the base path.

3. Right Field: Roy Hobbs

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Roy Hobbs was arguably the greatest pure baseball player in the history of our unreal baseball universe. This is a guy that struck out the equivalent of Babe Ruth and hit Mickey Mantle-esque home runs. Who else would you rather have hitting in the three-hole?

4. Left Field: Pedro Cerrano

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We all know about Cerrano's notorious issues with the curveball and his faith in, lets say, less conventional religions. But when he trusts his instincts at the plate and leaves Jobu in the locker room, Cerrano can flat-out rake. Put a fastball anywhere near the plate and you'll be fishing it out of the Cuyahoga River.

5. First Base: Lou Collins

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Easily the most underrated fictional baseball player of all time, Collins is an RBI machine for Minnesota. He's got a solid glove at first base and is basically the Todd Helton of the make-believe baseball world, a consistent workhorse who speaks with his play.

6. Second Base: Marla Hooch

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What a hitter!

7. Third Base: Ray Mitchell

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Before Roger prayed for the Anaheim Angels to win the pennant, Ray Mitchell was the only player who could make contact with a baseball on the lowly Angels. But he wasn't merely a good player on a bad team, he was a very good player, and as the heavenly angels helped Mel Clark and the rest of George Knox's team, Mitchell continued his high-powered offensive performance without the aid of God's henchmen.

8. Catcher: Jake Taylor

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Jake Taylor is the unquestioned captain of this squad. Many might argue for Crash Davis in the spot, but Crash is the consumate AAA player, and his bitterness would affect the team at times. Plus, Taylor was an all-star in Boston a few years ago, before his knee problems.

9. No. 1 Starting Pitcher: Steve Nebraska

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Nebraska was discovered by veteran scout Al Percolo in the Mexican leagues. He was treated like a godlike figure, and considering he effortlessly threw over 100 mph and hit 500-foot home runs, it was justified. He has a some social anxiety issues, but his talent is basically inhuman.

10. No. 2 Starting Pitcher: Ebby Calvin "Nuke" LaLoosh

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Nuke has a two-cent brain and a million-dollar lightning bolt for a right arm. But after Crash Davis' tutorial with the Durham Bulls, LaLoosh is ready to become a 20-game winner up at the show.

11. No. 3 Starting Pitcher: Henry Rowengartner

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Henry Rowengartner is always one slip away from loosening the miracle tight tendons that allow him to throw nearly 100 mph as a 12-year-old. But when Rowengartner is on the bump, he has the attitude, ability, and savviness of a veteran. He helped lead the Chicago Cubs advance over the hated New York Mets and to eventually win the World Series.

12. No. 4 Starting Pitcher: Billy Chapel

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Toward the back end of the rotation we have two crafty veterans entering the twilight of their careers, starting with Billy Chapel. The Tigers pitcher appears to be a combination of Atlanta Braves legends Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine. Before his potential career ending hand injury Chapel was the best pitcher in baseball. Although he retires at the end of his perfect game performance, he still has a lot left in the tank.

13. No. 5 Starting Pitcher: Mel Clark

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Clark is legitimately on the brink of death. Being a lifelong smoker will do that to you. However, he's the Angels' fan favorite, and you can't replace the grittiness he brings to the mound.

14. Bench: Crash Davis

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Crash is the perfect backup catcher. He gets to mentor the young pitching staff while hitting white balls for batting practice and imparting his immense wisdom on the rest of the team.

15. Bench: Rex "T-Rex" Pennebaker

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T-Rex is an all-star who is typically more concerned with video game covers and his own stats than his team winning games. But with the right veteran leadership, he could be an incredible asset off the bench and eventually challenge for Cerrano's spot in left field.

16. Bench: Mickey Scales

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Mickey is the prototypical utility infielder. He would serve as a defensive replacement for Marla Hooch in the late innings of close games and spell Benny "The Jet" at shortstop every once in a while.

17. Bench: Bobby Rayburn

Bobby just signed a $40 million contract with the Giants and has a habit of underperforming, but he's got a lot of pop in his bat for a centerfield and provides a lot of power off the bench.

18. Bench: Kelly Leak

Leak isn't exactly the best team player, but besides Benny "The Jet," he's the most versatile player on the team. He smokes on the field and has a bit of a drinking problem, but it doesn't seem to affect his play.

19. Bench: Clu Haywood

Putting Haywood on a team with a bunch of Indians players may not be the best idea, but he's the first Triple Crown winner since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967. You can't argue with that kind of offensive output. Even if he's kind of a dick.

20. Bullpen: Amanda Whurlitzer

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While Kelly Leak was being a prima donna, Whurlitzer was the workhorse on the mound who would do anything to win. She also had a cannon for a right arm.

21. Bullpen: Ryan Dunne

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Dunne is our situational lefty. The Cape Cod kid has had some demons in his past but finally seemed to get his head straight while pitching for the Chatham A's. Lefties with his kind of stuff are hard to come by.

22. Bullpen: Kit Keller

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Everyone is always asking about her older sister Dottie, but Kit is the player you want on your team. Dottie just wants to settle down and start her family, but Kit is determined to be a star. The chip on her shoulder will never fade away.

23. Long Relief: Jim Bowers

Bowers is the perfect innings eater. He's not good enough to be a starter and doesn't have the electrifying stuff necessary for a back of the bullpen role. However, he's the perfect long reliever whose bizarre antics seem to work in a Turk Wendel-esque fashion.

24. Set-Up Man: Sam "Mayday" Malone

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According to Coach and the other guys in the bar, Sam was one of the best relievers in baseball until his alcoholism took a toll on his career. But his cool demeanor tells me Mayday is exactly who we want in that eighth-inning role.

25. Closer: Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn

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You need a maniac to close out games. Wild Thing is certifiably insane.

Manager: Jimmy Dugan

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Jimmy Dugan has some issues, but when it comes down to it, the man can straight up manage a team. He's an old-school manager that wouldn't take any shit from the rabble-rousers on the squad.

Bench Coach: Lou Brown

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Lou's blue-collar background would work well with Dugan's managerial style. Brown can relate to players better and calm them down when Jimmy inevitably spits in their faces and pees in their lockers.

Pitching Coach: Phil Brickma

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He invented "hot ice." You take ice and put it in the microwave. It's the best of both worlds!

Hitting Coach: George Knox

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George Knox was a manager of a perennial contender in Cincinnati before coming over to the Angels. While the Angels and Roger were mostly responsible for the team's winning ways, Knox was still the man ultimately making the decisions. And pinch-hitting Hemmerling for Mitchell is still one of the ballsiest managerial moves of our time.

First-Base Coach: Larry Hockett

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Larry is the perfect "yes man": He knows the game and the players, but really doesn't excel with much responsibility. He was born to be a first-base coach.

Third-Base Coach: Billy Heywood

Third-base coach is one of the most high-pressure positions in coaching. The only time you get noticed is when you screw up. Billy Heywood is a baseball genius. You'd never know he was standing there.

Serving 50-Game Suspension: Kenny Powers

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Powers beat up a fan for mocking his mullet.