I told you guys it would be a slower day. I’m sitting here watching Ryan Poles press conference highlights and learning name pronunciations hoping anything worthy is going to drop for me to sink into. We’re a couple weeks away from this never being a problem but right now we’re still grinding in spring training.
As such, I was thinking about Travis Jankowski from yesterday’s Cubs News & Notes blog and more specifically, what are the best Chicago names in Chicago baseball history. At least in my life time.
So I asked the question to myself and this is what I came up with…
But first, I hope you know what I’m talking about when I say Chicago Name. I’m talking about the sound of a name that calls into 670 to complain about quarterback play. I’m talking about the name of a good concrete guy or a plumber or an officer that says heyhowyadoin when you see him at a stoplight. I’m talking about good natured God fearing midwestern Chicago men of values. You hear the name and you know it.
Heavy European surname certainly helps
That’s who I mean and this is what we got.
C – AJ Pierzynski
1st – Paul Konerko
2nd – Tony Graffanino
3rd – Rob Mackowiak
SS – Mike Caruso
LF – Travis Jankowski
CF – Tony Campana
RF – Brian Bogusevic
#1 – Tom Gorzelanny
#2 – Carmen Pignatiello
CL – Joe Borowski
Full lineup and maybe more Italian than I anticipated.
And I also thought we’d get a lot more Polish contributions.
Overall though that’s definitely a bunch of blue shirt CPD off duty guys standing around a cooler at a block party. Every single one of those names.
Interesting enough – a lot of local blood unironically on the list between Carmen, Bogusevic, Gorzelanny, and Mackowiak. And I cannot stress enough – that was not on purpose when researching this project. Turns out the best Chicago names actually come from Chicago guys.
Who knew?
All this to say I NEED Jankowski to get regular playing time enough to register on my dad’s radar. It won’t take long as they’re both lean lefties, and he has an affinity for undersized lefties in baseball. So hopefully he sticks long enough for me to get that phone call because God knows it’s coming if he plays…
HAVE YOU SEEN THIS JANKOWSKI KID
Yes Dad.
I’ve heard of him.
Please: tell me more.
This fuckin kid… boy can he run… I tell ya… if we had a lineup full of him… Jerry might not be selling… have you seen him play? Looks like Kyle Hudson tracking down punts
Anyways I’m curious –
What Chicago names did I miss? Who belongs in the lineup?
PS – Shoutout @MrDelicious13 and @KenWo4LiFe for the assist.
Fritzie Connally. Can imagine just yelling across the construction site: “Yo Fritzie grab the locking pliers!” Also only two HRs in the majors were grand slams which he definitely brought up during lunch break.
Interesting lineup! The Italian representation is strong, but I would’ve expected to see a few more Polish names considering the city’s history. Guys like Joe Borowski and AJ definitely represent that classic Chicago character.
I love how you tied these ‘Chicago names’ to the city’s blue-collar roots. It’s true, names like Pierzynski and Konerko do carry a certain local vibe, like they could’ve been chatting about the Sox over a coffee at a diner. Definitely gives a new perspective on the players who made Chicago proud.
This lineup definitely captures the essence of a ‘Chicago Name,’ but I was expecting more guys like Pierzynski and Konerko. Maybe we need a follow-up list just for the Polish-heavy roster!
This lineup is a vibe. You nailed the ‘guy who calls into 670 after a Bears loss’ energy. I’d lobby for adding Mark Grudzielanek off the bench, just for name alone.
This lineup nailsBlog Comment Creation the ‘Chicago name’ vibe—feels like a mix between a 16-inch softball team and a neighborhood watch roster. Surprised not to see a Todd or a Sal in there, though! Curious if you gave any thought to including guys like Ron Karkovice or even Vance Law—names that hit that same local-union-meets-Chicago-public-league sweet spot.
The ‘heyhowyadoin’ test is honestly genius — you can *hear* half these names arguing balls and strikes in Bridgeport. You should do an all-time Cubs vs. Sox ‘Chicago Name’ face-off next… that’d be a classic.
This lineup nails the vibe you’re describing—Pierzynski and Borowski especially feel straight out of a South Side parish. Curious, would you have included someone like Frank Thomas even though the name doesn’t scream ‘Chicago guy’?
Interesting list, I can definitely see the Chicago names you’re talking about, but I was expecting more from the Polish side! Names like ‘Szczur’ or even ‘Wells’ might’ve rounded things out even more. It’s a fun angle, though!
Love this concept of a ‘Chicago name’ lineup—it really captures the feel of the city beyond just the game itself. Surprised you didn’t sneak in a Kosuke Fukudome or even a Mark Grudzielanek, both of whom had names that always stuck with me as distinctly memorable in a Chicago baseball context. It’s funny how much the vibe of a name alone can feel like it belongs on the South Side or North Side.