27 best MLB nicknames of all-time
26. “Dizzy” Dean
Jay Hanna “Dizzy” Dean is one of the few Hall of Fame players of any sport to be solely recognized by his nickname.
Just a fraction of baseball fans may actually know “Dizzy” Dean’s first name, but his status as an all-time great is common knowledge.
Dean lead the National League in strikeouts in each of his first four seasons, from 1932 to 1935. The high-point of his career came in 1934, when he was named the National League MVP and led the St. Louis Cardinals to a World Series title. That year, he became the last pitcher in the National League to record a 30-win season. Dean led the league in wins in both 1934 and 1935, combining for an astonishing total of 58 wins.
Unfortunately, his career was cut short by injury.
Dean suffered a broken toe during the 1937 All-Star Game and altered his pitching motion to compensate. This caused him to injure his arm, and as a result, he lost the power on his near-unhittable fastball that made him such a threat on the mound.
The Chicago Cubs still took a chance on Dean when they acquired him in 1938. The gamble would not pay off for the Cubs, though, as the once-great pitcher was unable to stay healthy during his four years with the team.
Dean finished his career with four 20-win seasons, compiling 150 wins and 1,163 strikeouts in just 9 full seasons in the major leagues. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953.
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