Immaculate grid

I'm gonna guess you guessed Jim Morrison.

 

His name crossed my mind, but I figured it would be better to go with a player whose primary position wasn't third base. I went with guys whose primary position wasn't third base for that entire column.

Are we still spoiling grids after that day even though people can go back and play old ones now?

 

The whole thing is on the honor system, and there are usually plenty of answers, so you don't have to use any of the names mentioned here. Like with the Pirates third baseman, there's got to be a couple hundred answers. Just rule out the ones mentioned here and figure out one of the others.

 

(That Tom Hanks character from SNL who was always a minute late contributing to a conversation)

ARAMIS RAMIREZ!!!!!

 

That one was too easy, but it led me my answer for someone who played for the Cubs and Pirates.

 

That sounds fair. In answer to BYH's question, I used Rafael Belliard. He hung around a long time, primarily as a shortstop who could also play second base, but I remembered he got some time at third for the Pirates.

 

Mike Lavaliere.
I cleaned up that column (.07, .2, .1), but blew it with one of the Cubs.

 

The Cubs-Pirates box from the other day was a Metkovich Special.
Completely random, non-descript player from the 1940s and 50s who checks a stunning number of IG boxes.

George Metkovich Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More | Baseball-Reference.com

 

Damn. I totally forgot he played one game at third.

 

Was it only 1? I chose him bc I (think I) remember him being a C-1, 3b-4 in strat-o-matic.

 

Yup. I just double-checked on BaseballReference.com. Spanky played third base in one game in 1992.

 

With 2023 coming to a close, I think it's time to name my Immaculate Grid All-Stars, which honors the players I use the most frequently and who usually come in under 5 percent -- depending on how little a player is associated with a team. Like, say, Rickey Henderson with the Mariners:

Gaylord Perry
Al Oliver
Bert Blyleven
Fred Lynn
Dave Parker
Dave Collins
Mike Morgan
Fernando Rodney
Armando Benitez
Rickey Henderson

Some notes:
I don't spend all day on a grid. I usually crank it out in under 30 minutes. Speed is more important to me than a low score. I don't really care to rack my brain all day. Knowing trivia is also knowing it quickly. In fact, I think grid scores should be weighted according to time completed.
I know the Hall of Fame members pretty damn well -- hey there, Eppa Rixey -- and love flooding the grid with black and white photos of old timers like Arky Vaughn, Rube Waddell, and Jesse Burkett.
I don't think I've used a single Washington National; I always use Expos.
I can hold my own with two recent expansion teams, the Marlins and the Rays. If I see the Rockies or the Dbacks, I give the grid a hard pass for that day lol.
I have a severe blind spot for baseball players after 2012/2013, when I stopped covering sports regularly.
I love the new categories they consistently introduce.

Who are your all-stars and what are some of your thoughts on the IG, which has honestly been a welcome, daily distraction in an otherwise shitty year for me personally. I look fwd to 9 am and a new grid every day.