10) “Shoeless” Joe Jackson
If you’re a baseball fan, you know who Joe Jackson is. One of the greatest players to ever play the game, he had his career cut short due to the Black Sox Scandal in 1919. He is the one and only “Shoeless” Joe Jackson. You’ve seen Field of Dreams, right? This nickname is as iconic as any in baseball history. From the “Shoeless” Joe Jackson website:
“He received his nickname “Shoeless”, after playing in a minor league game in his stockings because a new pair of cleats had given him blisters on his feet the previous day.”
9) Pete Rose “Charlie Hustle”
Plain and simple, Pete Rose is one of the greatest hitters to ever play baseball. Rose holds the record for hits with 4256, and he may also be the worst gambler to ever play baseball too. Pete Rose was known for always hustling and always running out every play. Things you rarely see in today’s game. Supposedly, this is how Rose got his nickname:
“Got the nickname “Charlie Hustle” during a spring training game against the New York Yankees in his rookie season (1963). Rose drew a walk and sprinted to first, prompting Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford to yell from the dugout, “There goes Charlie Hustle!” The nickname stuck.”
8) Jack Nicklaus “The Golden Bear”
The greatest golfer of all time, so the name is obviously known. It is as iconic as they come and he covers all the bases for nicknames. “The” Nicknames: He’s got this one covered. “Gold” Nicknames: Ditto for this one. Animal Nicknames: Another common trope of the nicknaming game. The fact that Jack Nicklaus’ moniker manages to cover all three of these common nicknaming practices is epic. Jack Nicklaus will always be known and “The Golden Bear” will be around forever.
7) “Super” Mario Lemieux
When you can accurately describe a player’s abilities while making a video game reference, you’ve just nailed a winning nickname. And that’s what Mario Lemieux has been able to do. One of the greats in the game of hockey, Lemieux has been able to take one of the best nicknames of all times. Everyone knows the Super Mario video games, which helps make this name that much more popular.
6) Ted Williams “The Splendid Splinter”
Ted Williams goes by a couple nicknames, it can either be this one or the well known, “Teddy Ballgame”. Known as being one of the greatest hitters ever, “The Splendid Splinter” fits him perfect. And how cool of a nickname is that anyhow. To any baseball fan, this name is as iconic as they come. And forget it if your from Boston, he may as well be a God.
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