The 2019 World Series is here, and so we gathered the help of some friends to assemble the greatest all-dog baseball rosters the world has ever seen.
The 2019 World Series is here, and so we here at Dog O’Day thought it was an appropriate time to assemble all-dog baseball rosters.
Dogs can’t actually play baseball, because a lack of thumbs severely limits their ability to throw. (That didn’t stop Buddy in Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch, though.) But the idea of such a scene, which takes place in the picture book Go Dog Go, is very captivating. (Thank you, PD Eastman!)
Wes doesn’t follow baseball too closely because of the terrible experiences during Little League days, but years of playing sports video games have given him a solid working knowledge of what each position ideally requires.
Kimberley does follow baseball, but wasn’t able to take part in this project because of other work commitments.
So we recruited some experts uniquely qualified to help in this area – our friends Bark-Andre Furry and Holland the Pup. Not only are they both big-time baseball fans (Holland’s even been to the Field of Dreams), but as canines, they are specially gifted with an understanding of what different breeds might bring to each position on the diamond.
We also invited Rookie the Batdog to join in, but he was too disappointed by the New York Yankees’ loss in the American League Championship Series to feel up to it, which we totally understand.
The 2019 World Series will match the American League’s newest team, the Houston Astros, against the newest team in the older circuit of the National League in the Washington Nationals. (The Astros moved to the AL West from the National League Central in 2013, while the Nationals became a thing in 2005 after the Montreal Expos moved to DC.)
For more 2019 World Series coverage, be sure to check out our FanSided Network sister sites Climbing Tal’s Hill and House of Houston, focusing on the Astros, and District on Deck, slanted towards Washington.
To ensure a more level playing field in the hypothetical all-dog games between the teams that follow, we’re going to assume it takes place on a softball field, since the dimensions are smaller.
Wesley’s pick for the 2019 World Series is the Houston Astros.
I don’t really care about either Houston or Washington, but the Astros have better uniforms, so there’s that. Also, many of their key players have dogs.
That said, here are my picks for the ideal all-dog baseball roster.
First baseman: A Boxer would be a good fit at first base, able to make those tough catches on close plays.
Second baseman: The Australian Cattle Dog is a smart, agile and athletic breed, and they would be a solid line-drive hitter at the plate.
Shortstop: Like Houston’s Jose Altuve, the Shetland Sheepdog is on the smaller side, but it possesses a Collie’s intelligence and has super quick reflexes. Also, natural bravery, so it wouldn’t be fazed by having to field laser beams occasionally.
Third baseman: A Doberman Pinscher seems like a solid pick here, able to make those hard throws over to first when recovering slow grounders.
Left fielder: The outfield requires great catching ability, and the Golden Retriever is very good at that. Plus it feels like it helps if the job is done with some flash, which Goldens naturally possess.
Center fielder: Covering some of the most territory here, the center fielder often directs the other outfielders on close plays in disputed territory, and that’s where a Border Collie brains come in.
Right fielder: Right field has a bad reputation, but in the pros, that’s probably the most important position, because of hitters’ strength pulling the ball there, so we’re going to go with the most well-known retriever of them all in the Labrador.
Catcher: A team needs a mellow presence behind the plate, and being physically massive doesn’t hurt, either. The Great Pyrenees fits both aspects perfectly, and would likely be a deep threat when batting as well.
Pitcher: While a Standard Schnauzer wouldn’t bring a ton of speed to the mound, they do bring a terrier’s determination and persistence, able to go for the long haul. Plus the beard would add an element of intimidation.
Designated hitter: A strong, powerful type like the Frank Thomas with the Chicago White Sox, this seems like a job for a Newfoundland.
Now onto the squad assembled by Bark-Andre Furry.
While he’ll almost certainly be watching the 2019 World Series, Bark-Andre Furry has assembled a solid squad for his ideal baseball team.
Vegas Golden Knights superfan Bark-Andre Furry is known as the unofficial leader of the VGK dogs, a particularly large and appreciate branch of the social media hockey dog community.
But he’s also a big-time baseball fan, following the Boston Red Sox when it comes to the big leagues and often attending games of the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators (much closer to home) during Wag Your Tail Wednesdays.
Given a lifetime of ardent sports fandom, Bark has put together the following roster for his ideal baseball team:
Pitcher: A Whippet has to go here. The name says it all.
Catcher: We want a Bulldog here, since he can block the plate.
First baseman: The Great Dane, because he would have a great stretch.
Second baseman: No brainer – a Jack Russell Terrier goes here, because he loves dirt and can turn the double play. I wouldn’t ever tell him this, but my brother Deke would probably be my pick here.
Third baseman: Labrador Retriever, since they’re known for being ball hawks, and would seem to have a strong throwing arm.
Shortstop: Border Collie! They’re smart, can be a manager on the field, and have good herding skills.
Left fielder: The Golden Retriever goes here, There’s a short porch in Houston, he’d be good at coming in on balls.
Center fielder: Greyhound. Center field is a large area to patrol, and they cover a LOT of ground very quickly.
Right fielder: A Doberman Pinscher, since they are fast, agile, and would provide good arm strength.
DH: A Bullmastiff brings power to any part of the park.
Bark can be followed on Facebook at Bark-Andre Furry, and on Twitter and Instagram at the handle @BarkAndreFurry.
On now to our final team, assembled by Holland the Pup.
Holland the Pup uses her baseball history lessons from Dad to assemble her ideal team for the 2019 World Series.
[Editorial note – Holland’s response has been trimmed slightly for clarity, but she knows her baseball – she’s visited 10 Major League Baseball stadiums, and been inside four of them. We would totally read her blog if she had one.]
Hi guys, it’s Holland the Pup checking in as the 2019 World Series starts! I was hopeful my hometown Tampa Bay Rays could pull off the series win against the Astros, but man do the Astros ever have a good team this year!
Now here I am trying to decide who I want to win the World Series this year. I tend to root for the American League more than the National League (kind of like how I always seem to root for SEC football teams when they play games against other conferences), so I guess I’ll be pulling for the Astros and the AL in the World Series this year, even thought it’s been really fun to watch the Nationals’ success this season!
And boy, who doesn’t love the heart and hustle from Jose Altuve? He actually reminds me of my cousin, Irma, who I just met on my current trip to Canada. Irma is a spunky little French Bulldog who’s always full of enthusiasm and always lifts up all the other dogs when we’re playing together. That got me thinking – what kind of dogs would make the best baseball players at each position? This is what I came up with:
Pitcher: I always feel batters can be intimidated by a strong, tall pitcher. Kind of like Randy Johnson back in the day. I bet a Great Dane would be awesome on the mound!
Catcher: These guys are the most underrated players on the field. They are involved in every play and play a huge role in the success of a pitcher. I’ve heard Border Collies are super smart and agile, so I think they would be great behind the plate.
First base: My dad remembers Cecil Fielder and Frank Thomas being big powerful first-basemen back in his day. I bet an English Mastiff would be awesome at first base!
Second base: I just talked about Jose Altuve, one of the best second basemen around, reminding me of my cousin Irma who I mentioned earlier who’s a French Bulldog, so I’d have to go with a quick, nimble, and spunky Frenchie to cover second base.
Shortstop: The Cardinals’ Ozzie Smith was one of my dad’s favorite shortstops of all time. He said Ozzie would often do a backflip when coming on to the field. I have a friend back in Tampa named Percy (named after the Florida Gator and NFL star Percy Harvin) who is a Jack Russell Terrier and I think they would make the perfect shortstop.
Third base: My dad says there have been many good third basemen, like Wade Boggs, Chipper Jones, George Brett, and Mike Schmidt. These guys aren’t the slimmest of guys, but they are quick, strong, and smart. If you ask me, these are all the qualities of a German Shepherd. I bet they would rock covering third base.
Right field: I may be a little biased here, but since I’m a Lab-mix I know us Labs love to go catch things! I bet we would be great in right field.
Left field: Although they aren’t the slimmest of any dog I’ve ever seen, I just hung out with my friend Sadie who’s a Golden Retriever and man is she ever quick to go retrieve a ball! A Golden Retriever would be my pick for left field!
Center field: Being a fan of the Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays, I have been spoiled over the past several years watching two of the best center fielders to ever play the game: Kevin Pillar and Kevin Kiermaier. I never know what guy is the better one between the two, but I know they each have highlight reels as long as a CVS receipt! I’ve seen lots of Australian Shepherds make some phenomenal Frisbee catches that remind me of Pillar and Kiermaier and I bet an Australian Shepherd would make the best center fielder.
Holland can be followed on Instagram at the handle @HollandThePup, and her dad Adam Vosding can be followed on Facebook at Traveling Food Dude and on Instagram and Twitter at the handle @TravelingFoodDude.
Who do you think will claim the 2019 World Series?