Well, You Can Call Me Ray, Or You Can Call Me Jay… UPDATED
Possibly the all-time lulu of baseball name stories – eclipsing even the multiple spellings of Ismael Valdes/Valdez, and pitcher Harry Rasmussen changing his first name to Eric, and the verbal fistfights that used to break out over Dick Allen’s right to call himself anything besides “Richie” – is here in Baseball America.
Wally, Jose, Bryan, whatever.
Update, 12:15 AM EDT 7/2: I forgot! The aforementioned Mr. Wally Jose Bryan was also a little off on his age, which invokes the greatest baseball biography ever written, on the back of the 1964 Phillies’ Rookie Card featuring Dave Bennett (the top one here). If the wonderful image of a man getting younger before your very eyes doesn’t register, read the write-up outloud.
(Courtesy The Topps Company)
Baseball Nerd 
Hahaha, that’s awesome. (Btw, good to see the rumors are, in the words of Mark Twain, “greatly exaggerated.”)
Richie Allen & Rick Wise – wow. I remember when Allen changed his name like it was yesterday. He was a great great player, but if I recall correctly, he was controversial, although I can’t remember why. And I remember Rick Wise very well. He wore glasses. Good pitcher. Was with the Red Sox during the 1975/Reds World Series. He was very popular here in Boston. I just didn’t realize he had such a long career. Now I’m curious. Think I’ll go read about these two guys and refresh my memory. Thanks Keith for always bringing up these blasts from the past. Brings back so many great memories. But more often than not, I learn things here I never knew. Which is always a good thing for baseball fans.
“He’s listed as day to day, but then again, aren’t we all?”
– Dan Patrick –
Aw, c’mon, Keith, you know the best all-time baseball name story is about the day Everitt Booe came up to pinch-hit and told Bill Klem his name — Klem threw him out of the game. Not sure whether Booe was 20, 21, or both.
I remember Rick Wise very well. He wore glasses. Good pitcher. Was with the Red Sox during the 1975/Reds World Series. He was very popular here in Boston. I just didn’t realize he had such a long career. Now I’m curious. Think I’ll go read about these two guys and refresh my memory. Thanks Keith for always bringing up these blasts from the past. Brings back so many great memories. But more often than not, I learn things here I never knew. Which is always a good thing for baseball fans. Wheat Flour Mill
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