Website design By BotEap.comBaseball fans received a special treat in the Christmas edition of The New York Times, thanks to a column by Tyler Kepner. His gift to us was a quiz of fifty baseball trivia questions, thirty of which I answered correctly.

Website design By BotEap.comThe question that intrigued me the most was about the history of the Most Valuable Player Awards, an answer that required five names. That number represents the number of MVPs whose first and last names contained four letters, and I’m proud to say I identified all five: Babe Ruth, Pete Rose, Vida Blue, Fred Lynn and Jeff Kent.

Website design By BotEap.comEven without those five MVPs, one could build a great team made up of players whose first and last names have exactly four letters. This is what such a list would look like.

Website design By BotEap.comStarting left-handed pitcher: Rich Hill

Website design By BotEap.comHe teamed up with Clayton Kershaw to give the Dodgers a great pair of lefties, who were one of the main reasons Los Angeles won the pennant in 2017.

Website design By BotEap.comStarting pitcher: José Rijo

Website design By BotEap.comCincinnati swept the Oakland A’s in the 1990 World Series, primarily because of this ace’s dominance of the Reds’ rotation.

Website design By BotEap.comStarting pitcher: Rick Wise

Website design By BotEap.comOne of the most dominant pitchers in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Wise was also a prolific hitter.

Website design By BotEap.comRelief pitcher: Gary Bell

Website design By BotEap.comAlthough a reliable reliever for a variety of teams, it was his short-lived tenure with the Seattle Pilots that led to Bell being immortalized in Jim Bouton’s book Ball Four.

Website design By BotEap.comCloser: Jose Mesa

Website design By BotEap.comThe unorthodox reliever was one of the main reasons the Cleveland Indians captured two pennants in the 1990s.

Website design By BotEap.comCatcher: Tony Pena

Website design By BotEap.comPeña, one of the best defensive receivers of his generation, spent most of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Website design By BotEap.comFirst Base: Rule Effective

Website design By BotEap.comThe slugger helped the Detroit Tigers claim the pennant in 1968, providing much of the offense that contributed to Denny McClain’s 31 wins.

Website design By BotEap.comSecond baseman: Dave Cash

Website design By BotEap.comNot only was he a skilled fielder in both Montreal and Philadelphia, but he served as a potent point guard threat at the top of the batting order.

Website design By BotEap.comShortstop: Joey Cora

Website design By BotEap.comCora and her brother Alex formed a literal fraternity of great midfield players.

Website design By BotEap.comThird baseman: Jake Lamb

Website design By BotEap.comBy having him play opposite All Star Paul Goldschmidt, the Arizona Diamondbacks boast one of the best corner infielder tandems in the game today.

Website design By BotEap.comLeft field: Jose Cruz

Website design By BotEap.comHis sweet swing and decisive hitting were key elements that made the Houston Astros contenders in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Website design By BotEap.comCenter field: Alex Rios

Website design By BotEap.comHe burst onto the scene with several great seasons in Toronto, where he displayed a rare combination of speed, power and arm.

Website design By BotEap.comRight field: Matt Kemp

Website design By BotEap.comBarely missing out on Ryan Braun’s chance to win an MVP, Kemp was traded back to the Dodgers this winter.

Website design By BotEap.comDesignated Hitter: Adam Lind

Website design By BotEap.comProviding consistent power from the left side, Lind was a key addition that helped the Washington Nationals conquer the NL East last season.