Contributed by Mitch Isosceles
The WPBL is full of dynamic players with electric personalities and strong charisma. For the fans that follow the WPBL day in and day out, they feel a connection with their home teams and the players that make up those rosters. Sometimes we get a deeper view into those personalities in a post-game interview, sometimes we see it on the field, but at other times we get a glimpse in the form of a nickname. Iconic nicknames have always been a part of the sporting world...."Babe", "Magic", "Sweetness", or "Dr. J"...a nickname can become the way an athlete is recognized by the masses. While the WPBL remains a regional phenomenon, it is a league that has embraced the concept of a great nickname. Many fans know and love their players both for the reputation they've created on the field with their play but also for the nicknames and personas they've created in the clubhouse. In what will become the first part of an ongoing series, let's take a look at some of the most iconic nicknames we currently have in the WPBL and explore how those nicknames came to be.
Joram "Crazy Legs" Van Der Wal
Van Der Wal came into the league as the most intriguing prospect of his time and the hype surrounding him has never faded since he arrived as an international amateur at the age of 16. Joram and his parents learned how special some believed he could be when he was offered a 450,000 signing bonus in 2021 as a high school sophomore to travel from the Netherlands to join the international complex in Pocatello, Idaho. Despite entering into the WPBL as an international free agent and attempting to open up a bidding war amongst all franchises, Pocatello was the only team that really showed interest in him at the time. Joram had incredible hitting potential, decent enough fielding potential, and above average base-running instincts. One would have thought every team in the league would be ready to make a run at the guy, but there was one thing that scared multiple teams off : The Crazy Legs.
Joram's father had committed to molding Van Der Wal into a professional baseball player since he learned to walk. Every day featured a vigorous training regiment that focused on reptitions as a batter and a fielder. Joram learned the skills to become a hitter and an outfielder as his childhood progressed. There was one problem though: He never really learned to run. His extremely awkward running method was both a blessing and a curse in his early days of baseball. Joram immediatley dominated the Dutch Little League scene, but the kids quite quickly gave him the nickname "Gekke Benen" which translates in English to "Crazy Legs". People certainly noticed him when he was running the bases and the attention wasn't always positive. Once they'd stop to look at the complete player though, they'd recognize the raw skills he possessed and his potential to become a superstar. Regardless, he was never able to shake off the "Crazy Legs" nickname.
Pocatello Scout at the time Brian Bezotte had this to say: "We took a look at this kid and it really felt like he was the complete package. Then we saw him running the bases. It was the goofiest damn thing I've ever seen. His legs were kicking out sideways with each stride, I didnt understand it at all. How could a kid who had so much discipline in every other facet of the game look so so out of sync in this one particular area?" General consensus amongst league insiders is that this bizarre running method scared off many other potential suitors. Despite this, Pocatello offered him a generous contract and he soon became the #1 prospect in the league. The Old-Timers primary focus from the start was to help Van Der Wal develop a more technical running stride, but they weren't able to fully help him with this before he was traded to Bandon in 2022. The Bung Hammers made the same commitment to improving his running and were beginning to see progress, but he was again traded in 2024. This time the Astoria Chinooks took over with the hope of tapping into Joram's potential. By this time, the dividends of his base-running training were beginning to pay off. Joram has improved his stride and no longer sticks out with his running method. He's been a major leaguer in the WPBL since last year and the sky is the limit for his future. It doesn't matter to the fans though because the nickname has stuck, he will always be "Crazy Legs".
Gumball "Cowboy" Washington
Gumball Washington is one of the more fascinating characters in the WPBL today. Before we even get to the story behind the nickname, let's take a look at the story behind the actual name. Gumball was born in the Dominican Republic to two Dominican parents. Despite living their whole lives in the small town of La Cienaga, they were obsessed with American culture. When they had their first child they wanted to give him a name that exuded the essence of the American spirit. In their minds Gumball Washington was that name. Sure...the name stuck out in the Dominican Republic. Something funny happened though: As his baseball talent increased, he became recognizable both for his play on the field but for the name that stuck out amongst the rest. Everyone in the local community knew of Gumball Washington and his stellar play on the diamond. It wasn't long before he traveled to the United States to show off his talents and sign with a baseball team there.
He entered the WPBL as a free agent and was quickly signed by the Walla Walla Wallabies with a lucrative signing bonus. They weren't ready to throw him right into the big leagues though. He was placed on the Bisbee Copper Queens at the age of 18. His time in Bisbee was when he developed the "Cowboy" nickname. Gumball recalls: "I was 18 years-old and I had just been given a 750,000 signing bonus to play for the Wallabies. I sent a lot of that home to my family, but I kept plenty for myself to have fun with. What did I spend a lot of it on? My wardrobe. I had grown up with a father who idolized American culture. We spent every weekend watching Westerns and I was obsessed with John Wayne. I was finally in America and I wanted to look just like him". Gumball quickly amassed a wardrobe that embraced the Cowboy culture in America.
Players were quite intrigued with their new teammate: A Dominican named Gumball Washington who showed up to work every day decked out in cowboy attire. The "Cowboy" moniker just kind of came to be and Gumball loved it. He rose through the ranks relatively quickly before joining the Wallabies main roster in 2024. The "Cowboy" persona has remained a part of his identity and the fans love it. At the age of 23, Washington is expected to have a long and prosperous career in the WPBL as he lives out a more unique version of the American Dream.
Victor "Volcano" Melendez
3-Time All-Star Melendez came into the league with the nickname "Volcano". Despite limited knowledge on it's roots, the fans embraced the moniker. Those that don't know Victor's history prior to his arrival in the WPBL in 2021 may not fully realize how his nickname came to be, but those that have followed his career from the start have a greater appreciation for how we came to know Volcano.
At the age of 24, Victor made his independent league baseball debut as part of the New England Baseball Association's Nashua Gnats based out of New Hampshire. Victor made an impression right away. With stellar movement and control along with a nasty fastball, he very quickly became one of the top pitchers in the league. His dynamic personality and leadership qualities in the clubhouse made him appreciated by fans and players alike. Melendez had one major weakness though: His temper. Melendez had every quality you want in a young star pitcher, but he just couldn't find a way to keep himself calm when things got heated. In his first season with the Gnats in 2017, he set an NEBA record for games suspended that still stands to this day. Following a particularly ugly altercation with an opposing team's player, Gnats Manager Buck Foreskin had this to say about Melendez: "You just can't control the guy. He takes everything personally, never backs down, and is ready to fight over anything. He's a volcano that's ready to burst at any given moment." The players took off with it next season, calling him "Volcano" any chance they got. This soon spilled over to the media and fans and the rest is history.
Melendez spent the next 4 years doing pretty much exactly the same thing. He was a fantastic young pitcher, but his hot head got him in trouble time and time again. Although the fans erupted with joy any time Volcano ended up in a fight, all of the suspensions he was accruing were damaging his reputation and his checkbook. "I ended up paying a lot back to the league in fines during a time when I was still on a rookie contract. Something had to change" recalls Melendez. In 2021, Melendez became a free agent. He was hoping for a big raise because of the stats that he was putting up on the field. Instead, he garnered minimal interest from other NEBA teams. Melendez's agent mentioned one idea that was high-risk/high-reward. A new league was forming out west called the "Western Pioneers Baseball League" and was getting some attention from a lot of big names in the independent baseball scene. Melendez made the bold decision to leave New England and enter the inaugural WPBL draft. With Victor's skillset and age, there was a chance for him to go off the board very early. Instead, due to his reputation, he fell to the fifth round where he was drafted by the Elko Truckers. In the offseason he knew he had to come into the league with a new attitude if he wanted to be successful.
In an effort to re-invent himself, Volcano found a new passion in the form of yoga. Melendez has fond memories of his early days with the WPBL, "I remember I had just been put up in a Best Western in downtown Elko as I tried to find an apartment. I decided to take a walk to clear my head. I walked by a yoga studio that had a class in session. I sat at the window and was in awe. Everyone looked perfectly at peace, like they didn't have a care in the world. That was the serenity I was looking for." Melendez states that this moment changed everything. Meditation and yoga are now a foundation of his everyday life and it's had a positive impact on his temper and self-control. We have not seen that same Victor Melendez from the NEBA in his run with the WPBL: No more fights, no more ejections, no more suspensions. While Melendez has not become the superstar he hoped to become, he has found success in the WPBL in the form of 3 all-star appearances and one championship ring. Despite his now calm and steady presence, the "Volcano" nickname has stuck with him. While it's now more spoken in jest from his teammates and fans, it serves as a friendly reminder for Victor the importance of working to better yourself.
Victor "Push Pop" Patterson
While some nicknames have deeper meanings that allude to a certain personality trait or a particularly iconic moment in a player's life, others are a little bit less creative and get placed upon a player for exactly why you'd think. In Victor Patterson's case it's the latter: The guy loves Push Pops and he has his whole life. It all starts with Victor's time playing for his local little league team in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Patterson recalls: "My parents gave me a dollar after every game to take to the concession stand. Every single time I'd use that to buy a Push Pop. Let me tell you, it's the single greatest candy in existence. Always has been, always will be."
Despite increasing buzz and recognition as he entered high school, Victor continued his tradition of capping off every game with a Push Pop. It caught his peers attention and they thought it was hilarious. By this time the nickname had been established. As he got a little bit older and more disciplined, he has began to limit his frequency of indulgence. "Nowadays I save the Push Pop for special occassions: Milestone records, playoff wins, and personal best performances. Some people want to celebrate with a cold beer or champagne, me I just want to kick back with a Push Pop." Certainly one of the more recognizable nicknames in the league, he's much more often referred to as "Push Pop" than he is as "Patterson". In the midst of another phenomenal season in which he boasts a 2.45 ERA, 2.5 WAR, and 9.6 K/9 ratio, Victor is on track to enjoy quite a few celebratory Push Pops this season.
Jim "Psycho" Thorp
Sometimes a player gets a nickname for a dynamic and outgoing personality. Sometimes a player gets a nickname for stellar play on field. Sometimes it's because the players are making fun of him behind his back. This is actually how it all started for Jim Thorp. At the age of 36, Jim is entering his final years of playing time in the WPBL. Despite a relatively quiet and bland personality, he is somehow a fan favorite and has maintained this for a long while. The "Psycho" nickname dates back well before the days of the WPBL. It all started when Thorp was his 20s and playing for the Texas Baseball League. Jim got his start with the Lubbock Longhorns and immediately made an impact with his impressive movement and control.
Despite his dominant play on the field and being a key part of multiple championships for the Longhorns, Thorp never really connected with the players. When asked for comment, Thorp had this to say: "I'm the type of guy that comes to work, does his job, and goes back home. Can we please end this interview now?". His teammates constantly tried to get him to come out after a big game, take part in some team-building activities, or even just have a conversation in the locker room, but he remained resistant. With his rigid personality and minimal interactions with anyone on the team, the joke in the clubhouse became that he was a real-life version of Norman Bates. The players started calling him "Psycho" behind his back. One fateful day in the clubhouse, Thorp unintentionally overheard several players making fun of him and calling him "Psycho" when referring to his Bates-esque personality. When they realized he had heard the entire conversation, the locker room went silent. A long pause of quiet seemed to last an eternity. It was finally broken with the hysterical cackle of Thorp. Despite the initial negative connotation, he seemed to find it hilarious. Former teammate Sammy Dingleberry recalls that moment: "Something changed in him that day. I had never heard the dude laugh before....honeslty I never did again. Either way, he told us not to worry because he thought the whole thing was pretty damn funny. After that instead of walking into the locker room and not saying a word before moving into game preparations, he'd walk into the locker room and say "Hello" before moving into game preparations".
Not much has changed in Thorp's personality as he's moved throughout his career. He ended up in the WPBL after leaving the TBL and has found success here with the Bandon Barons. Despite his reserved personality he is loved by the fans. He's extremely popular locally and very popular nationally. That's not easy to do when you're a guy whos interviews usually last 15 seconds at the maximum. The formula is simple though, the fans appreciate a player who shows up when he's supposed to and does the job he's supposed to do: Throw strikes. His robotic personality and flat affect leads to the fans further embracing the "Psycho" nickname. Thorp knows he's not Norman Bates, but has always found humor in the nickname and how it's stuck with him. "Yes it was and still is funny, I remember I did actually once laugh at that. What an odd feeling that was. For the record, I would not actually harm my mother. She's an amazing woman. Can we end this interview now?".
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