An All-Star Team of Ex-Jocks in Philly

Standing out in the cold and wind at Citizens Bank Park during batting practice prior to tonight's Game 3 of the NLCS, I was struck by the sheer amount of talent gathered around the batting cages.

Not the Dodgers and Phillies players, mind you -- I'm talking about the ex-players.

List-maker extraordinaire that I am, I put pen to paper and -- with a little help from fellow scribes -- came up with the following all-star team. Everyone on this list is in the stadium tonight, and I'm excluding uniformed personnel (Joe Torre, Don Mattingly, Davey Lopes, etc.) because that would be too easy. Just wait until you see our pitching staff. Wow.

C: Buck Martinez (TBS)
1B: Darren Daulton (apparently unaffiliated, ceremonial first-pitch thrower)
2B: Steve Lyons (Dodgers broadcaster)
3B: Bill Mueller (Dodgers executive)
SS: Cal Ripken Jr. (TBS)
LF: Gary Matthews Sr. (Phillies broadcaster)
CF: Darryl Hamilton (Commissioner's office)
RF: Rick Monday (Dodgers broadcaster)

SP: Sandy Koufax (Dodgers icon, confirmed as being in the house)
SP: Fernando Valenzuela (Dodgers boadcaster)
SP: David Wells (TBS)
SP: Ron Darling (TBS)
RP: Dennis Eckersley (TBS)
RP: Rob Dibble (Sirius/XM Radio)
RP: Jeff Nelson (Sirius/XM Radio)
RP: Larry Andersen (Phillies broadcaster)

That pitching staff alone amassed 1,025 wins, five Cy Youngs (three for Koufax, one each for Eckersley and Valenzuela), an MVP (Eckersley) and a Rookie of the Year(Valenzuela).

Our lineup is good for two MVP awards (both by Ripken), two Rookies of the Year (Ripken and Matthews) and a batting champ (Mueller).

All in all, a pretty solid squad. I think I would have picked these guys to beat the Twins in four games had they met in the Division Series.

By Dave Sheinin |  October 18, 2009; 6:24 PM ET
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