Baseball is the sport of nicknames — the more dramatic, ridiculous, or oddly accurate, the better. Some players earn them through legendary play, others through sheer personality, and a few just because they look like they were born to have that name.
Here are the 15 most fitting nicknames in MLB history — and yes, some of these feel like they came straight out of a movie script.
15. “The Big Donkey” – Adam Dunn
He was big, slow, and smashed baseballs into orbit, so yeah, this one works. Not graceful, but brutally effective — like a donkey with a bat.
14. “The Kraken” – Gary Sánchez
Once unleashed by the Yankees, he started smashing homers and living up to his mythical nickname. Unfortunately, sometimes he also forgot how to catch, but hey — krakens are chaotic.
13. “Crime Dog” – Fred McGriff
Named after the cartoon McGruff, and honestly, Fred played like a guy who was there to clean up the mess. Smooth swing, serious face, and a name that just barked consistency.
12. “The Flying Dutchman” – Honus Wagner
Fast, slick, and from Pennsylvania Dutch country — this nickname aged like the baseball cards he’s famous for. He wasn’t just fast for his era, he was full-on ghost mode on the basepaths.
11. “El Caballo” – Carlos Lee
“The Horse” was the perfect way to describe his power and his trot — especially the trot. He looked like he could hit a homer and then plow through a bullpen cart if he felt like it.
10. “Kung Fu Panda” – Pablo Sandoval
Big guy, sneaky athletic, surprisingly nimble — just like the animated panda himself. When he was locked in, he was basically doing baseball ballet in a bear costume.
9. “Donnie Baseball” – Don Mattingly
Clean, classic, and perfectly old-school. No frills, no nonsense — just pure baseball guy energy in nickname form.
8. “Big Papi” – David Ortiz
Every Red Sox fan’s favorite uncle who also happened to crush clutch homers. He hit with power and hugged with passion — Big Papi just felt right.
7. “The Wizard” – Ozzie Smith
He made impossible plays look routine and turned shortstop into sorcery. If you watched him field and didn’t believe in magic, that’s a you problem.
6. “The Big Hurt” – Frank Thomas
He didn’t just hit home runs — he hurt baseballs and feelings. The name says it all, and pitchers probably still have nightmares.
5. “The Sandman” – Mariano Rivera
He entered to “Enter Sandman” and put games to sleep, cold and quiet. Nobody closed the door more smoothly or with less drama — the perfect nickname for baseball’s ultimate finisher.
4. “Mr. October” – Reggie Jackson
You can’t be called “Mr. October” unless you truly owned the postseason — and Reggie did. The name became bigger than the man, and the man hit three homers in one World Series game.
3. “The Say Hey Kid” – Willie Mays
Charming, catchy, and somehow exactly what you’d call a guy who made the impossible look routine. It sounds like joy — just like watching him play center field.
Read More: The 15 Most Electrifying Players in MLB History
2. “Charlie Hustle” – Pete Rose
Love him or hate him, the nickname was earned. No one ran to first on a walk with more conviction — or dove headfirst into a scandal with more flair.
Read More: The 20 Most Beloved MLB Players in History
1. “The Iron Horse” – Lou Gehrig
Tough, unbreakable, and quietly dominant — Gehrig played in 2,130 straight games like it was nothing. No nickname in baseball history has ever felt more honest or more legendary.
Read More: Ranking the 15 Most Iconic Nicknames in MLB History
