Duplicate Initials: C.C.

Players with the initials "C.C." are not as prevalent as the previous B.B. but there are plenty of players that come to mind. First many of you might think of C.C. Sabathia but sorry I meant first and last initials.

There is Cecil Cooper, Carl Crawford and Coco Crisp. Lesser knowns, Clay Carroll, Chris Carpenter, Chien-Ming Chang, Carmelo Castillo and Casey Cox. I could have also been a homer and just used a Chicago Cubs team photo or even non-players with cards like Charles A Comisky or former President Calvin Coolidge.

No, instead I went with a "star" from the early seventies, billed a "the next Willie Mays" by Leo Durocher in 1972 (then the manage of the Houston Astros). A supreme talent who burst onto the big league circuit at the age of 19; a rocket of an arm, blazing speed, a solid glove and a bit of pop in his bat. Five time Gold Glove winner, four time all-star and had 20 HR's and 50 stolen bases three consecutive years (1972, 73, 74).

While he never lived up to that super-stardom label (nobody else has managed to do that either), Cesar Cedeno was a very good player; career numbers of 199 HR's, .285 BA and 550 SB. Mostly known for hs days in an Astros uniform (1970-81) but also played for the Cincinnati Reds (1982-85), St Louis Cardinals (1985) and finished his career with the Los Angeles Dodger (1986). Historian Bill James ranks Cedeno as the 21st best center-fielder of all time.

I found a quote from The Baseball Page written by Dan Holmes and Kirk Robinson that best summarizes Cedeno: " A talented player in the mold of Willie Mays, Cesar Cedeno never reached superstar status for many reasons, some beyond his control. The Dominican-born Cedeno was involved in a scandalous off-the-field episode that resulted in the death of his girlfriend; played much of his career for a team that rarely made headlines above the Oklahoma border; suffered from playing in the Astrodome, a stadium that cost him power numbers that may have gave him notoriety; and finally, injuries and attitude problems cost him playing time. Despite all of that, Cedeno had a very good career, winning five Gold Gloves and finishing among league leaders in steals, batting average, and doubles on many occasions. "

There you go . . . my entry for Duplicate Initials: C.C. . . . Cesar Cedeno . . .