As AmericanaFest takes over venues all across Nashville from Sept. 9 through 13, you’ll see bills listing artists whose names or monikers bear striking similarities to the folksy nomenclature prevalent in pro baseball. Among our list of 30 names, 15 belong to artists performing at this year’s AmericanaFest, and the other 15 belong to ball players (some currently on an MLB roster, some from the annals of history). Can you separate the catchers, pitchers and fielders from the string-slingin’ troubadours without searching? Good luck!
Special thanks, as ever, to Nashville record store staffer Tyler Glaser — a lifelong baseball fan who also runs the appropriately named Instagram account @baseballplayerswithgreatnames — for his help rounding up the primo player handles.
- Zandi Holup
- Spottswood Poles
- Boss Schmidt
- Mon Rovîa
- Ken Pomeroy
- Dom Flemons
- Buster Posey
- Scooter Gennett
- Merce Lemon
- Pitney Meyer
- Boog Powell
- Thunderstorm Artis
- Joelton Mayfield
- Enos “Country” Slaughter
- DiDi Gregorius
- Shag Shaughnessy
- Colby T. Helms
- Trey Cabbage
- Sunny Sweeney
- Judy Blank
- Cupid Childs
- Chone Figgins
- Felicity Dowd
- Bubbles Hargrave
- Sam Stoane
- Ugly Johnny Dickshot
- Cheslor Cuthbert
- Tift Merritt
- Ally Free
- Stubby Clapp
Got your picks locked in? Check yourself with the answer key.
Ahead of AMERICANAFEST, we talk with multiple awards nominee MJ Lenderman, run down our favorite shows and much more
