Three wise men

	Eric Bruntlett. Chris Stanford/Getty Images

ERIC BRUNTLETT, Utilityman

CLAIM TO BRAINS Stanford grad (economics); SAT score: 1440 (out of 1600). Currently reading physicist Brian Greene's Elegant Universe, which explains how superstring theory reconciles quantum mechanics with Einstein's relativity theory. Bruntlett, 28, had his intellectual curiosity nourished early -- parents Angela and Craig (a Ph.D. in chemistry) introduced him to algebra in first grade. He had a 3.97 GPA at Indiana's Harrison High; these days he stays sharp playing Sudoku. "I don't think Bruntlett says enough to come out with a dumb thought," says teammate Brad Lidge. "When he does [say something], everyone listens."

BRAD LIDGE, Closer

CLAIM TO BRAINS Three years at Notre Dame. Ancient civilizations buff. Though closers usually cultivate short memories, Lidge loves the past. "One of my favorite books is The Histories, by Herodotus," says the pitcher. "He lived more than 2,000 years ago, and he learned about [people] who lived 2,000 years before him. It gives a good perspective." Bruntlett marvels at the breadth of Lidge's knowledge, but Brad Ausmus sees his teammate as a bit of a slacker. "If Brad had spent as much time studying in school as he does in fantasy football," says Ausmus, "he would have been a straight-A student."

BRAD AUSMUS, Catcher

CLAIM TO BRAINS Dartmouth grad (government). No grade below B. "He has one of the sharpest wits," says teammate Lance Berkman of the Gold Glover. Ausmus's father, Harry, is a retired professor of European history at Southern Connecticut State and the author of A Schopenhauerian Critique of Nietzsche's Thought, which Ausmus, 37, calls his "favorite book." Lidge says the catcher has absent-minded-professor moments. "One game Roger Clemens had to call Brad out [to the mound] three times because he kept messing up the signs," says Lidge. "I think at least two times Brad didn't know how many outs there were."

Issue date: June 5, 2006

Top Photo Galleries College Football Bowl Review Top 10 Stories in Baseball for 2009 Orlando Magic Dancers NFL Cheerleaders: Week 16 Tweets of the Week

Most Popular Stories Cardinals up ante in Holliday derby Florida's Meyer says he tried to hide chest pains Texas Tech fires head football coach Mike Leach Bills promote scouting director Nix to GM role Titans' Cecil fined $20K for verbally abusing refs