Why is former Cleveland Indians centerfielder Rick Manning nicknamed "Archie"?

archie manning is the former saints quarterback in the nfl. that is why.

Rick Manning

Archie Manning (Peyton and Eli Manning's father) was a well known and well regarded quarterback for the NFL New Orleans Saints in the 1970s. It seems like a particularly appropriate knickname because Peyton and Eli are such high profile players at this time, and athletes like to give each other names related to past sports figures.

Thus:

"L.T.": Lawrence Taylor [Football] and LaDainian Tomlinson [Football]

"Babe": George Herman Ruth [Baseball] and Mildred Zaharias [Track & Field/Golf]

"Doc": Dwight Gooden [Baseball], Glenn Rivers [Basketball], and Roy Halladay [Baseball]

"Sugar": Ray Robinson [Boxing], Ray Leonard [Boxing] and Shane Mosley [Boxing]

"Pudge": Carlton Fisk [Baseball] and Ivan Rodriguez [Baseball]

Because Archie Manning was a great football player, and since Rick shares his last name, I imagine someone was trying to be funny by calling him Archie, and it stuck.

Chow!!

I don't buy the Archie Manning theory. I'm still looking for something more believable.

After the former Saints QB

Because he is flat footed.

that's the nickname for guy name richard, like charles-chuck, william-bill or buck