April 13:
Steve Pearce (1983): 2007-11; 1B/RF; 465 AB; 9-52-.232
Ricardo Rincon (1970): 1997-98; LHP; 125 IP; 4-10, 3.17
Doug Strange (1964): 1998; INF; 185 AB; 0-14-.173
Claude Hendrix (1889): 1911-1913; RHP; 648.1 IP; 42-30, 2.71
Mike Simon (1883): 1909-13; C; 651 AB; 1-56-.244
Abel Lizotte (1870): 1896; 1B; 29 AB; 0-3-.103
Also: Wes Chamberlain (1966): prospect (along with Julio Peguero) claimed by the Phils in 1990 when the Pirate front office confused revocable and irrevocable waivers; didn't do a lot in the majors, but had a good platoon (12-45-.282) season when the Phils won the NL pennant in 1993.
I remember Doug Strange hitting a long ball during spring training, 1999, and hoping as I listened on the radio that it wouldn't be a home run because if Strange did anything positive the Pirates would bring him north. He was given the starting third base job in May, 1998, and batted .138 until 19-year old Aramis Ramirez was called up a few weeks later.
Best player born on April 13: Herman Long or Lorenzo Cain
Today's birthdays
Moderators: SammyKhalifa, Doc, Bobster
-
ArnoldRothstein
Today's birthdays
April 14:
Chris Leroux (1984): 2010-13; RHP; 45 IP; 1-2, 4.20
John Van Benchoten (1984): 2004, 2007-08; RHP; 2-13, 9.20
Kyle Farnsworth (1976): 2013; RHP; 8.2 IP; 1-1, 1.04
Wild Bill Luhrsen (1884): 1913; RHP; 29 IP; 3-1, 2.48
George Merritt (1880): 1901-03; RHP/OF; 28 IP; 3-0, 4.50; 47 AB; 0-5-.213
One of the few fun parts of the 20-year streak was that it gave a lot of guys that one good memory of the majors. JVB had his night on September 4, 2004, when he went 8 innings against Houston, giving up just 5 hits and winning, 6-1.
Best player born on April 14: Greg Maddux
Chris Leroux (1984): 2010-13; RHP; 45 IP; 1-2, 4.20
John Van Benchoten (1984): 2004, 2007-08; RHP; 2-13, 9.20
Kyle Farnsworth (1976): 2013; RHP; 8.2 IP; 1-1, 1.04
Wild Bill Luhrsen (1884): 1913; RHP; 29 IP; 3-1, 2.48
George Merritt (1880): 1901-03; RHP/OF; 28 IP; 3-0, 4.50; 47 AB; 0-5-.213
One of the few fun parts of the 20-year streak was that it gave a lot of guys that one good memory of the majors. JVB had his night on September 4, 2004, when he went 8 innings against Houston, giving up just 5 hits and winning, 6-1.
Best player born on April 14: Greg Maddux
-
ArnoldRothstein
Today's birthdays
April 15:
Adeiny Hechavarria (1989)
Jeremy Burnitz (1969): 2006; RF; 313 AB; 16-49-.230
Mike Diaz (1960): 1986-88; 1B/OF; 524 AB; 28-89-.250
Bill Pierro (1926): 1950; RHP; 29 IP; 0-2, 2.55
King Cole (1886): 1912; RHP; 49 IP; 2-2, 6.43
Ed Abbaticchio (1877): 1907-10; 2B; 1086 AB; 4-159-.253
Bill Gray (1871): 1898; 3B; 528 AB; 0-67-.229
Also, Dick Sharon (1950): OF; 1st round pick in 1968; played for Tigers and Padres, 1973-75, but did not hit. Once traded for...
...Best player born on April 15: Willie Davis
Adeiny Hechavarria (1989)
Jeremy Burnitz (1969): 2006; RF; 313 AB; 16-49-.230
Mike Diaz (1960): 1986-88; 1B/OF; 524 AB; 28-89-.250
Bill Pierro (1926): 1950; RHP; 29 IP; 0-2, 2.55
King Cole (1886): 1912; RHP; 49 IP; 2-2, 6.43
Ed Abbaticchio (1877): 1907-10; 2B; 1086 AB; 4-159-.253
Bill Gray (1871): 1898; 3B; 528 AB; 0-67-.229
Also, Dick Sharon (1950): OF; 1st round pick in 1968; played for Tigers and Padres, 1973-75, but did not hit. Once traded for...
...Best player born on April 15: Willie Davis
-
ArnoldRothstein
Today's birthdays
April 16:
Keone Kela (1993)
Babe Phelps (1908): 1942; C; 257 AB; 9-41-.284
Paul Waner (1903):1926-40; RF; 8429 AB; 109-1177-.340
Piggy Ward (1867): 1891; OF; 18 AB; 0-2-.333
Best player born on April 16: Paul Waner
Keone Kela (1993)
Babe Phelps (1908): 1942; C; 257 AB; 9-41-.284
Paul Waner (1903):1926-40; RF; 8429 AB; 109-1177-.340
Piggy Ward (1867): 1891; OF; 18 AB; 0-2-.333
Best player born on April 16: Paul Waner
-
2drfischer@gmail.c
Today's birthdays
23100C0D0E06300D160A1116070B0C620 wrote: April 16:
Keone Kela (1993)
Babe Phelps (1908): 1942; C; 257 AB; 9-41-.284
Paul Waner (1903):1926-40; RF; 8429 AB; 109-1177-.340
Piggy Ward (1867): 1891; OF; 18 AB; 0-2-.333
Best player born on April 16: Paul Waner
I just looked it up. Waner's career average is tied for 26th best all time. 26th! Wow!
Keone Kela (1993)
Babe Phelps (1908): 1942; C; 257 AB; 9-41-.284
Paul Waner (1903):1926-40; RF; 8429 AB; 109-1177-.340
Piggy Ward (1867): 1891; OF; 18 AB; 0-2-.333
Best player born on April 16: Paul Waner
I just looked it up. Waner's career average is tied for 26th best all time. 26th! Wow!
-
ArnoldRothstein
Today's birthdays
April 17:
Deolis Guerra (1989): 2015; RHP; 16.2 IP; 2-0, 6.48
Andy Barkett (1973): 2001; OF/1B; 46 AB; 1-3-.304
Bob Osborn (1903): 1931; RHP; 64.2 IP; 6-1, 5.01
Best player born on April 17: Cap Anson
Deolis Guerra (1989): 2015; RHP; 16.2 IP; 2-0, 6.48
Andy Barkett (1973): 2001; OF/1B; 46 AB; 1-3-.304
Bob Osborn (1903): 1931; RHP; 64.2 IP; 6-1, 5.01
Best player born on April 17: Cap Anson
-
2drfischer@gmail.c
Today's birthdays
093A2627242C1A273C203B3C2D2126480 wrote: April 17:
Deolis Guerra (1989): 2015; RHP; 16.2 IP; 2-0, 6.48
Andy Barkett (1973): 2001; OF/1B; 46 AB; 1-3-.304
Bob Osborn (1903): 1931; RHP; 64.2 IP; 6-1, 5.01
Best player born on April 17: Cap Anson
It's too bad that another great player wasn't born on this day so that perhaps the most despicable major leaguer ever wouldn't be mentioned.
Deolis Guerra (1989): 2015; RHP; 16.2 IP; 2-0, 6.48
Andy Barkett (1973): 2001; OF/1B; 46 AB; 1-3-.304
Bob Osborn (1903): 1931; RHP; 64.2 IP; 6-1, 5.01
Best player born on April 17: Cap Anson
It's too bad that another great player wasn't born on this day so that perhaps the most despicable major leaguer ever wouldn't be mentioned.
-
ArnoldRothstein
Today's birthdays
April 18:
Angelo Encarnacion (1969): 1995-96; C; 181 AB; 2-11-.238
Steve Blass (1942): 1964-74; RHP; 1597.1 IP; 103-76, 3.63
Larry Foss (1936): 1961; RHP; 15.1 IP; 1-1, 5.87
Bob Linton (1902): 1929; C; 18 AB; 0-1-.111
Jack Scott (1892): 1916; RHP; 5 IP; 0-0, 10.80
Jack Rothfuss (1872): 1897; 1B; 115 AB; 2-18-.313
Blass is given credit for 7.0 bWAR. He was at 11.1 bWAR after the 1972 season, but lost a lot of ground in 1973-74. Blass is tied with Pud Galvin for 25th on the team's bWAR for pitchers list through age 30. Through age 32, he's tied at No. 65 with Zane Smith and Joe Gibbon.
Rothfuss's .313 cup of coffee was his only season in the majors. It seems that he contracted dysentery late in his time with the Pirates. The illness wiped out his next season, and he spent the next decade bouncing around the minors.
Scott, by contrast, overcame his poor cup of coffee. He spent more than ten years in the majors, won 103 games, and threw a shutout in the World Series.
Catcher Linton never played in the majors again, but played in the high minors till he was 40.
Also, Fred Doe (1864): 1890 Pittsburgh Burghers of the Players League; Doe was good pitcher in New England, it seems he was hired two successive weekends (by Buffalo and Pittsburgh) to pitch against the Boston Players League team. RHP; 4.0 IP; 0-0, 4.50.
Best player born on April 18: Sam Crawford or Miguel Cabrera
Angelo Encarnacion (1969): 1995-96; C; 181 AB; 2-11-.238
Steve Blass (1942): 1964-74; RHP; 1597.1 IP; 103-76, 3.63
Larry Foss (1936): 1961; RHP; 15.1 IP; 1-1, 5.87
Bob Linton (1902): 1929; C; 18 AB; 0-1-.111
Jack Scott (1892): 1916; RHP; 5 IP; 0-0, 10.80
Jack Rothfuss (1872): 1897; 1B; 115 AB; 2-18-.313
Blass is given credit for 7.0 bWAR. He was at 11.1 bWAR after the 1972 season, but lost a lot of ground in 1973-74. Blass is tied with Pud Galvin for 25th on the team's bWAR for pitchers list through age 30. Through age 32, he's tied at No. 65 with Zane Smith and Joe Gibbon.
Rothfuss's .313 cup of coffee was his only season in the majors. It seems that he contracted dysentery late in his time with the Pirates. The illness wiped out his next season, and he spent the next decade bouncing around the minors.
Scott, by contrast, overcame his poor cup of coffee. He spent more than ten years in the majors, won 103 games, and threw a shutout in the World Series.
Catcher Linton never played in the majors again, but played in the high minors till he was 40.
Also, Fred Doe (1864): 1890 Pittsburgh Burghers of the Players League; Doe was good pitcher in New England, it seems he was hired two successive weekends (by Buffalo and Pittsburgh) to pitch against the Boston Players League team. RHP; 4.0 IP; 0-0, 4.50.
Best player born on April 18: Sam Crawford or Miguel Cabrera
-
ArnoldRothstein
Today's birthdays
April 19:
Zack Duke (1983): 2005-10; LHP; 964.1 IP; 45-70, 4.54
Joe Beimel (1977): 2001-03, 2011; LHP; 288.1 IP; 11-20, 5.03
Dennys Reyes (1977): 2003; LHP; 10.1 IP; 0-0, 10.45
R.J. Reynolds (1959): 1985-90; OF; 1768 AB; 31-234-.269
Best player born on April 19: Joe Mauer or Bucky Walters
R.J. Reynolds was a classic 'tweener, very good speed but not a real ballhawk who could stick in center, some power but not the home run power to stick at a corner. He had a couple good seasons in Japan after he left Pittsburgh.
Zack Duke (1983): 2005-10; LHP; 964.1 IP; 45-70, 4.54
Joe Beimel (1977): 2001-03, 2011; LHP; 288.1 IP; 11-20, 5.03
Dennys Reyes (1977): 2003; LHP; 10.1 IP; 0-0, 10.45
R.J. Reynolds (1959): 1985-90; OF; 1768 AB; 31-234-.269
Best player born on April 19: Joe Mauer or Bucky Walters
R.J. Reynolds was a classic 'tweener, very good speed but not a real ballhawk who could stick in center, some power but not the home run power to stick at a corner. He had a couple good seasons in Japan after he left Pittsburgh.
-
ArnoldRothstein
Today's birthdays
April 20:
Chris Duffy (1980): 2005-07; CF; 681 AB; 6-49-.269
Steamer Flanagan (1881): 1905; CF; 25 AB; 0-3-.280
Sam Nicholl (1869): 1888; OF; 22 AB; 0-0-.045
Like a lot of these guys, Flanagan and Nicholl each played in the minors for more than a decade.
Also, Germany Smith (1859), a Pittsburgh boy who got his start with Altoona of the Union Association of 1884. The league collapsed, but he landed on his feet and stayed in the big leagues for 15 years. He played more games at short than any other player who played exclusively in the 19th Century. For Altoona: 108 AB; 0-9 R-.315.
Best player born on April 20: Don Mattingly or Heavy Johnson
Chris Duffy (1980): 2005-07; CF; 681 AB; 6-49-.269
Steamer Flanagan (1881): 1905; CF; 25 AB; 0-3-.280
Sam Nicholl (1869): 1888; OF; 22 AB; 0-0-.045
Like a lot of these guys, Flanagan and Nicholl each played in the minors for more than a decade.
Also, Germany Smith (1859), a Pittsburgh boy who got his start with Altoona of the Union Association of 1884. The league collapsed, but he landed on his feet and stayed in the big leagues for 15 years. He played more games at short than any other player who played exclusively in the 19th Century. For Altoona: 108 AB; 0-9 R-.315.
Best player born on April 20: Don Mattingly or Heavy Johnson