If Your Birthday is November 1st...

...you share it with the first Brazilian-born player to appear in the World Series: Paulo Orlando of the Royals. A rookie and part-timer when he made history with the 2015 World Champs, he batted over .300 this year. Give him credit for picking up America's game under unusual circumstances. Most ballplayers in Brazil are the children of Japanese immigrants. Orlando isn't -- although his baseball roots have a Japanese influence. His mother worked for a Japanese-Brazilian doctor, who recommended the young man try the game.
Other familiar names on the 1st November cake and cards list:

• Fernando Valenzuela, one of the most famous and successful Mexican pitchers in baseball history. He won 173 games in 17 big league seasons -- including 21 (with 20 complete games) in 1986.
• Coco Crisp, the speedy outfielder whose career has come full circle. A rookie with the 2004 Indians, he was traded back to Cleveland during the 2016 season and has been an important contributor to a club that stands just one win away from its first World Series title in 68 years.
• Masahiro Tanaka, who has emerged as the Yankees ace in his three North American seasons. He posted his best numbers yet in 2016, going 14 - 4 with an ERA just above 3. Most crucially, he stayed off the disabled list.