If Your Birthday is December 16th...


...you share it with Alcides Escobar, who spent 11 seasons in the majors, eight of as the Royals everyday shortstop. His personal highlight: an inside-the-park home run off Matt Harvey on the first pltch of the 2015 World Series.


Peter Fairbanks, the Rays fireballing relief pitcher. In his two major league seasons, he's struck out 39 batters in 27 innings.


Hector Santiago, the New Jersey born lefty who pitched for five teams, most notably the White Sox and Angels. His best season was 2016, when he won 13, split between Chicago and Minnesota.


Chris Britton, the heavyset relief pitcher who appeared for the Orioles and Yankees between 2006 and 2008.

 

Billy Ripken may be the less accomplished player in his family, but Cal's younger brother has enjoyed more success as a broadcaster, becoming one of MLB Network's top analysts. Still, let's not discount that he appeared in parts of 12 big league seasons.


Yesterday, the 15th, Eddie Robinson, the oldest living major leaguer, turned 100. 
The lefty-hitting first baseman spent 1942 through '57 in the majors. and appeared in the World Series with both the 1948 Indians and 1955 Yankees. He's been connected to historic moments such as, being in the visitors dugout at Yankee Stadium on Babe Ruth Day in 1948 and, seeing the legend having trouble walking, loan him his bat, which the Bambino used as a cane as took the field for the final time; then not only getting it back after the ceremony -- but having Babe Ruth sign it! Robinson was the general manager of the Braves in 1974 when Hank Aaron broke the Babe's home run record. Robinson played for the Indians when Larry Doby broke the color line in 1947 -- and, just told Forbes, "Robinson gets all the credit, and Doby gets none. Doby went through the same indignities that Robinson went through. I just don’t think Doby’s ever gotten credit for all he did. Larry was a good teammate and a good guy. He’s in the Hall of Fame, but he never got any credit in my opinion. I speak up for him every chance I get." That article made it clear he still follows baseball -- and as a batter who struck out just 8.3 percent of the time, he's less than thrilled with today's acceptance of far higher strikeout rates.

Armed with a sharp memory and storytelling skills, Robinson is extending his connection with the national pastime. He's posted eight episodes of his podcast The Golden Age of Baseball via Apple. 

It was a pleasure to speak with Eddie a few years ago at Yankees Old Timers Day.



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