If Your Birthday is February 18th...


 ...you share it with the shortstop who has won #18 for the Yankees and the Phillies, Didi Gregorius. Born in Amsterdam and raised in Curaçao, the son of a pitcher in Dutch pro ball, he originally signed with the Reds. After moving onto the Diamondbacks, he was traded to the Yanks in 2015, where he was handed the unenviable job of taking over for Derek Jeter at shortstop. Not only did he raise his game after moving to the Bronx, he quickly became a fan favorite. But a 2018 elbow injury that needed Tommy John surgery cut down his offensive effectiveness. Moving onto the Phillies, he enjoyed a bounceback year in 2019, but has struggled the last two seasons -- and isn't assured of a starting spot if and when the season begins.

He shares the day with a teammate:

Nick Maton showed promise during his rookie season in 2021.He got his first major league hit April 19th off Giants ace Kevin Gausman. In fact, he began his big league career hitting safely in his first six games -- including multi-hit efforts in four of them.

Also on today's cake and candles list:

  • Dal Maxvill, who played for the Cardinals in three 1960s World Series and spent 11 years (1984-'94) as the club's general manager.
  • John Mayberry smacked 255 home runs over his 15 year career; his namesake son later played for the Phillies, Blue Jays and Mets.
  • John Valentin was born on Long Island, and grew up in New Jersey -- but only came home for his final big league season with the Mets (2002) after spending a decade as a Red Sox infielder. 
And remembering:
  • Joe Gordon, the Hall of Fame 2nd baseman on five Yankee pennant winners in six years (1938-'43), before being traded to the Indians for Allie Reynolds, a deal that helped both teams. A manager after his playing days, Gordon was also involved in one of the most unique trades ever -- being swapped to the Tigers after the 1960 season for their skipper Jimmy Dykes, 


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