If Your Birthday is February 4th...

...you share it with Chris Gittens, a power-hitting Yankee prospect who, after 2019 success with Trenton, appeared in 16 big league games last summer -- but didn't make consistent enough contact to stay on the 40-man roster. He'll play for Japan's Rakuten Golden Eagles in 2022.

Taking a Hall-&-Oates-like swing, he's not the only Chris on our list. Chris Coste (below) was the Phillies version of Rocky Balboa, a 33 year old rookie who became a popular backup catcher from 2006-'09. After his playing days, he worked for the club as a TV analyst before returning to the field as the coach for Concord Moorhead University, and more recently, the indy ball Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks.


And to complete our Triple Play, Chris Bando was the Indians backup catcher for eight seasons during the '80s. The last name should sound familiar -- his older brother Sal played 3rd base for the great Oakland A's teams of the '70s.

 

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