If Your Birthday is August 19th...

 

...you share it with Bobby Richardson, the South Carolina native who made his mark in the Bronx during a dozen seasons with the Yankees.  The club's regular second baseman during its five consecutive pennant winners at the start of the '60s, Richardson's video highlight was snaring Willie McCovey's line drive with runners on 2nd and 3rd that ended the 1962 World Series.  A frequent visitor to Yankee Old Timers games, his baseball resume also includes two decades coaching at South Carolina, Coastal Carolina and Liberty Universities.

Gary Gaetti, whose greatest Baseball thrill has to be a game winning homer in the opening game of the 1996 National League playoffs. Growing up a Cardinals fan in nearby Centralia, IL, the 3rd baseman played 14 big league seasons (notably with the Twins where he earned MVP Honors in the '87 ALCS) before returning home as a 1996 free agent.

With 360 career homers, over 1300 RBI and three Gold Gloves, Gaetti also stands as the best player born on this date.

J.J. Hardy, the power-hitting shortstop who played 13 seasons in the majors, mainly with the Brewers and Orioles.

Matt Franco, a skilled pinch hitter best remembered for his four seasons with the Mets, capped by their 2000 National League pennant winner.

Ron Darling, the rare Ivy League product to make it to the majors. A mainstay in the Mets rotation during the '80s, the Boston-area product has enjoyed an even longer career as a broadcaster, analyzing Mets games on SNY and national telecasts for TBS.

Ned Yost, a backup catcher during the '80s, who managed the Royals for a decade, leading them to the 2014 AL pennant and 2015 World Series championship.



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