Baseball Birthdays This Weekend

 

If your birthday is April 19th, you share it with Frank Viola.  A standout college pitcher for St. John's, the native New Yorker starred for the Twins for eight seasons, highlighted by being named MVP of the 1987 World Series.  Traded to the Mets three years later, he won 20 in 1990, before his numbers began to fall off.  Winding up his playing days  with the Red Sox, Rays and Reds, Voila spent several years coaching in the Mets minor league system.  My photo is from 2018, when he worked with the young pitchers at AA Binghamton.

(Below:) Joe Mauer also starred for the Twins -- though his teams never reached the World Series -- and became the club's greatest home grown star, while punching his ticket to Cooperstown.  The six-time all star, three-time batting champ (and 2009 AL MVP) will be inducted this July.

Saturday's 4/20 birthday circle includes perhaps the greatest homegrown Yankee star never to make it to baseball's Fall Classic.  From 1984-'89 Don Mattingly was as good an all-around hitter as there was in the American League.  The 1984 batting champ led the league in doubles three times -- with a high of 53 in 1986 -- the year after he drove in an AL-best 145.  But his teams never had enough pitching -- and his career was upended by back trouble as the 1990s began.  "Donnie Baseball" played through the pain -- with far less production.  But he finally got to taste the post-season in 1995, when the Yanks earned the first-ever AL Wild Card, before losing a heartbreaking five-game series to the Mariners.  Since then, he's coached for the Yankees, managed the Dodgers and Marlins and is currently the offensive coordinator of the Blue Jays.

(Below:) Kyle Higashioka spent five years backing up Gary Sanchez, before moving into a time share, splitting Yankee catching duties with Jose Trevino in '22-23.  The savvy veteran and defensive specialist was part of the five-player package sent to San Diego last winter for Juan Soto.

Brandon Belt spent a dozen years with the Giants, including their 2012 and '14 World Series champions.  He wrapped up his career with the 2023 Blue Jays, finishing with a .261 average and 194 home runs.

Sunday's names begin with Joc Pederson, the northern California native who'provided plenty of power to the Dodgers for seven seasons. After moving through the Cubs, Braves and Giants, he's now DH-ing for the Diamondbacks.

Plus, the pitcher who appeared in more major league games than anyone in history.  Jesse Orosco worked in 1252 games over 24 seasons in four decades. Best known as the Met, who nailed down the last out in game seven of the 1986 World Series, Jesse is also in that select circle who've played for both New York teams -- although his 15-game Yankee stint in 2003 produced forgettable results (including an ERA over 10).