If Your Birthday Falls on the 4th of July...


...you share it with Mike Ford.  The Belle Meade, New Jersey native grew up rooting for the Yankees, where he spent parts of the 2019, '20 and '21 seasons, hitting 17 home runs in 101 games.  After bouncing around five other teams since leaving the Bronx, he's trying to earn his way back to the majors this summer with the Twins AAA farm club in St. Paul.
I first saw Ford during his 6-1/2 year journey through the Yankee farm system.  You can catch him in his Trenton Thunder days in this 2017 post.  

(Below:) José Oquendo played a dozen MLB seasons, the last 10 as a Cardinal, then coached 18 years with St. Louis.  A defensive standout known for his ability to field capably at any position, he's now the Cardinals minor league infield coordinator.

Of course, the most famous baseball figure born July 4th never donned a uniform -- but certainly ranks among the game's most historic and controversial figures.  George M. Steinbrenner III -- to Yankee fans, he'll forever be The Boss, the most free-spending and demanding owner in sports.  Paying top dollar for the best talent -- and thriving as the media focused on him as much as his roster, he sparred with his five-times-hired-and-fired manager Billy Martin -- yet starred in a famed Miller Lite commercial with him.

When George died in 2010. he left a legacy worth celebrating -- 11 pennants and 7 World Series titles under his watch.  To no one's surprise, his is the largest plaque of those unveiled in the Yankees Monument Park.




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