If Your Birthday is September 26th...


 ...you share it with Albert Abreu.  The Yankees hoped his power pitching would become a big weapon out of the bullpen.  But he walked too many batters and, after bouncing to the Rangers and Royals -- and then back to the Bronx -- he spent 2024 in Japan and this past summer with the Reds' Louisville farm club.

Today is also the 100th birthday of Bobby Shantz, one of the best fielding pitchers ever and the last Philadelphia Athletic to win an MVP (1952 -- when he won 24 games).  The 5-foot-6 lefty was a World Champ as a '58 Yankee and ended his career with the near-miss1964 Phillies -- which also made him the last player to play for both of the city's MLB franchises!  

Here's Shantz - who posted a career 119-99 record over 16 seasons -- on the cover of Sport magazine in February 1953.



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