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If Your Birthday is May 29th...

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...you share it with Steven Matz .  The Long Island native broke in with the Mets during their last pennant winning season (2015).  Joining Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom in a talented young rotation, he never achieved the consistency the Mets hoped for and has since moved on through the Blue Jays, Cardinals, Red Sox and this year, the Rays -- where he's become a steady back of the rotation starter. There's also a player from New York's other team:   Charlie Hayes ' image will forever be etched into Yankees history for catching the foul pop that ended the 1996 World Series -- the Bronx Bombers' first title since 1978, and first of the Jeter/Rivera dynasty.  I snapped this image of the longtime MLB 3rd baseman at the 2011 Old Timers Day. Who else is in today's birthday circle?  Pirates ace Paul Skenes .  2024's NL Rookie of the Year and 2025's Cy Young winner is already ranked with Ohtani, Sanchez and Skubal as the best pitcher in baseba...
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Vintage Bobblehead Time

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Sunday, while browsing through Vintage Emporium in Newburgh, New York , this 1960s Mister Met bobblehead caught my eye. The expression and design clearly shouted " original ," as opposed to the muppet-like character that currently rivals the Phanatic among MLB's most recognized mascots.  This one is likely from 1965, the first year that Mister Met was sold as a bobblehead. I never found its pricetag (the item was inside a crowded display cabinet), but Mr. Met bobbles from the mid-'60s in good shape can go for $750 or more! It's fun finding one like this -- just for a visit -- and seeing the "respect" it commands in a store also selling pricey furniture, lamps and collectibles.  
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If Your Birthday is May 22nd...

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... Tommy John .  The first and most famous recipient of Dr. Frank Jobe's then-radical ligament transplant surgery that's saved countless careers over the past surgery was also one of the best pitchers in the game over a remarkable 26-year career. 288 victories (including three 20-win seasons), 2245 strikeouts and an ERA under 3.50.  That's more than impressive -- that's Cooperstown-worthy.  Add that to being part of Sports Medicine history and its makes one wonder what the Hall of Famers voters were thinking when they passed him over on numerous occasions. And frankly, with Marvin Miller already inducted, why not go "out of the box" again and consider Dr. Jobe for his massive contribution to the game? ( My image is from the 2014 BAT Dinner in New York .)  
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Mattingly Magic

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It's been a great three weeks since Don Mattingly replaced Rob Thomson as Phillies manager.  The defending NL East champs, after struggling to a 9-19 start, have righted the ship -- going 16-4, with quality starting pitching, more timely hitting, and to be candid, an easier schedule. What really changed?  A new voice, coming from a deeply respected former player who was one of the game's biggest stars of the middle- and late-'80s.  Marching orders for the Phillies to play "better baseball."  And -- with staff ace Zack Wheeler returning from surgery, closer Jhoan Duran back from injury and ineffective Taijuan Walker off the roster -- the results have been impressive.  The Phils are back on the positive side of .500 and climbing.  From the worst record in the majors when the managerial change was made, they're now tied for second in the NL East.  And with so much of the league bunched together, the Phils are just four games out of the number three wild ...
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If Your Birthday is May 15th...

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...you share it with Kody Clemens .  Son of the longtime Red Sox, Yankees and Astros ace, he didn't become a big league regular until age 29.  After being traded last season from the Phillies to the Twi ns, Roger's boy blossomed as Minnesota's everyday 1st baseman, slugging 19 homers. Clemens is one of a good number of current second generation major leaguers, joining Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays), Bo Bichette (Blue Jays), Fernando Tatis Jr. (Padres), Bobby Witt Jr. (Royals), Cody Bellinger (Cubs), Jeremy Peña (Astros), Ke'Bryan Hayes (Pirates).Jackson Holliday (Orioles), Brice Turang (Brewers), Daulton Varsho (Blue Jays) and Jack Leiter (Rangers). Kody shares his birthday with Hall of Famers John Smoltz and George Brett -- neither of whom I photographed during (or since) their remarkable careers.
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Random Images

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Not every major leaguer succeeds with the organization that first signed them.  Or even the second.  I caught them all with New York farm clubs the last few years, but now they're succeeding elsewhere in the majors.   Jeremiah Jackson , drafted by the Angels in 2018, came to the Mets in a deadline deal five years later.   And while he saw plenty of action in parts of 2023 and '24 for AA Binghamton, he hardly ranked among their top prospects.  Things changed quickly after signing with the Orioles as a minor league free agent a year and a half ago.  After posting good numbers for AA Chesapeake and AAA Norfolk, Jackson was promoted to Baltimore last summer, where he's become a near-regular in the infield.  Last week, he was in the Orioles lineup against the Yankees. Carlos Cortes certainly falls under the banner of "late bloomer."  He spent seven seasons in the Mets system, never hitting above .265 or popping more than 16 homers.  But...
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If Your Birthday is May 9th...

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...you share it with Prince Fielder .  The six-time All Star and two-time Home Run Derby champ jacked 319 home runs in his 12-year career with the Brewers, Tigers and Rangers.  Uniquely among the many father-son slugging combos in baseball history, Prince and his father Cecil each hit the same number of home runs! 319 for the father, 319 for the son. (Below:) Tommy Edman   was a handy utilityman for the Cardinals (where I snapped him against the Mets in 2021) before joining the Dodgers just in time for back-to-back World Series champs the last two years.  His LA highlights include earning 2024 NLCS MVP honors and hitting a solo home run in Game 2 of the 2024 fall classic against the Yankees.  
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