If Your Birthday is December 9th...

...you share it with Juan Samuel. The Dominican native took over for Joe Morgan as the Phillies 2nd baseman in 1984 -- and for several years played a lot like his predecessor. Flashing a lot of power and speed for a 1980s middle infielder, he was held back by leading the NL in strikeous four times and inconsistency as a fielder. Swapped for Lenny Dykstra in a 1989 deal, he struggled when the Mets decided to move him to center field. He bounced to several other clubs, but never recaptured his early career production. Samuel, who later coached for the Phils, is the first player in major-league history to register double figures in doubles, triples, home runs and stolen bases in each of his first four seasons.

Geoff Hartlieb pitched for the Pirates in parts of 2019, '20 and '21, and then made three appearances for the Mets.

Todd Van Poppel was a 1st round draft pick out of high school by the A's in 1990. But injuries held him back from fulfilling his promise. Over parts of 11 seasons, his best success came as a reliever with the 2001 Cubs.
 
Tony Tarasco's greatest fame came as the Orioles right fielder who watched a Derek Jeter fly ball carry toward Yankee Stadium's right field fence -- only to be snatched away by 12 year old fan Jeffrey Maier. He later had a pair of stints with New York's other team: as a bench player on the 2002 Mets and as the club's first base coach this past season.

Darold Knowles was the A's other frequently used reliever during the '70s dynasty. Over his 16 season career, he saved 143 games, and allowed just 65 homers in 1092 innings!

Del Unser's speed and defense helped the outfielder build a 15-season MLB career. The runner up for the 1968 American League Rookie of the Year earned his only ring 12 years later with the Phillies.

  • And remembering...
Joe DeMaestri also earned a ring late in his career. The shortstop for the A's last two years in Philadelphia and first five in Kansas City came to the Bronx along with Roger Maris in 1960 (for a package of Hank Bauer, Don Larsen, Marv Throneberry and Norm Siebern) and was a utilityman for the next two Yankee pennant winners.

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