If Your Birthday is April 28th...

The spotlight's on shortstops:

...you share it with Anthony Volpe.  The Yankees rookie won the starting shortstop position after outplaying Oswald Peraza in spring training.  While the suburban New Jersey product struggled as hitter for his first dozen games, he's hit his stride since moving into the lead off spot.  After all, who wouldn't want to hit with superstar Aaron Judge right behind you?  While it's a long season and nothing is written in stone, Volpe appears to have the talent and demeanor to be a middle inning mainstay in the Bronx for years to come.

Barry Larkin also got to play for the team he grew up rooting for.  In his case, his heroics carried Cincinnati native all the way to Cooperstown.  A 12-time all star and 1995 NL MVP, Larkin batted a career . 295 with 198 homers and stands as the Reds best shortstop ever.

Coming up tomorrow, the 29th, the first Venezuelan elected to the Hall of Fame.  Luis Aparicio played 10 of his 18 major league seasons at the original Comiskey Park -- noted for its colorful "exploding scoreboard."  The speedy, slick fielding shortstop was the 1956 American League Rookie of the Year -- the first of nine straight seasons where he led the AL in stolen bases. Aparicio also earned nine gold gloves en route to Cooperstown.  Along with starring for the 1959 pennant winning "Go-Go Sox," the Maracaibo native was the Orioles regular shortstop on their 1966 World Series champs.  A happy 89th to the man whose number-11 has been retired by the Sox.

Then, on Sunday the 30th...

Jose Peraza spent four years as a Reds infielder, and was a handy 2021 fill-for the Mets after they were hit by a wave of injuries.  He's back in the organization this season, a call away if needed, playing with their AAA team in Syracuse.




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