Baseball Birthdays This Weekend

Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish is the most prolific current player with an August 16th birthday.  The Japanese righthander is the third native of his country to reach a combined 200 victories between JPB and MLB (he's got 107 in the USA over his 12 seasons with the Rangers, Dodgers, Cubs and Padres.  Despite battling injuries, he's a five-time All Star,

Darvish is also second alltime in WAR among players born 8/16.  The leader: Gene Woodling, the sweet-swinging outfield who played on five straight Yankees World Champs (1949-'53) and then ended his career again playing for Casey Stengel on the infamous 1962 Mets -- making him among the first to play for both present-day New York clubs.

Saturday the 17th, we're also focusing on the day's WAR leaders.  Your runner-up is Jorge Posada.  The switch hitter,, who belted 20 or more home runs seven times, was the primary catcher on three straight Yankee championship teams (1998-2000) as well as their most recent (2009). 

By that measure, 8/17's most productive player was Dustin Pedroia.  The 2nd baseman on the Red Sox 2007 and 2013 champs, this .299 lifetime hitter was the AL Rookie of the Year in '07, MVP a year later and a four-time All Star.

Sunday, we remember the great Roberto Clemente, the first player from Puerto Rico elected to the Hall of Fame and by far the greatest player born August 18th.  Still at the top of his game -- and having ended the 1972 regular season with exactly 3000 hits -- the Pirates superstar chose to personally deliver supplies to earthquake-stricken Nicaragua.  Disturbed by reports that the Somoza dictatorship was stealing aid meant for the victims, Clemente felt his presence would keep things honest.
Instead, the overloaded plane crashed not far from the Puerto Rican coast, with all aboard killed. Clemente's body was never found, only his briefcase was recovered.
His legacy of leadership is honored in this statue outside the Pirates current home, PNC Park.
Ever wonder why he wore #21 -- a number many fans would like to see retired across the game as a tribute?  There were 21 letters in his full name: Roberto Enrique Clemente.

 

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