Baseball Birthdays This Weekend

If you celebrate on Friday the 23rd, you share the day with Mike Yastrzemski.   The grandson of the Red Sox legend had a far more tenuous climb to the majors.  Not making the show until age 28, he rode a terrific spring training in 2019 to a spot on the Orioles roster.  Even after a 21 homer rookie season where he hit .272,  Baltimore didn't consider him a part of their future.  The Giants didn't make that mistake; acquiring him for pitcher Tyler Herb (who never made the majors), he's been a key member of the San Francisco outfield for the past five seasons.
(On a side note, Grandpa Carl Yastrzemski turned 85 yesterday.)

Sharing the day is Ron Blomberg.  On April 6th, 1973, the popular Yankee made history as baseball's first DH -- being the first to come to bat at the newly created position, just moments before Orlando Cepeda, then with the Red Sox.  In the top of the 1st inning, facing Luis Tiant, he walked with the bases loaded, forcing in a run and changing the game forever.

Saturday August 24th's spotlight shines on Brett Gardner.   One of the best leadoff hitters in Yankee history, he flexed power (253 lifetime homers) and speed (leading the AL in steals in 2011; swiping 274 over 14 seasons) along with a bulldog attitude that made him a fan favorite.

Sunday the 25th starts with Max Muncy , who didn't do much when he first came up with the A's.  But since joining the Dodgers in 2018, he's produced a trio of 30-plus home run seasons, while moving all around the infield. 

Doug Glanville spent nine years in the majors, mostly with the Cubs and Phillies.  He ranks with fellow athlete-turned-broadcaster Mark DeRosa as the best baseball player to have graduated from the University of Pennsylvania.

Then there's the owner of one of baseball's most recognizable mustaches -- and greatest relief pitchers -- ever.  Rollie Fingers was the A's closer before the term was popularized.  Landing in the Oakland bullpen after struggling as a starter, he finished games the old fashioned way -- in multiple innings.  341 career saves are impressive; so are working over 100 innings a season in nine of then seasons between 1971 and '80.


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