If Your Birthday is September 25th...

 

...you share it with Ben Rortvedt, who came close to joining the select circle that have played for both New York teams.  Having already seen action for the 2023 Yankees, the well traveled catcher suited up 48 times this season for the Mets AAA club in Syracuse -- where, despite injuries to Francisco Alvarez, he never got the call to Queens.  Instead, he returned to the Dodgers in a deadline deal for pitching prospect Chayce McDermott. 

Vance Worley looked like he was about to become the Phillies next stellar starting pitcher, going 11-3 on the 2011 NL East champs.  But "The Vanimal" could never duplicate those numbers; never again reaching double digit victories and only once posting a winning record over the next half dozen years, as he bounced from Philadelphia to Minnesota, Baltimore and Miami. 

In case you're curious, of the nearly 70 major leaguers born on September 25th, the best player (in terms of WAR) and only Hall of Famer, is the Yankees' beloved Scooter, shortstop and 40 year broadcaster Phil Rizzuto.  Here's his retired number and plaque in the replica Monument Park outside Steinbrenner Field, the Yankees' spring training home.


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