All posts by Jeff A

Happy Birthday–June 9

Dude Esterbrook (1857)
Irish Meusel (1893)
Mike Ryba (1903)
Frank McCormick (1911)
Jimmy Newberry (1922)
Roy Smalley (1926)
Bill Virdon (1931)
Howie Gershberg (1936)
Jake Jacobs (1937)
Julio Gotay (1939)
Bruce Look (1943)
Tom Egan (1946)
Dave Parker (1951)
Tom Edens (1961)
Randy Winn (1974)

Jimmy Newberry was the first black player in Japanese baseball.

Howie Gershberg was a long-time college and minor league pitching coach.

We would also like to wish a happy birthday to SBG’s uncle and to his brother.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–June 9

This Week in Twins Transactions

Chris Colabello was optioned to Rochester.

Clete Thomas had his contract selected by Minnesota.

Tyler Robertson was designated for assignment.

Blake Martin was promoted from New Britain to Rochester.

Tom Stuifbergen was promoted from Fort Myers to New Britain.

Manuel Soliman was promoted from Cedar Rapids to Fort Myers.

Tyler Duffey was promoted from Cedar Rapids to Fort Myers.

Niko Goodrum was placed on the seven day disabled list by Cedar Rapids.

Caleb Brewer was assigned to Cedar Rapids.

Joel Licon was promoted from Elizabethton to Cedar Rapids.

Christian Powell was promoted from Elizabethton to Cedar Rapids.

This Week in Ex-Twins

Atlanta signs Joe Beimel to a minor league contract and assigns him to AAA Gwinnett.

Atlanta organization sends Billy Bullock from AAA Gwinnett to A Lynchburg on a rehab assignment.

Baltimore signs Jon Rauch to a minor league contract and assigns him to AAA Norfolk.

Cubs designate Alex Burnett for assignment, then sent him outright to Iowa.

Cincinnati organization sends Ray Chang from AAA Louisville to AA Pensacola.

Cleveland signs J. C. Romero to a minor league contract and sends him to AAA Columbus.

Kansas City assigns Chase Lambin to AAA Omaha.

Toronto selects the contract of Ramon Ortiz from AAA Buffalo, then places him on the fifteen day disabled list with a strained right elbow.

Toronto designates Henry Blanco for assignment.  They're going to miss him.

Washington organization announces that J. C. Romero has elected to become a free agent.

Washington claims Tyler Robertson off waivers and options him to AAA Syracuse.

Happy Birthday–June 8

Cub Stricker (1859)
Van Lingle Mungo (1911)
Eddie Gaedel (1925)
Del Ennis (1925)
George Brunet (1935)
Joe Grzenda (1937)
Pete Magrini (1942)
Mark Belanger (1944)
Lenn Sakata (1954)
Don Robinson (1957)
Carmelo Castillo (1958)
Britt Burns (1959)
Kevin Gross (1961)
John Gibbons (1962)
Kevin Ritz (1965)
Dave Mlicki (1968)

I assume anyone reading this knows who Eddie Gaedel was.  If not, you are encouraged to look him up.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–June 8

Happy Birthday–June 7

Bones Ely (1863)
Ed Wells (1900)
Dusty Boggess (1904)
Rosey Gilhousen (1913)
Herb Score (1933)
Roger Nelson (1944)
George Mitterwald (1945)
Don Money (1947)
Thurman Munson (1947)
Bobby Marcano (1951)
Bill Hohn (1955)
Tim Laudner (1958)
Heathcliff Slocumb (1966)
Donaldo Mendez (1978)
Virgil Vasquez (1982)

Dusty Boggess was a National League umpire from 1944-62.

Rosey Gilhousen was a long-time scout who is credit for signing George Brett and Dan Quisenberry.

Bobby Marcano was an all-star in Japan.

Bill Hohn has been a major league umpire since 1989.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–June 7

Happy Birthday–June 6

D-Day B-days:

Ed McKean (1864)
Fresco Thompson (1902)
Bill Dickey (1907)
Wild Bill Wright (1914)
Hector Espino (1939)
Merv Rettenmund (1943)
Bud Harrelson (1944)
Bobby Randall (1948)
Dave Bergman (1953)
Max Venable (1957)
Brooks Kieschnick (1972)
Tony Graffanino (1972)
David Lamb (1975)
Mark Ellis (1977)
Jeremy Affeldt (1979)
Matt Belisle (1980)

 Wild Bill Wright was a star in the Negro Leagues in the 1930s and 1940s.

Hector Espino is considered the greatest player in the history of the Mexican League, hitting 453 home runs there.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–June 6