Happy Birthday–September 30

Gabby Street (1882)
Nap Rucker (1884)
Bobby Williams (1895)
Johnny Allen (1904)
Robin Roberts (1926)
Johnny Podres (1932)
Craig Kusick (1948)
Dave Magadan (1962)
Yorkis Perez (1967)
Jose Lima (1972)
Carlos Guillen (1975)
Seth Smith (1982)
Kenley Jansen (1987)

Gabby Street was a light-hitting catcher who played in parts of eight major leagues seasons, mostly for the Washington Senators. He was Walter Johnson's primary catcher. He later did some managing and broadcasting. He is best remembered as the first man to catch a baseball dropped from the top of the Washington Monument.

Five players born on this day made their major league debut in 2019:  Jesus Luzardo, Travis Demeritte, Trent Thornton, Jack Mayfield, and Brian Moran.  I don't know that that's a record, but I don't know that it isn't, either.

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Happy Birthday–September 29

Dave Orr (1859)
Gus Weyhing (1866)
Harry Steinfeldt (1877)
Paul Giel (1932)
Mike McCormick (1938)
Rich Reese (1941)
Steve Busby (1949)
John McLaren (1951)
Warren Cromartie (1953)
Byron McLaughlin (1955)
Tim Flannery (1957)
Craig Lefferts (1957)
Rob Deer (1960)
Derek Parks (1968)
Jake Westbrook (1977)
Heath Bell (1977)
Joe Thurston (1979)
Jake Reed (1992)
Tyler Mahle (1994)

Dave Orr is considered the greatest nineteenth century slugger of all.  His career was cut short when he suffered a stroke in 1890 at the age of 31.

Outfielder Warren Cromartie was drafted by the Twins in the third round of the January Secondary draft in 1972, but did not sign.

We would also like to wish a very happy anniversary to freealonzo's parents.

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Happy Birthday–September 28

Lou Bierbauer (1865)
Wilbur Good (1885)
Jack Fournier (1889)
Whitey Witt (1895)
Al Evans (1916)
Dick Gernert (1928)
Grant Jackson (1942)
Pete Filson (1958)
Jerry Layne (1958)
Todd Worrell (1959)
Ed Vosberg (1961)
Charlie Kerfeld (1963)
Matt Vasgersian (1967)
Mike DeJean (1970)
Ryan Zimmerman (1984)
Nick Greenwood (1987)
Eddie Rosario (1991)
Manuel Margot (1994)

Jerry Layne has been a major league umpire since 1989.

Matt Vasgersian has been a major league baseball broadcaster since 1997.

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Rings in the Sky: A Twins Cautionary Hymn

With apologies to Joe Hill.

Oh the Pohlads come out every year,
Tell Twins fans they've got something to cheer;
But when asked to shell out for their team
They won't tell you they sell a pipe dream:

(Chorus:)
Twins will win, bye and bye,
In that glorious land above the sky;
Shorthanded play, most everyday,
You'll get rings in the sky when you die.
(That’s a lie!)

A nepo baby holds the club's purse strings,
Dave St. Peter counts up their earnings,
Once they've raked your coin into the bank,
That's when they tell you the payroll has shrank.

(chorus)

The Twins needed a new TV deal,
Waves of greenbacks to steady the keel.
"Give your money to Bally," they say,
"They might televise a ballgame today."

(chorus)

There was some talent down on the farm,
Young Brooks Lee and a number of arms;
Big wheels fell off all season, you know:
Carlos, Paddack, Royce, Buxton, Max, and Joe.

(chorus)

Help was needed for several key roles,
To patch a roster with quite a few holes,
The front office was mostly clear-eyed:
Can't sign free agents — their hands were tied.

(chorus)

Private equity holds all the cards,
Socialized losses with private rewards,
Never trust their inherited wealth,
"Caveat emptor" for your mental health.

Remodeled basement. Same half-baked taste.