Friday, October 13, 2006 |
Today's Birthdays
Bob Bailey LAN b. 1942, played 1967-1968. Famous for being an epochal bust, the Wilson High (Long Beach) grad actually carved out a decent career for himself, though he disappointed a couple teams along the way. Originally signed by the Pirates for what was then believed to be a record $175,000 bonus in 1961, he fizzled his first year in pro ball but turned it around the next year to hit 28 homers in the International League. He spent the next five years as Pittsburgh's regular third baseman, during which time he had only one season with a high of 13 homers, yet he increased his average and on-base percentage over that time.
For the Dodgers, he was best-known for being the return on the dump that unceremoniously sent Maury Wills to the Pirates. By the end of 1968, Bailey had amassed a pair of .227 averages, and the Dodgers had had enough — even considering the low-scoring era, they couldn't afford to hold on to such an underperforming player. Montreal purchased his contract, and once there, he finally came close to reaching his potential, setting franchise records in a number of batting categories; he remains in the franchise top 10 in career OBP (.368, 6th), OPS (.805, 10th), games played (951, tied with Andres Gallaraga for 9th), triples (23, four-way tie for 10th), homers (118, 5th), RBIs, (466, 8th), and walks (502, 4th).
Despite breaking his ankle during Bill Stoneman's first no-nitter, his tenuous grasp on the starting first base job held (he had been switched during 1969, one of the few seasons to that point in which he wasn't a primary 3B). Montreal eventually moved him to the outfield following stinging criticism of his poor glovework at third, notably from pitcher Mike Marshall. Montreal traded him to Cincinnati during the waning years of the Big Red Machine, in 1976. After most of two years with the Reds, he ended up in a Boston uniform, retiring in 1978.
Lou Clinton CAL,LAA b. 1937, played 1964-1965, d. 1997-12-06
Bill Donovan BRO b. 1876, played 1899-1902, d. 1923-12-09
Chris Gwynn LAN b. 1964, played 1987-1991, 1994-1995. Brother and presumptive Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn was a third-rounder in 1981, but little bro Chris went in the first round, 10th overall, in 1985. The Dodgers got the bum end of that deal. As a Padre, in the last season of his career, he gave a parting gift to his former team by driving in a pair in the only two runs the Padres would score on September 29, 1996, the win clinching the division for San Diego. The Padres were in turn swept by the Cards in the NLDS that year.
Ray Hathaway BRO b. 1916, played 1945
Frank LaCorte CAL b. 1951, played 1984
Ron Moeller LAA b. 1938, played 1961, 1963
Jim Roberts BRO b. 1895, played 1924-1925, d. 1984-06-24
Julio Valera CAL b. 1968, played 1992-1993
Eddie Yost LAA b. 1926, played 1961-1962, All-Star: 1952. Nicknamed "The Walking Man" because of his ability to draw walks, he had eight seasons of 100 or more bases on balls, leading the AL six times; his career OBP of .394 outpaced that of Hall of Famer Rod Carew and presumptive Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn (.388). An original Angel in 1961, he played third for most of two seasons until his retirement in 1962.
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