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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

1/15 Birthday Team (text version) C:Mitch Garver (9.8 WAR) 1B:Tony Solaita (8.0) 2B:Bobby Grich (71.1) 3B:Rance Mulliniks (17.0) SS:Ray Chapman (29.3) LF:Matt Holliday (44.4) CF:Tom Oliver (1.8) RF:Mike Mansell (3.4) SP:Steve Gromek (25.1) Others: M.Marshall, D.DeShields Sr., T.Casas, J.Genewich

photos of baseball players. clockwise from top left: Bobby Grich, Delino DeShields, Rance Mulliniks, Steve Gromek, Ray Chapman, Mike Marshall, Matt Holliday

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

If the January 15 Birthday Team existed in real life, they'd probably move DeShields to CF. Maybe DeShields at 2B, then Grich and Mulliniks in some combination on the corners. Either way, Oliver and Mansell wouldn't get 600 AB each while Delino rots on the bench.

graphical version of 1/15/2026 birthday team

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

1/14 Birthday Team (text version) C:Paddy Livingston (3.5 WAR) 1B:Logan Forsythe (11.7) 2B:Derrel Thomas (6.5) 3B:Wayne Gross (15.0) SS:Erick Aybar (22.8) LF:Smead Jolley (5.0) CF:Aaron Altherr (1.8) RF:Stephen Piscotty (7.1) SP:Chet Brewer (19.3) Others: S.Siebert, M.Pelfrey, S.Cooke, T.Forster

photos of baseball players. clockwise from top left: Erick Aybar, Stephen Piscotty, Sonny Siebert, Logan Forsythe, Terry Forster, Chet Brewer. Center: Wayne Gross.

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

January 14 has a not-terrible Birthday Team, but also a low ceiling. Sonny Siebert and Erick Aybar are tops in career WAR. Some useful Immaculate Grid knowledge: Terry Forster is (or was recently) the career batting average leader among all players with 75+ AB. Need a .300 hitter? Think Forster.

graphical version of 1/14/2026 birthday team

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

1/13 Birthday Team (text version) C:Ron Brand (0.2 WAR) 1B:Billy Jo Robidoux (-2.4) 2B:Brayan Rocchio (1.7) 3B:Steve Mesner (2.0) SS:Orlando Miller (1.6) LF:Kevin Mitchell (29.1) CF:Fred Schulte (16.5) RF:Bama Rowell (5.7) SP:Bob Forsch (24.6) Others:E.Dessens, A. Otsuka, L.Jaster, S.Comer, K.Foster

photos of baseball players. clockwise from top left: Akinori Otsuka, Bama Rowell, Larry Jaster, Bob Forsch, Fred Schulte, Kevin Mitchell, Elmer Dessens

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

Not a good Birthday Team for January 13. Mitchell had a few great seasons, Schulte and Forsch were very good, and then there's not much of anything. The starting infield and catcher combine for a total of 3.1 career WAR between the five of them.

graphical version of 1/13/2026 birthday team

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

1/12 Birthday Team (text version) C:Admiral Schlei (9.3 WAR) 1B:Joe Hauser (12.5) 2B:Tim Hulett (6.7) 3B:Bill Madlock (38.2) SS:Bobby Crosby (5.4) LF:Mike Marshall (10.1) CF:Henry Larkin (28.7) RF:Ed Swartwood (17.2) SP:Togie Pittinger (14.0) Others: R.Jones, D.Willis, C.Candaele, A.Wood, I.Nova

photos of baseball players. clockwise from top left: Bill Madlock, Alex Wood, Togie Pittinger, Dontrelle Willis, Henry Larkin, Ed Swartwood. Center: Randy Jones.

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

There aren't any huge weaknesses on the January 12 Birthday Team, but there's also nothing too scary for opponents. Larkin and Swartwood were excellent nineteenth-century hitters. A shoutout to Casey Candaele, one of my favorite ballplayers of all time. Versatility and hustle out the wazoo.

graphical version of 1/12/2026 birthday team

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

1/11 Birthday Team (text version) C:Art Watson (0.3 WAR) 1B:Nick Solak (-0.0) 2B:George Pinkney (21.1) 3B:Elly De La Cruz (9.5) SS:J.P. Crawford (22.1) LF:Jermaine Allensworth (-0.1) CF:Max Carey (55.6) RF:Elmer Flick (52.7) SP:Silver King (50.4) Others:S.Rowe, D.Mossi, G.Crowder, W.Morris,D.Salazar

photos of baseball players. clockwise from top left: Elmer Flick, Schoolboy Rowe, J.P. Crawford, Don Mossi, Silver King, Max Carey, General Crowder

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

The January 11 Birthday Team has two great outfielders and a couple of fun-to-watch players on the left side of the infield. Elly's more a shortstop than a third baseman, but Crawford is a Gold Glover, so De La Cruz gets bumped. It's not a deep team; C/LF/1B are all essentially replacement level.

graphical version of 1/11/2026 birthday team

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

1/10 Birthday Team (text version) C:Johnny Peacock (1.2 WAR) 1B:Willie McCovey (64.5) 2B:Del Pratt (45.8) 3B:Adam Kennedy (20.9) SS:John Beckwith (21.2) LF:Fats Jenkins (10.9) CF:Johnny Bates (20.8) RF:Chick Stahl (31.6) SP:Jim O'Toole (18.8) Others: R.Dotson, G.Strickland, C.Chambers, R.Healy

photos of baseball players. clockwise from top left: Willie McCovey, John Beckwith, Jim O'Toole, Johnny Bates, Adam Kennedy, Del Pratt, Chick Stahl

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

January 10 has a good Birthday Team at a glance, and it's even better than it looks at first. Beckwith is one of the greatest sluggers in Negro Leagues history, a career .349/.403/.583 hitter. Wasn't much of a defensive player; in real life you'd maybe play him at 3B and Kennedy at SS.

graphical version of 1/10/2026 birthday team

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

1/9 Birthday Team (text version) C:Harry Else (1.1 WAR) 1B:Johnny Washington (4.7) 2B:Frank Olin (0.6) 3B:Phil Mankowski (0.9) SS:Iván de Jesús (11.1) LF:Brandon Boggs (0.1) CF:Otis Nixon (16.6) RF:Stan Javier (25.5) SP:Ralph Terry (11.8) Others: A.Manoah, J.Gaines, K.Calero, T.J. Mathews, J.Powell

photos of baseball players. clockwise from top left: Kiko Calero, Otis Nixon, Stan Javier, Ralph Terry, Alek Manoah, Iván de Jesús, Jonas Gaines

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

I think of the Birthday Team photo collage as kind of a "look who's on this team!" feature, an image of the excitement the roster has to offer. For January 9, that includes Kiko Calero, Otis Nixon, and Iván de Jesús. All decent enough players, to be sure, but the excitement level is zero.

graphical version of 1/9/2026 birthday team

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

1/8 Birthday Team (text version) C:Walker Cooper (27.3 WAR) 1B:Jason Giambi (50.5) 2B:Randy Ready (10.9) 3B:Gene Freese (8.7) SS:Craig Gerber (0.6) LF:Jeff Francoeur (6.7) CF:Jim Busby (12.8) RF:Mike Cameron (46.7) SP:Carl Pavano (16.4) Others: J.Francis, B.Sutter, J.Durán, P.Charleston, J.Hoffman

photos of baseball players. clockwise from top left: Jason Giambi, Mike Cameron, Carl Pavano, Bruce Sutter, Randy Ready, Walker Cooper, Jim Busby.

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

The OF vibes are off on the January 8 Birthday Team. The players are fine, but the positions seem all wrong. Cameron is one of the best defensive players I've ever seen, but he's in right because Busby was almost exclusively a CF. Francoeur had a cannon for an arm, but Cameron is in RF. Just...off.

graphical version of 1/8/2026 birthday team

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

1/7 Birthday Team (text version) C:Tucker Barnhart (6.8 WAR) 1B:Johnny Mize (70.6) 2B:Ozzie Albies (24.1) 3B:Edwin Encarnación (35.3) SS:Al Dark (43.9) LF:Alfonso Soriano (28.6) CF:Joe Keough (0.3) RF:Tony Conigliaro (12.3) SP:Jon Lester (43.4) Others: F.Rodríguez, J.Montgomery, É.Gagné, J.Chacín

photos of baseball players. clockwise from top left: Jon Lester, Edwin Encarnación, Ozzie Albies, Francisco Rodriguez, Alfonso Soriano, Johnny Mize, Alvin Dark

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

January 7 has an impressive Birthday Team. An inner-circle great at first base, three dominant closers, a 200-game winner in Lester, an ERA champ (Allan Anderson), and eight infielders who'd start for most birthdays. They've got power, speed, and depth. A legit contender.

graphical version of 1/7/2026 birthday team

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

3000 days ago (October 20, 2017), the Astros blast Yankees pitchers Luis Severino and David Robertson in a 7-1 Game Six win, forcing a deciding Game Seven in the ALCS. Jose Altuve has a homer and three runs batted in for the victorious Houstonians.

youtube.com

2017 ALCS, Game 6 - Yankees @ Astros

YouTube video by Astros & Rangers Classics

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

5000 days ago (April 29, 2012), Cardinals pinch runner Tyler Greene is thrown out at home on a double steal attempt that ends a 3-2 loss to Milwaukee. It’s the first time since 1989 that someone is caught stealing home to end a game.

galesburg.com

Cards' Greene thrown out at plate to end game

Mike Moustakas cut down Tyler Greene at the plate to end the game, capping a wild ninth inning and preserving the Kansas City Royals' 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night. Green…

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

10000 days ago (August 21, 1998), a can of worms is blown open when Cardinals 1B Mark McGwire admits to using the supplement androstenedione, which is completely legal under MLB rules. This is the first domino to fall in what becomes a massive MLB-wide steroids scandal.

photo of a man about to topple a row of dominos

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

More context on the Miami Miracle participating in the MLB draft. With those sorts of OBP chops, I'm mildly surprised he didn't stick around longer, though admittedly this was before people really bought into on-base. @buck25.bsky.social , did he just decide not to pursue pro baseball anymore?

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

13000 days ago (June 4, 1990), Ramon Martinez ties a Dodgers franchise record held by Sandy Koufax when he strikes out 18 batters in a 2-0 win over the Braves. I hear Ramon has a little brother who’s even better than he is, but that can’t possibly be right, can it?

sabr.org

June 4, 1990: Dodgers phenom Ramón Martínez realizes potential with 18-strikeout game – Society for American Baseball Research

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

13000 days ago (June 4, 1990), the Braves use the first pick of the MLB draft on Larry “Chipper” Jones, a high school shortstop from Florida. Baltimore takes Mike Mussina 20th overall. The Miami Miracle, famously not a major league team, selects Wichita State IF Mike Lansing in the sixth round.

photo of a teenage chipper jones wearing six mlb hats stacked atop one another

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

15000 days ago (December 12, 1984), the Cardinals make a great trade, sending 35-year-old OF George Hendrick to the Pirates for SP John Tudor and C Brian Harper. Tudor has an incredible 1985 season, throwing 10 shutouts for the pennant-winning Cards.

upi.com

Cardinals trade Hendrick for Tudor - UPI Archives

The St. Louis Cardinals traded outfielder George Hendrick and a minor league player to the Pittsburgh Pirates Wednesday for left-handed pitcher John Tudor...

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

20000 days ago (April 5, 1971), the Senators jump all over Oakland’s Vida Blue in an 8-0 Opening Day win at RFK Stadium. It’s the last Opening Day for Washington baseball fans for 34 years.

kenosha.com

Dick Bosman threw a shutout for the Washington Senators in the 1971 ‘Presidential Opener’ - Kenosha.com

This Date in Kenosha Sports History: Right-hander blanked the A's on six hits

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

20000 days ago (April 5, 1971), the Reds play their first-ever season opener at the brand new Riverfront Stadium, losing 7-4 to the Braves. Cecil Upshaw gets the win for Atlanta; he missed all of 1970 after nearly severing a finger on his pitching hand goofing around on a basketball court.

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

21000 days ago (July 9, 1968), the All-Star Game in the Year of the Pitcher fittingly finishes 1-0, the first All-Star Game ever to feature only one run. The National League scores once in the first inning, then it’s zeroes all the way down.

youtube.com

1968 MLB Allstar Game @ Houston

YouTube video by Classic MLB1

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

22000 days ago (October 13, 1965), Twins manager Sam Mele gives Mudcat Grant the start in a must-win Game Six of the World Series, on two days’ rest. It’s a great decision; Mudcat tosses a complete game and hits a three-run homer in a 5-1 win over the Dodgers. Game Seven is tomorrow.

youtube.com

1965 World Series Game 6 MINNESOTA 10/13/65 NBC (Kinescope)

YouTube video by Phenia Films the MLB archives Original Broadcasts

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

40000 days ago (July 2, 1916), after being called out on strikes, Ty Cobb chucks his bat into an empty section of the stands. Ban Johnson suspends him for three games, which seems about right given that nobody was in any real danger.

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

48000 days ago (August 6, 1894), for the second day in a row, fire strikes a big league stadium. This time it’s the Huntingdon Grounds in Philadelphia, where a plumber inadvertently burns down the wooden grandstand. The Phils phind a temporary home at the University of Pennsylvania.

tht.fangraphs.com

Grandstands Make Great Kindling

Studying select stadium fires and their aftermath…

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

1/6 Birthday Team (text version) C:Phil Masi (14.5 WAR) 1B:Rubén Amaro Sr. (2.3) 2B:Marlon Anderson (7.2) 3B:Billy Purtell (3.2) SS:George Shoch (10.1) LF:Lee Walls (8.1) CF:Lenny Green (8.2) RF:Chuck Workman (2.8) SP:Early Wynn (61.0) Others: K.Gausman, D.Gullett, R.Branca, T.Ferrick, N.Charlton

photos of baseball players. clockwise from top left: Don Gullett, Phil Masi, Ralph Branca, George Shoch, Kevin Gausman, Tom Ferrick, Early Wynn

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

Not much offense on the January 6 Birthday Team, but the pitching staff is extremely deep. Wynn is a 300-game winner, Gausman was the ace starter on a team that was inches away from winning it all, Gullett and Branca were both good in short careers. Fine bullpen too.

graphical version of 1/6/2026 birthday team

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

3000 days ago (October 19, 2017), the Cubs’ World Series drought reaches an almost inconceivable 351 days, as Enrique Hernandez and the Dodgers throttle Chicago to close out the NLCS and win the pennant. Hernandez hits three home runs in an 11-1 LA win.

youtube.com

Condensed Game: NLCS Gm5 10/19/17

YouTube video by MLB

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

5000 days ago (April 28, 2012), Matt Kemp homers for the ninth time in 15 games, a new Dodgers record. It’s easy to forget because his peak didn’t last all that long, but for a hot minute he was one of the best players in baseball.

youtube.com

Matt Kemp Walk Off Homer 4-28-2012

YouTube video by Michael Rosen

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

6000 days ago (August 2, 2009), Yankees OF Melky Cabrera hits for the cycle in an 8-5 win over the White Sox. It’s the only time all year, in 154 games, that Melky triples.

youtube.com

Melky Cabrera hits for the cycle in 2009

YouTube video by MLB

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

9000 days ago (May 16, 2001), the Padres’ Rickey Henderson leads off the game with a home run, the 79th time he’s ever done this. He’s just about lapping the field; second-place Brady Anderson has led off 44 games with a dinger and third-place Bobby Bonds did it 35 times.

youtube.com

2001 MLB Highlights May 16

YouTube video by SW561

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

22000 days ago (October 12, 1965), a group calling itself Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club, Inc. applies for a new American League franchise intended to replace the Braves, who’ve relocated to Atlanta. Milwaukee eventually gets its AL team, but it’ll be a few years.

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

25000 days ago (July 26, 1957), 17-year-old Orioles catcher Noodles Zupo becomes the youngest player in MLB history to be ejected, after faking a throw at an umpire. Zupo wasn’t even in the game; he was warming up the pitcher.

youtu.be

Cheekface "Noodles" LIVE Played Three Times in a Row

YouTube video by Concerts Hub

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

32000 days ago (May 27, 1938), Hank Greenberg crushes a pitch into the center field seats at Comiskey Park, becoming the first player ever to deposit a home run ball into those bleachers.

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

33000 days ago (August 31, 1935), White Sox pitcher Vern Kennedy tosses the AL’s first no-hitter since 1931, and the first one ever thrown at Comiskey Park. Kennedy finishes off his no-no by striking out the league’s leading hitter, Cleveland OF Joe Vosmik.

youtube.com

Ernest Saves Christmas: Vern's House [HD]

YouTube video by Pop Dumpster

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

33000 days ago (August 31, 1935), Mission Reds (PCL) manager Gabby Street is suspended and ordered to stay away from the ballpark, a day after attempting to rip the mask off of one-armed umpire Henry Fanning during an argument. Gabby doesn’t listen and is arrested near the stadium tomorrow.

youtube.com

At the Drive-In – One Armed Scissor (Later Archive 2000)

YouTube video by BBC Music

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

38000 days ago (December 22, 1921), 51-year-old Socks Seybold, the AL’s single-season home run king before Babe Ruth, dies in a traffic accident.

youtube.com

King Missile - Socks

YouTube video by Joe Creighton

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

48000 days ago (August 5, 1894), a fire breaks out in the grandstand at West Side Grounds in Chicago. Hundreds are injured in the fire and the resulting stampede, while fans and players frantically tear down a barbed wire fence that was put in place to prevent fans from running onto the field.

youtube.com

The Elements: Fire (Mrs. O'Leary's Cow)

YouTube video by The Beach Boys - Topic

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Reposted by Old Baseball News

"smokey stevenson" @kurtblumenau.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

Charlie Hough is 78 today! 2026 will mark the 60th anniversary of his professional debut, as reported on by the SABR Games Project. The anniversary's in June so there's still time to order a cake.

sabr.org

June 25, 1966: Charlie Hough gets a rough greeting in first professional game – Society for American Baseball Research

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

1/5 Birthday Team (text version) C:Earl Battey (18.8 WAR) 1B:C.J. Cron (12.5) 2B:Jim Gantner (22.4) 3B:Bill Dahlen (75.2) SS:Art Fletcher (47.1) LF:Riggs Stephenson (32.7) CF:Benny Kauff (29.0) RF:Milt Thompson (18.6) SP:Bob Caruthers (59.5) Others: C.Hough, D.Jackson, R.Foster, J.Fassero, N.Aoki

photos of baseball players. clockwise from top left: Bob Caruthers, Art Fletcher, Bill Dahlen, Riggs Stephenson, Jeff Fassero, Benny Kauff, Charlie Hough

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

The January 5 Birthday Team has ten All-Stars and five more who probably could have played in the ASG if it had existed. I'm a big fan of the knuckleball, so seeing Charlie Hough always cheers me up. I was at the '06 ASG in Pittsburgh when Mark Redman was inexplicably on the AL roster. Just weird.

graphical version of 1/5/2026 birthday team

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

1/4 Birthday Team (text version) C:George Dixon (2.9 WAR) 1B:Kris Bryant (27.4) 2B:Tito Fuentes (11.8) 3B:Ossie Vitt (15.4) SS:Tommy Corcoran (20.2) LF:Alex Metzler (7.6) CF:Kevin Pillar (16.1) RF:George Selkirk (23.5) SP:Ted Lilly (27.1) Others:M.Lorenzen, D.McMahon, A.Bridwell, R.Iglesias, R.López

photos of baseball players. clockwise from top left: Raisel Iglesias, Ted Lilly, Tommy Corcoran, Kris Bryant, Al Bridwell, George Selkirk. Center: Don McMahon.

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Old Baseball News @oldbaseballnews.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

The January 4 Birthday Team features six All-Stars and two more (Corcoran and Bridwell) who probably would have made it at least once if there was such a thing during their career. Lorenzen is a good pitcher who could easily have been a two-way player; he's been used as a pinch hitter 29 times.

graphical version of 1/4/2026 birthday team

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