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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

2017 ALCS, Game 6 - Yankees @ Astros

YouTube video by Astros & Rangers Classics

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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.

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.

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?

John Oncea@buck25.bsky.social · 7mo ago

That same draft, I was the Assistant General Manager of the Erie Sailors of the New York–Penn League, and we selected Brigham Young outfielder Gary Daniels with our lone pick. Daniels played in 41 games that year (.258/.391/.355), his only season as a pro.

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?

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.

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.

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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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.

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.

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.

1968 MLB Allstar Game @ Houston

YouTube video by Classic MLB1

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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.

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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30000 days ago (November 18, 1943), just before receiving a lifetime ban for betting on games involving his team, Phillies owner William D. Cox “resigns” to “devote…time to war-essential business”.

Philadelphia Phillies History: William Cox Banned from Baseball

Pete Rose is the most infamous figure in baseball to be banned for betting on his own team. However, on this day in 1943, Philadelphia Phillies owner William Cox was banned for doing the exact same th...

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