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Happy ’80s Birthday to Terry Francona who was a helluva hitter until his knees gave out.
Tito was the Golden Spikes award winner in 1980. He hit .401 that season at the University of Arizona and led them to the College World Series title. All he did in the CWS was hit .458.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Moose Haas, who enjoyed his best year in 1980, throwing 252 innings and recording 16 wins for the Brewers.
In addition to pitching, Haas was also an amateur magician.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Dave Schmidt, who went 8-5 with a 3.40 E.R.A. for the 1988 Orioles, who lost 107 games.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Stefan Wever, who appeared in one game for the 1982 Yankees. He’s also the only player in big league history whose last name begins with the letters “Wev”
Happy ’80s Birthday to Jimmy Key, who posted double-digit wins in 12 of his 15 seasons while pitching for the Blue Jays Yankees, and Orioles but Seth Hayes wasn’t a fan.
4/22/88
The Cardinals deal Tommy Herr to the Twins for Tom Brunansky.
Neither player stays long with his new team. Herr is flipped to the Phillies at the end of the season for Shane Rawley and Bruno gets dealt to Boston for Lee Smith in 1990.
4/22/81
Yankees prospect Steve Balboni makes his big league debut and goes 1 for 2 with a triple because speed never slumps.
4/22/88
Robby Alomar goes 1 for 4 in his big league debut.
He’d finish 5th in the Rookie of the Year balloting and end up in the Hall of Fame.
4/22/80
Mike Torrez induces the White Sox to hit into four double plays but loses the game 2-0.
There were 15 games in 1980 in which pitchers got four or more double play balls. Pitchers went 12-3 in those games. Torrez got two of the three losses.
4/22/82
Kirk Gibson goes 2 for 4 in a Tigers win over the Yankees but also strikes out once.
Gibson was dating Morgan Fairchild at the time and left her tickets.
“I kept looking at her instead of the ball,” he said.
Makes total sense to me.
Big Days
4/22/80
Michael Jack Schmidt goes 3-5 with two homers, including a Grand Slam, and drives in six as the Phillies beat the Mets 14-6.
All Hail Schmitty!
4/22/80
Jose Cruz goes 3 for 4 and drives in 5 in a 6-0 Astros win over the Reds at the Astrodome.
Jose Cruz could hit a little bit.
4/22/81
Fernando throws his 3rd straight shutout and drives in the game’s only run for good measure as the Dodgers beat the Astros 1-0.
4/22/84
Mike Marshall goes 5 for 6 with 2 homers and 6 RBI for the Dodgers in a 15-7 win over the Padres.
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4/22/85
In his 141st career game, Kirby Puckett hits his first career homer.
More would follow, including a big one on the World Series.
4/22/88
Kurt Stillwell and Willie Wilson hit back-to-back triples as part of a 9-run first inning as the Royals hammer the Orioles 13-1.
Injuries
4/22/81
Dennis Martinez is standing by the bat rack in the Orioles dugout in Chicago when he is hit by a beer bottle thrown by a fan.
The wound requires multiple stitches to close and Martinez files charges against the person who threw it.
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