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Happy ’80s Birthday to Mario Soto who was one of the most underrated pitchers of the decade.
From 1980 through 1984, Soto posted a WHIP of 1.11 over more than 1,300 innings and placed in the top-10 in the Cy Young balloting four times.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Brian Brady.
Brian was a 6th round draft pick of the Angels and had a total of two big-league at bats. He hit an RBI double off Seattle’s Mike Schooler as a pinch-hitter in the first at-bat of his career.
July 12, 1981
The Phillies sign Mike LaValliere as an amateur free agent.
He makes his debut in 1984 with the Phillies, then signs with the Cardinals as a free agent prior to 1985.
7/12/85
The A’s sign Tommy John as a free agent. John had been released by the Angels in June.
He goes 2-6 with a 6.19 E.R.A., but after returning to the Yankees in 1986, he went 5-2 with a 2.93 E.R.A. and then won 13 games in 1987 in his age 44 season.
7/12/86
The Mariners sign Ken Forsch as a free agent.
He appears in 13 games for the Calgary Cannons and he’s done.
7/12/87
The Rangers sign Steve Howe as a free agent.
He goes 3-3 in 24 games with one save, then runs into trouble again.
7/12/85
Steve Lombardozzi goes 0 for 1 against Detroit in his big league debut.
He becomes a regular in 1986 and spends six years in the big leagues.
7/12/87
Walt Weiss makes his big leagues debut as a pinch-runner against the Brewers. He collects just four hits in 26 at-bats in 1987, but wins the A.L. Rookie of the Year Award in 1988.
Big Days
7/12/80
Jack Clark goes 5 for 9 with 2 homers and 4 RBI in a doubleheader sweep of the Reds at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati.
The Giants bang out 17 hits in the nightcap as seven different players record multi-hit games.
7/12/80
George Foster goes 4 for 5 with 2 homers and 5 RBI but the Reds still fall to the Giants 10-7 in the 2nd game of a twinbill.
It was the beginning of a 12-day, 14-game homestand for the Reds.
7/12/86
Lenny Dykstra, Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter, and Darryl Strawberry combine to go 12 for 18 in a 10-1 win over the Braves.
7/12/87
Kent Tekulve sets an MLB record by appearing in his 900th career game. He finishes his career with 1,050 with Jesse Orosco currently holding the record at 1,252.
7/12/88
Terry Steinbach, hitting .217 at the break and heavily criticized for being the starting catcher for the American League, homers and drives in both runs in a 2-1 victory in the All-Star Game.
Steinbach becomes the first player to homer in his first big league at-bat and in the All-Star Game.
Transactions
7/12/89
The Indians release Tim Stoddard and his big league career is over.
He finishes with 41 wins, 76 saves, and two postseason appearances and plays in the Senior League.
7/12/89
Ron Guidry hangs ’em up. The lefty finishes his career with a 170-91 record over 14 seasons, including a Cy Young award and two rings.
Injuries
7/12/80
Phil Niekro is pitching batting practice when a line drive comebacker hits him in his pitching elbow, causing him to spend the night in the hospital.
Knucksie is hurt so badly that he throws a 2-hit shutout two days later and strikes out 11.
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