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Happy ’80s Birthday to Hall of Famer Bert Blyleven who won 287 games and struck out 3,701 batters for the Pirates, Indians, Twins, Angels, and Rangers
Marty Pattin was born OTD in 1943. He spent 13 years in the bigs and wrapped up his career by going 4-0 with the Royals in 1980. He passed away in 2018.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Leo Sutherland, who appeared in 45 games for the White Sox in 1980 and ’81.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Kenny Williams, who spent 6 years in the big leagues and was later the GM of the White Sox.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Tommy Greene, who made his big league debut with the Braves in 1989 and threw a no-hitter for the Phillies in 1991.
4/6/85
The Phillies trade Bill Campbell and Ivan de Jesus to the Cardinals for Dave Rucker.
4/6/85
The Padres trade Mitch Williams to the Rangers for Randy Asadoor. After walking 407 hitters in 372 2/3 innings as a starter, Texas makes Mitch a reliever the following year.
4/6/81
The Mariners sign Lenny Randle as a free agent. He finishes his big league career with two years in Seattle and later plays in Italy
4/6/82
Johnny Bench signs a new contract to make him “a Red for life.”
“This is Number Five, the one and only,” says Reds President Dick Wagner. “I’m pleased to say he’ll be wearing a Reds uniform for the years 1983, 1984, and 1985.” Bench would retire after the 1983 season.
4/6/85
The Giants sign Vida Blue as a free agent. Blue missed all of 1984 after being suspended for a drug violation. He goes 8-8 in 1985 for the Giants.
4/6/82
Jim Eisenreich goes 0 for 3 in his big league debut for the Twins. He hits .303 in 1982 but his season is cut short when he begins having what are thought to be panic attacks on the field. The issue is eventually diagnosed as Tourrettes Syndrome and he plays in the big leagues for 15 seasons.
4/6/83
Matt Young picks up a win in his big-league debut, going 7 innings against the Yankees and allowing just two runs.
He wins 11 games as a rookie and makes the All-Star team.
4/6/84
Jimmy Key throws 3 1/2 scoreless innings to pick up a win against the Angels in his big league debut.
He goes 4-4 out of the pen for Toronto and they convert him to a starter the following year.
4/6/84
Mark Gubicza throws six strong innings against Cleveland in his big league debut but his teammates are shut out by Bert Blyleven and he’s saddled with the loss.
He wins 10 games as a rookie and 132 over the course of his career.
4/6/88
Pat Borders goes 3 for 4 with a triple and five RBI in his big league debut in an 11-4 win over the Royals.
4/6/88
Todd Stottlemyre throws 1 2/3 scoreless against the Royals in his big league debut.
He goes 4-8 as a rookie and pitches in the big leagues for 14 years.
4/6/89
Kenny Rogers faces Fred Lynn and walks him on four pitches before being pulled in his big league debut.
He pitches for 20 years and wins 219 games and a ring.
4/6/82
Temps are a bit brisk for Opening Day for the Tigers and White Sox.
4/6/87
4/6/89
The Royals beat Toronto 3 – 2 and nearly set a major league record in the process by combining for just 20 at-bats. Toronto allows 8 walks but turns 3 double plays‚ and KC has a sacrifice and 2 sacrifice flies. Only Bo Jackson and Bob Boone have three official at-bats.
The major league record for fewest at-bats was set by the Orioles in 1964 with 19.
Big Days
4/6/82
Gary Gaetti hits 2 homers but the Twins still lose to the Mariners in the debut of the Metrodome. More than 52,000 fans attend. Minnesota Manager Billy Gardner summed it up thusly: “We played lousy.”
4/6/82
Jim Kaat, at age 43, pitches an inning of relief for the Cardinals in a season-opening 14 – 3 defeat of the Astros and sets a record for pitchers by playing in his 24th consecutive season. The mark would later be eclipsed by Nolan Ryan and Tommy John.
4/6/82
Subbing for the injured Phil Niekro, Rick Mahler shuts out the Padres 1-0 and the Braves go on a 13-0 run to open the 1982 season. It was the least he could do considering Mahler hit a line drive off Phil Niekro’s ribs during spring training.
4/6/83
The Dodgers draw 10 walks and steal 6 bases in a 4-2 win over Houston. Dusty Baker swipes two, while Steve Sax, Darrel Thomas, Pedro Guerrero, and Ken Landreaux each get one.
4/6/84
Brett Butler and Tony Bernazard each steal two bases and the Indians swipe six overall in a 2-0 win over the Royals.
4/6/88
A day after hitting three home runs, George Bell goes 5 for 5 against the Royals. Through two games, he’s hitting .889 but he doesn’t manage to keep up that pace all season.
4/6/89
Todd Benzinger singles to drive home Barry Larkin and give the Reds a 1-0 lead over Orel Hershiser.
It’s the first run Hershiser has allowed since August 30th of 1988.
Transactions
4/6/82
The Angels release John D’Acquisto. He signs with Oakland and appears in 11 games, spends all of 1983 in the minor leagues, and retires.
4/6/82
The Angels release Freddie Patek and his career is over. He plays 14 years in the bigs, makes three All-Star teams, and once hit 3 bombs in a game.
4/6/82
The Astros pick up Mike LaCoss after he was waived by the Reds earlier in spring training. He pitches for another ten years and posts three double-digit win seasons.
4/6/82
The White Sox release Ron Reed and his career is over. He finishes with 146 wins and 103 saves over 19 seasons as well as averaging 8 points and 6.4 rebounds in two seasons in the NBA.
4/6/85
The Expos release Mike Ramsey. He signs with the Dodgers and plays one more year in the big leagues before retiring. He’s currently coaching high school ball in Florida.
Injuries
4/6/83
White Sox reliever Jim Kern tears the flexor tendon in his pitching elbow. He misses the rest of the season and most of 1984.
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