The Bird was born on this day in 1954.
Happy ‘80s Birthday to Mark Gubicza, who won 132 games and a ring for the Royals over 13 seasons. He finished his career with the Angels in 1997.
Happy ‘80s Birthday to umpire Dale Scott, who has been calling games in the big leagues since 1985.
Happy ‘80s Birthday to Don Carman, who won 53 games over ten seasons, including one where he took a perfect game into the 9th against the Giants before losing it.
Happy ‘80s Birthday to Edwin Rodriguez, who played in 11 games in the big leagues over three seasons and later served as the manager of the Florida Marlins.
Happy ‘80s Birthday to Mike Cook, who spent parts of five seasons in the big leagues with the Angels, Twins, and Orioles.
Earl Weaver was born OTD in 1930. Over 17 years as the Orioles manager, he won 1,480 games, three pennants, and a World Series. He passed away in 2013.
8/14/80
The Dodgers sign Tom Niedenfuer as an amateur free agent. He makes his big league debut the following year and wins 36 games while saving 97 more over the next ten years.
8/14/81
Steve Bedrosian throws two-thirds scoreless against the Dodgers in his big league debut, though he does hit L.A. pitcher Dave Goltz with a pitch.
He’d win a Cy Young in 1987 and finish his career with 76 wins and 1984 saves.
8/14/81
Bob Brenly goes 1 for 5 with a single against the Reds in his big league debut.
He hits .333 in 1981 and plays until 1989.
8/14/83
Brad Komminsk goes 0 for 2 against the Dodgers in his big league debut.
He collects his first hit a few days later and plays eight years in the majors.
8/14/84
Reds pitcher Ron Robinson makes his MLB debut and strikes out Darrell Porter in the 7th inning for his first career strikeout. After the game, Robinson sends a clubhouse attendant over to ask Porter to sign the ball for him. Six days later, Porter homers off Robinson and sends a clubhouse attendant over to ask Robinson to sign the ball for him
8/14/85
Mark Portugal gets tagged with the loss against the A’s in his big league debut.
He wins 109 games over 15 seasons with six teams over the course of his career.
8/14/80
Mike Norris throws an 11-inning CG to beat the Twins 2-1. He allows just 5 hits and 1 walk.
8/14/81
Jeff Burroughs goes 3 for 4 with 3 homers and 6 RBI in the second game of a doubleheader against the Twins. Seattle wins the game 13-3.
8/14/81
Michael Jack Schmidt hits his 300th career homer. He’d hit 248 more.
8/14/82
The Expos lead the Phillies 4-2 after 6 when the teams combine to score 20 runs in the final three innings. Philadelphia wins the game 15-11 thanks, in part to a Bill Robinson Grand Slam. The Expos use 6 pitchers in the last 3 innings.
8/14/82
Pete Rose passes Hank Aaron on the all-time At-Bats list with 12,365.
He’d finish his career with 14,053.
8/14/82
Rufino Lineras’ 8th inning single scores Terry Harper and Rafael Ramirez to give the Braves a 6-5 win over the Padres and snap an 11-game losing streak. During the streak, the Braves saw their 7 game lead in the N.L. West turn into a 2.5 game deficit. They’d lose another four in a row before righting the ship
8/14/85
Mike Moore goes 11 and strikes out 12 but comes away with a no decision when the Angels score two in the top of the 12th to beat Seattle 3-1.
8/14/85
Wade Boggs goes 4 for 6 to raise his average to .360 and pace a 21-hit Red Sox attack as they beat Kansas City 16-3. Every Boston starter collects at least one hit.
8/14/86
Pete Rose goes 3 for 4 with three singles against the Giants. They’re the final hits of his career.
8/14/86
Mickey Hatcher drives in 5 and the Twins hammer the Mariners 14-1. Minnesota scores 14 runs and has only three extra-base hits.
8/14/87
The Reds and Padres combine for 30 hits and 23 runs in a 15-8 San Diego win. Tony Gwynn goes 3 for 5 to raise his average to a cool .370.
8/14/87
Mark McGwire sets a rookie record with his 39th home run of the season. He’d finishe the year with 49.
8/14/88
Mark Parent homers twice and drives in 5 in a 6-1 Padres win over the Astros
8/14/88
Chet Lemon homers and drives in five and the Tigers score 14 runs in the first three innings of an 18-6 win over Boston. Roger Clemens surrenders 8 earned runs in an inning and a third and Boston’s 24-game home win streak comes to an end.
8/14/85
The Cubs release Larry Gura and his career is over. He finishes with 126 wins over 16 seasons.
8/14/82
Ron Oester and Cesar Cedeno fight in Reds clubhouse prior to their game with the Astros.
Everyone is tight-lipped about what happened, but the 1982 Reds were miserable.
8/14/84
Former pitcher Lynn McGlothen is killed in a mobile home fire in Louisiana while visiting a friend.
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