Happy Birthday, Yaz! He’s a freaking legend.
Happy ’80s Hall of Fame Birthday to Paul Molitor, who could just hit. He finished his career with 3,319 hits and missed basically all of 1984 due to injury.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Doug Bair, who held out for close to 20 minutes after he was drafted by the Pirates in the second round in 1971. Doug pitched in the bigs for 15 years and won two rings.
Happy ‘80s Birthday to Darrin Jackson, who spent 12 years in the big leagues with seven teams as well as two seasons playing in Japan before moving into the broadcast booth.
Happy ‘80s Birthday to Mark Gilbert, who appeared in seven games for the 1985 White Sox and later served as the U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand.
Happy ‘80s Birthday to Ray Burris, who pitched in the big leagues for 15 seasons and threw a shutout in the 1981 NLDS against the Dodgers.
Happy ‘80s Birthday to Pat Gillick!
8/22/84
The Cardinals sign Bernard Gilkey as an amateur free agent. This works out well.
8/22/86
Mark McGwire goes 0-for-3 against the Yankees in his big league debut. He hits .189 in 18 games but wins Rookie of the Year in 1987.
8/22/83
Carmelo Martinez goes 1-for-2 with a homer off Frank Pastore in his big league debut. He hits 13 homers and drives in 66 as part of a Padres team that makes the World Series the following year.
8/22/89
Marquis Grissom goes 1-for-3 against the Dodgers in his big league debut. He plays 17 years and wins a World Series with the Braves in 1995.
8/22/82
Phillies third base coach Dave Bristol keeps Reds starter Mario Soto off his game by heckling him as soon as the game starts. The tactic works as Soto is knocked out of the game after allowing 7 runs in 3 2/3 innings. There was bad blood between Soto and the Phillies dating back to a fight earlier in the season.
8/22/80
Bill Veeck announces he has sold the White Sox to Eddie DeBartolo Sr. The deal eventually falls through.
8/22/80
Steve Carlton comes up short in the bid for his 20th win, but he does strike out 13 Giants over 10 innings, including career punch out number 2,900. He’d pick up his 20th win in his next start.
8/22/82
Glenn Brummer steals home with the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the 12th inning to give the Cardinals a 5 – 4 win over the Giants.
8/22/82
The Cubs retire Ernie Banks’ #14
8/22/84
Dwight Gooden strikes out nine in a 5-2 win over the Padres to become the 11th rookie to record at lease 200 strikeouts. He’d finish the year with 276.
8/22/86
Sid Bream goes 5-for-5 with a homer, 5 RBI, and 4 runs scored in a 16-4 Pirates win over the Braves.
8/22/87
A rough night for Geno Petralli, who commits five passed balls, including four in the 7th inning in a game against the White Sox. In fairness, Charlie Hough was on the mound and the Rangers still won the game 8-6.
8/22/88
Danny Jackson wins his 18th game and throws his 5th shutout of the season, a 2-0 win over the Pirates en route an outstanding 23-8 season. Unfortunately for Jackson, Orel Hershiser also has a career year and takes home the Cy Young Award.
8/22/89
Felix Fermin sets a record with four sac bunts in the same game.
8/22/89
Nolan Ryan strikes out Rickey Henderson for career strikeout number 5,000.
8/22/85
The Tigers wish Doug Bair a happy birthday by releasing him. He signs with the Cardinals and for the remainder of the year and pitches until 1990.
8/22/85
The Expos release Steve Nicosia. He signs with Toronto for the remainder of the season and retires.
8/22/83
The Cubs fire Lee Elia and replace him with Charlie Fox, who leads the Cubbies to a 17-22 record for the rest of the season. Jim Frey takes over in 1984 and leads the Cubs to the NLCS.
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