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Happy ’80s Birthday to Jack Brohamer, a 34th-round draft pick who spent nine years in the bigs. Jack hit just 30 homers in his career, but 7 of them came off Hall of Famers Bert Blyleven and Catfish Hunter. He finished his career after the 1980 season and went into law enforcement.
Happy ’80s Birthday to former 3rd baseman and owner of a legendary mullet, Kelly Gruber.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Bob Hegman, who was a college teammate of Jim Eisenreich and played one inning in the big leagues in 1985.
He later became the Royals’ Scouting Director.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Darrell Miller, who played catcher, OF, 1st base, and 3rd base over five seasons in the bigs.
His younger brother and sister, Cheryl and Reggie, played some basketball.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Scott Service, who pitched in the big leagues for 12 years with 9 teams.
2/26/80
The Mets sign Tom Dixon as a free agent.
He pitches in the minor leagues for 2+ seasons before being dealt to Montreal where he appears in four games in 1983 before retiring.
2/26/80
The Cardinals sign Garry Templeton to a six-year, $4 million contract. The man could hit but things did not end well for him in St. Louis.
2/26/83
The Cardinals sign Marty Pevey as a free agent.
He plays in the minor leagues until 1989 when he appears in 13 games for the Expos.
2/26/85
The Yankees sign Juan Bonilla as a free agent.
He appears in just 8 games at the major league level before going to Baltimore in 1986. He returns to New York to finish his major league career in 1987.
2/26/86
The Cardinals avoid arbitration with John Tudor by signing him to a three-year deal worth $3 million. Winning 21 games the season before you’re arbitration eligible usually results in a raise.
2/26/87
The Dodgers sign Jaime Cocanower as a free agent.
He spends the season in Triple-A and retires.
Big Days
2/26/80
Dave Winfield’s agent breaks off negotiations with the Padres and calls their contract offer, “insulting.” Winny leaves the team at the end of the year and signs a free agent deal with the Yankees.
2/26/91
Bill Veeck is finally (and posthumously) elected to the Hall of Fame. He owned the Indians, Browns and the White Sox twice. He sold the White Sox in 1980 and retired before passing away in 1986.
2/26/86
Rangers rookie Pete Incavaigila impresses on his first day in camp by hitting a baseball THROUGH the one-inch thick plywood outfield wall during batting practice.
He also skimmed a ball of Bobby Valentine’s back when Bobby V didn’t get down fast enough.
“From his second swing on, I had the fear of God,” said Bobby V.
2/26/87
Peter Ueberroth says he has seen no evidence that teams have colluded to hold down player salaries. He didn’t say he’d looked for evidence. He just said he hadn’t seen any.
Transactions
2/26/81
The Cubs release George Riley.
He signs with the White Sox, then the Phillies, who trade him to the Giants in the Al Oliver deal. He finishes his career in the Expos organization.
2/26/82
The Brewers release John Flinn.
He signs with the Orioles and appears in 5 games at the big league level. He spends the rest of his career in the minors and retires after 1985.
2/26/83
The Rangers release Paul Mirabella.
He signs with Baltimore, then pitches through 1990 with Seattle and Milwaukee.
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