Categories: January

January 15th

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Happy ’80s Birthday to the versatile Rance Mulliniks, who spent 16 years in the show with the Royals, Blue Jays, and Angels.

Happy ’80s Birthday to Bobby Grich, who won four Gold Gloves, made six All-Star games, hit 224 lifetime homers and surfed to and from the ballpark every day, even in Baltimore.

Happy ’80s Birthday to Don Cooper, who spent 3 years in the big leagues with the Twins and was the White Sox pitching coach for nearly 20 years.

Happy ’80s Birthday to Jerry Narron who spent eight years in the bigs with the Angels, Mariners, and Yankees and later managed the Rangers and Reds.

Happy ’80s Birthday to George Cappuzzello, who went 1-2 for the Tigers and Astros in 1981 and 1982.

Happy ’80s Birthday to Curt Brown, who won two games over four seasons for the Angels, Expos, and Yankees.

Happy ’80s Birthday to Joe Lansford, who appeared in 25 games for the Padres in 1982 and 1983. His brother, Carney, was a pretty good hitter.

Happy ’80s Birthday to William Brennan, who went 2-2 for the Dodgers and Cubs between 1988 and 1993.

 Mike Marshall was born OTD in 1943 and spent 14 years in the big leagues. He appeared in 106 games in 1974, went 15-12 with 21 saves, and threw 208.1 innings out of the Dodgers bullpen. You don’t often see 200 innings out of relief pitchers anymore. Mike passed away in 2021.

1/15/80

The Royals trade Joe Zdeb to the White Sox for Eddie Bane. Neither of them played in the big leagues again. But it’s fun to say, Joe Zdeb

1/15/82

The Rangers sign Lamar Johnson to a three-year free agent deal. He hits .259 in 105 games and his career is over after the season.

1/15/82

The Royals sign Tom Poquette as a free agent. He began his career with KC but was sent to Boston for George Scott and played with Texas in 1981.

1/15/86

The Orioles sign Juan Bonilla as a free agent. He hits .243 in 102 games and plays his final season (1987) with the Yankees.

1/15/88

The Yankees sign John Candelaria as a free agent. He goes 13-7 in 24 starts with a 3.38 E.R.A.

Big Days

1/15/81

Bob Gibson is elected to the HOF because he told writers that if they didn’t vote for him he’d stick one in their ribs. Gibby spent 1981 as the Mets “attitude coach” under Joe Torre. He followed Joe to Atlanta a year later.

1/15/85

The Cubs give manager Jim Frey a two-year contract extension, extending his deal through 1987.

“Jimmy will be with us for a while,” says Dallas Green. Frey is fired midway through the 1986 season.

1/15/86

The Mets give Davey Johnson a contract extension and he’s so happy that he pilots the team to a World Series win over the Red Sox. 

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J. Daniel

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