Happy ’80s Birthday to legendary broadcaster Harry Doyle!
Happy ’80s Birthday to Phormer Phillies prospect Rick Schu, who had the misfortune of being the guy who pushed Mike Schmidt to 1st base in 1985 and the normally compassionate Phillies Phan base never let him forget it.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Joe Pettini, who spent four years in the bigs with the Giants and went 3-for-4 against Phil Niekro over the course of his career.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Brian Doyle, who hit .438 in the 1978 World Series filling in for an injured Willie Randolph and spent four seasons in the bigs.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Mike Patterson, who appeared in 27 games for the Yankees and A’s in 1981 and 1982.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Jose Segura, who pitched in 22 games for the White Sox and Giants between 1988 and 1991.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Kevin Blankenship, who pitched in eight games for the Cubs and Braves between 1988 and 1990.
1/26/85
The Giants trade Gary Lavelle to the Blue Jays for Jack McKnight, Augie Schmidt, and Jim Gott.
1/26/81
The Cardinals sign the newly acquired Bruce Sutter to a four-year deal worth $3.5 million. Turns out to be a good investment as they win the World Series with him on the bump a year later.
1/26/84
The Mariners re-sign Steve Henderson but his agent files a grievance stating the M’s conspired with other teams to lower Henderson’s market value. Sounds familiar.
1/26/88
The Blue Jays sign Graeme Lloyd as an amateur free agent. He makes his debut in 1993 and becomes just the 4th Australian native to play in the big leagues. He also wins two rings.
1/26/82
Ozzie Smith rejects the Cardinals contract offer and the deal between the Padres and St. Louis is dead.
“San Diego is my home,” says Smith. “I love it here, my friends are here and I have no intentions of leaving.”
Smith eventually accepts the Cardinals’ offer of arbitration and accepts the deal. He helps the Cardinals win the World Series in 1982.
1/26/87
Tim Teufel and Ron Darling plead no contest to charges stemming for their run-in with Houston police during the 1986 season. They are permitted to serve probation and have their records cleared after paying a $200 fine. NEVER GO TO A BAR CALLED COOTERS.
1/26/87
The Cubs break off talks with free agent outfielder Andre Dawson because who would want a guy whose average season over the past ten years was .281 with 22 homers, 83 RBI, and Gold Glove defense?
1/26/89
The tougher balk rules initiated for 1988 are scrapped. Using the new rules, umpires called 924 balks in 1988, a 160% increase over 1987. Dave Stewart led the big leagues with 18.
1/26/83
The White Sox select Steve Mura from the Cardinals as a free agent compensation pick. Free agent compensation sucked, but it helped Mura reach the postseason two years in a row, although he didn’t pitch in the 1983 ALCS.
We lost Ron Johnson OTD in 2021
We lost Roy Johnson OTD in 2009
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