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January 9th

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Happy ’80s Birthday to Ivan de Jesus, who spent 15 years in the big leagues. I think he was involved in some sort of trade once but let’s not talk about that.

Otis Nixon 1989 Fleer baseball card

Happy ’80s Birthday to Otis Nixon, who led all base stealers in the 1990s with 478.

Stan Javier 1987 Topps Baseball Card

Happy ’80s Birthday to Stan Javier, who made his debut in 1984, at age 20. He spent 17 years in the bigs and was the first player to homer in interleague play.

The great Dick Enberg was born on this day in 1935

Happy ’80s Birthday to Bill Bordley, who has a fascinating story. He was the #4 overall pick in the 1976 draft but didn’t sign, instead, opting to go to U.S.C. He eventually signed with the Giants and went 3-2 in 1980 before suffering an arm injury that cost him all of 1981 and 1982. He retired and became a Secret Service Agent, eventually working with Bill Clinton.

Juan Berenguer 1987 team card

1/9/87

The Twins sign Juan Berenguer as a free agent. He goes 8-1 with 4 saves and helps the Twins win the World Series. 

Buddy Bell 1989 Mothers Cookies Baseball Card

1/9/89

The Rangers sign Buddy Bell as a free agent. He finishes his career with the Rangers and retires after the season. 

Big Days

1/9/80

Duke Snider is joined in the Hall by Tigers great Al Kaline. The two will be inducted on August 3rd.

Carl Yastrzemski 1983 Diamond King

1/9/89

Yaz gets the Hall Call

Johnny Bench 1983 Diamond Kings Baseball Card

1/9/89

Johnny Lee Bench is elected to the Hall of Fame after being named on 96% of the ballots. This is great for Johnny, but let’s not lose sight of the fact that 4% of the HOF voters left him off their ballot. Later that same year, those people held a rally to protest fresh air.

Jim Palmer 1982 Topps Baseball Card

1/9/90

Jim Palmer is elected to the Hall of Fame. He won 268 games, three Cy Youngs, and three rings.

Joe Morgan 1983 Topps Baseball Card

1/9/90

Joe Morgan is elected to the Hall of Fame. He finished with 2,517 hits, two MVPs and two rings. 

1/9/97

Tony Gwynn gets the Hall Carll

Deaths

Dave Roberts 1981 Topps Baseball Card

We lost Dave Roberts OTD in 2009 of lung cancer linked to exposure to asbestos, which occurred when he had an offseason job as a boilermaker early in his career.

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