Happy ’80s Birthday to Ellis Valentine. I still wouldn’t run on him.
Happy ’80s Birthday to former Royals Phenom Clint Hurdle.
No pressure, kid!
Happy ’80s Birthday to Steve Trout, who won 88 games over 12 seasons for the Cubs, White Sox, Yankees, and Mariners.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Scott Fletcher, who made his debut in 1981 and spent 15 seasons in the bigs with six teams. won four games for the Indians in 1982 and 1983.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Ricky Horton, who spent seven seasons in the big leagues and won a ring with the 1988 Dodgers. He also pitched in the World Series in 1985 and 1987.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Tom Pagnozzi, who played for the Cardinals for twelve seasons and won three Gold Gloves.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Mike Jones, who went 6-3 for the 1981 Royals and then broke his neck in an auto accident in December.
He missed the 1982 season but pitched until 1985 and got a ring.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Jeff Shaver, who pitched in one game for the 1988 A’s and threw a scoreless inning against the Indians.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Steve Ellsworth, who pitched in eight games for the 1988 Red Sox.
His father, Dick, pitched in the big leagues for 13 seasons and they were the first father/son pair to each win a game with the Red Sox.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Mickey Mahler, who spent eight years in the big leagues, including one as a teammate of his brother, Rick.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Vic Davalillo, who began his big league career in 1963 and signed with the Dodgers for the 1980 stretch run. He played 16 seasons for six teams and retired after 1980.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Bud Selig.
Pat Kelly was born OTD in 1944.
He spent 15 years in the big leagues and was an All-Star in 1973.
Pat passed away in 2005.
Jim Spencer was born OTD in 1947.
He spent 15 years in the big leagues, was an All-Star in 1973, and won two Gold Gloves.
Jim passed away in 2002.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Doug Rader, who spent 11 years in the big leagues as a player and seven more as a manager in the ’80s and ’90s.
7/30/86
The White Sox trade Ron Kittle, Joel Skinner, and Wayne Tolleson to the Yankees for a PTBNL, Ron Hassey, and Carlos Martinez. New York sends Bill Lindsey to Chicago to complete the trade.
7/30/87
The White Sox trade minor leaguer Bryce Hulstrom to the Cardinals for Dave LaPoint.
7/30/87
The Astros trade Mel Stottlemyre Jr. to the Royals for Buddy Biancalana.
Buddy says goodbye to Smokey and heads to Houston to finish his career.
7/30/85
The Rangers sign a skinny kid from San Pedro De Macoris as an amateur free agent.
7/30/87
The Blue Jays sign Nigel Wilson as an amateur free agent.
He’s selected by the Marlins in the 1992 expansion draft and makes his debut in 1993.
7/30/87
The Brewers sign Ray Burris as a free agent.
He appears in ten games and retires.
7/30/89
The Reds sign Dave Collins as a free agent.
Cincinnati had released him in June, but brought him back when they sent Van Snider down to Triple-A.
7/30/83
Joe Carter makes his big league debut as a pinch-runner for Ron Cey in a 4-3 win over the Phillies.
He’s traded to Cleveland in 1984 in the Rick Sutcliffe deal and becomes a star.
7/30/80
One of baseball’s most dominant pitchers has a stroke and never pitches in the big leagues again.
7/30/83
Tommy John goes 12 innings and gets the loss in a 2-1 game against the A’s. Rickey drives in the winning run in the top of the 12th.
7/30/84
Dave Dravecky picks up his 8th win of the year when he allows just one hit and goes the distance in a 12-0 win over the Dodgers.
7/30/85
Willie McGee goes 5 for 6 with a homer, 2 RBI, and a stolen base in an 11-3 win over the Cubs.
7/30/86
Graig Nettles homers twice and drives in five in a 9-3 Padres win over Cincinnati.
7/30/88
Chili Davis homers twice and drives in five to lead the Angels to a 15-4 win over the White Sox.
7/30/87
Hosed.
Don’t run on Hawk.
7/30/88
John Franco goes two-thirds of an inning against the Padres and picks up his 13th save of the month for the Reds.
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