Categories: MarchUncategorized

March 12th

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Happy ’80s Birthday to Darryl Strawberry, the overall #1 selection in the 1980 draft. Strawberry’s Crenshaw High team was defeated in the city championship by the team from Granada Hills. Strawberry pitched in the game but was outdueled by Granada star John Elway.

Happy ’80s Birthday to Murph! NL MVP in 1982 and 1983 and one of the classiest dudes ever. From 1982 through 1985, Murph hit .293 and led the bigs in games played (648) and homers (145).

Happy ’80s Birthday to Ruppert Jones, the Seattle Mariners’ first pick in the 1976 expansion draft. 

Ruppert has overcome a lot in his life and he’s written a memoir to tell the story. 

Happy ’80s Birthday to Larry Rothschild, who was signed by the Reds in 1975. The Tigers selected him in the Rule 5 draft and he made his debut in 1981 with Detroit.

He later served as a pitching coach for the Reds, Braves, Marlins, Padres, and Cubs and also was the first manager for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Happy ’80s Birthday to Steve Finley, who made his debut in 1989 and spent 19 years in the bigs, winning a World Series with the Diamondbacks in 2001.

Happy ’80s Birthday to long-time Blue Jays broadcaster Jerry Howarth.

3/12/88

The Braves sign Lonnie Smith as a free agent.

He spends five years in Atlanta and hits a combined .291 with 46 homers and 52 stolen bases. It’s his longest tenure with any team. 

3/12/82

Dodgers SS Bill Russell commits five errors in a spring training game against the Tigers but also pulls off a squeeze bunt to drive in the winning run. 

“I’ve seen better hands on a clock,” writes sportswriter Mel Durslag.

Big Days

3/12/80

The Veterans Committee elects Tom Yawkey and Chuck Klein to the Hall of Fame

3/12/81

Steve Garvey wins the Roberto Clemente Award

Injuries

3/12/82

Padres pitcher Chris Welsh suffers a broken foot when Don Baylor steps on him during a spring training game. 

But he hung in there are struck out Brian Downing with the bases loaded to get out of the inning. 

Deaths

We lost Mitchell Page OTD in 2011. He was just 59 years old

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J. Daniel

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