Happy ’80s Birthday to the always interesting Jim Kern, who is currently a wildlife photographer, among other things.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Mickey Hatcher, one of the “Stunt Men” of the 1988 Dodgers.
Happy ’80s Birthday to the sweet-swinging Harold Baines. Baines broke in with the White Sox in 1980 and immediately started hitting, finishing his 22-year career with 2,844 career hits.
Bobby Bonds was born on this day in 1946. A true power/speed threat, Bobby put up good numbers year after year.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Mike Pagliarulo, who had the unenviable task of taking over for Graig Nettles at 3rd base for the Yankees. Pags could mash and he won a ring with the Twins in 1991.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Bobby Rose, who made his debut in 1989 and spent parts of four seasons with the Angels before becoming a star in Japan.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Freddie Martinez, who pitched in 32 games for the Angels in 1980 and ’81.
Former Tigers broadcaster Paul Carey was born OTD in 1928.
Paul called Tigers games from 1973 through 1991. He passed away in 2016.
3/15/80
The Tigers trade Jerry Manuel to the Expos for Duffy Dyer.
Dyer spends two years in Detroit and retires, while Manuel spends two years in Montreal and finishes up with the Padres.
3/15/80
The Expos trade a PTBNL and cash to the Giants for catcher John Tamargo. Montreal sends Joe Pettini to the Giants to complete the deal and Tamargo ends up hitting a big home run late in the 1980 season to keep Montreal in the race in the N.L. East.
3/15/80
Coming off a career-high 14 wins in 1979, Craig Swan becomes the highest-paid player in Mets history when he signs a 5-year deal worth $3 million.
He starts the year with a 5-4 record along with a 2.21 E.R.A. but tore his rotator cuff and was never the same.
3/15/83
The Tigers sign Julio Gonzalez as a free agent.
Gonzalez was a prospect early in his career but had the misfortune of being a middle infielder on teams that had solid players ahead of him. That trend continued in his final season when he backed up Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker.
3/15/89
The Expos sign Rich Thompson as a free agent.
Thompson appears in 19 games at the big league level in 1989 and one in 1990 before going to Texas and Toronto in 1991 and overseas to finish his career.
3/15/83
The Brewers announce that Pete Vuckovich has a torn rotator cuff. It turns out the injury occurred late in the 1982 season and Vuke pitched the final month of the season as well as the postseason with the injury.
3/15/84
Mark Langston makes his first start in a major league spring training game and is part of a Mariners combined no-hitter against the A’s.
He breaks camp with the M’s despite spending the entire 1983 season in Double-A and wins 17 games as a rookie.
3/15/85
Eric Davis hits for the cycle in a Spring Training game against the Phillies. He goes 5 for 6 on the day. It may be a while before someone gets 6 ABs in a spring training game again.
3/15/87
Ron Cey makes an uncredited appearance on Murder She Wrote as a band member.
Any time you combine Cey with Buddy Hackett, Arte Johnson, George Clooney, and Steve Lawrence on the small screen you get magic.
3/15/82
The Cubs release Mike Tyson and his career is over.
He finishes with 714 hits over 10 years with Chicago and St. Louis.
3/14/84
George Brett catches a ground ball in the mouth and has some teeth knocked back and suffers a swollen lip.
A few days later, he tears a ligament in his knee and misses six weeks.
Bowie Kuhn passed away on this day in 2007
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