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Happy ’80s Birthday to Blue Jays outfielder/third baseman Danny Ainge, who retired after the 1981 season to pursue other interests.
Happy ’80s Birthday to lefty John Smiley, who won 20 games for the Pirates in 1991, finishing 3rd in the Cy Young balloting. He later played for Minnesota, Cincinnati, and Cleveland but suffered a broken pitching arm while warming up in the bullpen in 1997 and retired
Rod Scurry was born on this day in 1956. Rod spent eight seasons in the bigs with the Pirates, Yankees and Mariners but couldn’t shake a drug problem. He passed away in 1992 of a cocaine-induced heart attack. He was only 36.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Tim Lollar, who won 16 games for the 1982 Padres and finished his seven-year career with 47 wins.
After retiring, Tim became a golf Pro.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Rick Lisi, who spent 12 years in the minor leagues and appeared in 9 games for the 1981 Rangers.
Happy ’80s Birthday to former Blue Jays skipper Cito Gaston, who also spent 11 years in the big leagues as a player.
Happy Birthday to former umpire Vic Voltaggio, who called games in the big leagues from 1977 through 1996.
3/17/80
The Angels trade Mike Barlow to the Blue Jays for Mark Wiley. Barlow goes 3-1 over two seasons in Toronto and Wiley does not appear in a major league game for the Angels.
3/17/88
The Cubs trade Ray Hayward to the Rangers for Dave Meier and Greg Tabor. Chicago had acquired Hayward from the Padres just a month earlier in the Goose Gossage deal. He goes 4-8 for Texas before spending the next three seasons in the minor leagues and retiring.
3/17/89
The Brewers trade Lou Thornton to the Pirates for Ruben Rodriguez. Thornton is released in May and catches on with the Mets. Rodriguez doesn’t appear in the major leagues again.
3/17/84
A day after being released by the Mets, Mickey Mahler signs with the Cardinals. He is sent to Montreal in 1985 in a deal that sends Tom Lawless to St. Louis.
3/17/84
The Mets sign Jerry Martin as a free agent pending the end of his drug suspension. Martin was convicted of attempting to purchase cocaine in 1983 and served 81 days in jail. Once released, he was suspended. Martin spends the 1984 season in New York, hits .154 in 51 games, and retires.
Big Days
3/17/82
Facing his former teammates in Spring Training, Mets OF George Foster hits his first two dingers of the spring. He’d finish his first year in New York with just 13 homers, though.
3/17/88
George Bell is fined and suspended for a day after refusing to serve as the DH for the Blue Jays. Toronto manager Jimy Williams wanted Bell to DH to save wear and tear on his knees but Bell was having none of it. He plays just seven games at DH during the season.
3/17/89
A group led by George W Bush leads finalizes a deal to buy the majority shares of the Texas Rangers from Eddie Chiles.
Transactions
3/17/84
The Cubs release Fergie Jenkins and his career is over. He finishes with 284 career wins and is elected to the Hall of Fame in 1991.
3/17/86
The Phillies release catcher Alan Knicely. He signs with the Cardinals a few days later and splits the year between Triple-A Louisville and St. Louis. He finishes his career the following season in the Rangers organization.
3/17/88
The Mariners send a young outfielder named Ken Griffey, Jr. down to the minor leagues. He hits .325 with 14 homers in 75 games and makes his big league debut the following spring.
Injuries
3/17/88
Jack Clark tears a tendon in his leg in a Spring Training game. He still plays in 150 games for the Yankees and hits 27 dingers but his one-year stint in New York doesn’t really work out.
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