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May 20th

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Bobby Murcer 1982 baseball card

Bobby Murcer was born OTD in 1946.

He led all outfielders in assists in the 1970s and was in the top 10 in RBI.
He passed away in 2008.

Ken Boyer baseball card

Ken Boyer was born on this day in 1931. He spent 15 years in the big leagues, winning the National League MVP in 1964.
He began the 1980 season as the St. Louis Cardinals manager, but was fired and replaced by Whitey Herzog.

Todd Stottlemyre 1988 baseball card

Happy ’80s Birthday to Todd Stottlemyre, who made his debut in 1988 and won 138 games and two rings. 

David Wells 1988 baseball card

Happy ’80s Birthday to David Wells, who made his debut in 1987 with the Blue Jays and won 239 games in the bigs, including a perfect game in 1998.

Happy ’80s Birthday to Ralph Bryant, who appeared in 79 games for the Dodgers over three seasons and hit six dingers in 27 games in 1986. 

Happy ’80s Birthday to Gordon Dillard, who pitched in seven games for the Orioles and Phillies in 1988 and 1989.

May 20, 1981
The Yankees trade Jim Spencer and Tom Underwood to Oakland for minor leaguer Chuck Dougherty, Mike Patterson and Dave Revering. 

Greg Harris 1982 baseball card

5/20/81

Greg Harris goes six innings in his big league debut, allowing two runs and striking out five. 

He gets his first win in his next start. 

5/20/83

Dan Morogiello goes 2.1 innings in his debut for the Orioles. 

He appears in 22 games in 1983, his only season in the Major Leagues. 

5/20/85

Jack Howell goes 2 for 4 in his big league debut for the Angels. 

He spends eleven years in the big leagues and four in Japan before he retires.  

Big Days

John Wathan 1980 baseball card

5/20/80
The A’s steal 5 bases off of John Wathan, part of a hellish month for the Royals catcher.

Steve Carlton 1983 baseball card

5/20/83

Steven Norman Carlton passes Walter Johnson to move into 2nd place on baseball’s all-time strikeout list.

He was unavailable for comment after the game.

Roger Clemens 1984 baseball card

5/20/84

Roger Clemens earns his first career win. More would follow.

Eric Davis 1984 baseball card

5/20/84

Eric Davis records his first hit, a triple off of Dave LaPoint.

Of course E.D’s first hit was a triple.

Robin Yount 1987 baseball card

5/20/1987

The Brewers snap a 12-game losing skid when they beat the White Sox 5-1.

Thirty-six games into the season, the Brewers have had a 13-game winning streak and a 12-game losing streak. 

Mike Schmidt 1988 baseball card

5/20/88

Mike Schmidt hits his 535th dinger, giving him sole possession of 8th place on the all-time HR list.

Jeff Kunkel 1989 Fleer Baseball Card

5/20/89

Rangers shortstop Jeff Kunkel homers in the 5th inning off Twins starter Roy Smith.

Minnesota blows the game open, scoring 9 runs over the next few innings, and Kunkel pitches the final 1 2/3 innings. He gives up a home run to Randy Bush in the 9th, making him the first player to homer and give up a homer in the same game. 

Deaths

Macho Man Randy Savage

Former Cardinals and Reds minor leaguer Randy Poffo passed away on this day in 2011. 

You may know him from his second career.

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