Former manager Dick Williams was born OTD in 1929.
He spent 13 seasons in the bigs as a player and 21 more as a manager, winning the World Series with the A’s in 1972 and 1973. He passed away in 2011.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Bob Ferris, who pitched for the Angels for two seasons and was the starting pitcher for Team USA in the finale of the 1975 Intercontinental Cup. He threw a five-hit gem in a 8-0 win over Japan.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Manny Hernandez, who pitched for the Astros and Mets in the mid-’80s.
5/7/85
The Indians trade Mike Jeffcoat and Luis Quinones to the Giants for Johnnie LeMaster.
5/7/80
The Rangers sign Bud Harrelson as a free agent.
Harrelson hits .272 in 87 games for Texas and his career is over.
5/7/85
The Rangers sign Dale Murray as a free agent.
He throws one inning for Texas a week later and his career is over.
5/7/80
The Indians purchase Miguel Dilone from the Chicago Cubs. Dilone hits .341 for the Tribe in 1980 and adds 61 stolen bases in 132 games
5/7/86
Garry Lee Maddox announces his retirement due to lingering injuries and the search begins to find someone else to cover the other third of the earth.
5/7/82
In his final MLB season, Doc Medich allows 10 hits and walks two in 7.1 innings against the Red Sox but surrenders zero runs.
Boston hits into 5 double plays and goes 0-7 with runners in scoring position. Texas wins the game 1-0 on a Bob Johnson solo homer off of Dennis Eckersley.
5/7/84
Kirby Puckett is scheduled to make his big league debut against the Angels in Anaheim but it doesn’t happen.
Kirby was in Portland, Maine when he got the call, flew to Atlanta and was all set to fly to L.A. but the plane had to get the windshield changed twice.
He finally arrived in L.A. but he didn’t have enough money for the cab. Once he got to the stadium he had to run in to borrow money to pay the cabbie and Minnesota Manager Billy Gardner decided to delay his debut until the following day.
“I think the kid needs a rest,” he said.
5/7/82
Nolan Ryan allows 9 earned runs in 2.2 innings against the Cubs. The pasting puts his record at 2-5 with a 6.92 E.R.A. He goes 16-8 with a 2.94 in his final 31 starts of the season.
5/7/82
Keith Moreland homers twice and drives in 7 as the Cubbies beat the Astros 12-6 at Wrigley Field.
“On This Date in Taking One For The Team”
5/7/84
Mark Davis allows 10 runs on 14 hits over five innings against the Cubs. The Giants rally in the late innings, but still lose the game 10-7.
5/7/86
The Expos steal 7 bases in an 8-2 win over the Phillies at The Vet.
Time Raines and Andres Galarraga steal two bases each.
5/7/82
Cardinals OF David Green, the centerpiece of the huge trade between St. Louis and Milwaukee that sent the Rollie Fingers and Pete Vuckovich to the Brewers, injures his hamstring on a play at first base.
The Cardinals call up a kid from Triple-A named WIllie McGee.
We lost Danny Ozark OTD in 2009
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