Happy ’80s Birthday to Rick Monday, who has the distinction of being 1/1/1. The first selection of the first round of the very first draft. He won a ring with the Dodgers in 1981 and also saved the flag in 1976.
Happy ’80s Birthday Jackson Todd, who was diagnosed with cancer as a minor leaguer and given a 20% chance to survive. Not only did he beat cancer, but he made it to the big leagues, pitching on four seasons for the Mets and Blue Jays.
Jay Johnstone was born OTD in 1945 and he could have been a good player if he wasn’t so uptight.
Jay passed away in 2020.
11/20/88
The Mets trade Reggie Dobie (minors) to the Mariners for Chuck Carr. Carr makes his debut in 1990 and was one of the early stars of the Florida Marlins.
11/20/89
The Cubs trade Mitch Webster to Cleveland for Dave Clark.
11/20/88
The sign Dennis Lamp as a free agent. Lamp wins 20 games out of the pen over four years in Boston and finishes his career in Pittsburgh.
11/20/89
The Pirates sign Ted Power as a free agent. Power goes 1-3 with seven saves in his lone season in Pittsburgh and returns to Cincinnati in 1991.
11/20/80
Billy Martin is named A.L. Manager of the Year. He wins the award again in 1981 and gets fired after 1982.
11/20/84
Alvin Davis is named AL Rookie of the Year thanks to a stellar .284/27/116 season. His Mariners teammate Mark Langston finishes 2nd
11/20/85
Don Mattingly wins the AL MVP. Dude could just hit. He goes .324/35/145, leading the league in doubles and RBI.
11/20/89
Rockin Robin Yount edges out Ruben Sierra to win the AL MVP Award. A centerfielder, Yount becomes just the 3rd player to win the MVP at two different positions. He won the award as a shortstop in 1982. Hank Greenberg and Stan Musial were the other two. Not a bad club to join
11/20/89
The Yankees release Tom Brookens. He signs with Cleveland and finishes his career there.
11/20/89
The Phillies release Dwayne Murphy and his career is over. He finishes with 1,069 hits over 12 seasons and six Gold Gloves.
11/20/86
George Brett has surgery to remove the tip of his clavicle above his right shoulder. The injury limited him to 124 games in 1986 and he hit just .290 which, for Brett was bad.
11/20/85
The Pirates name Jim Leyland their new manager, replacing Chuck Tanner. Leyland will manage the Pirates for 11 years (851-863 record) and win 3 straight NL East Division titles (1990-92).
11/20/87
Don Zimmer is named the new manager of the Cubs. He’d win a division title in 1989.
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