Joe Niekro was born OTD in 1944 and spent 22 years making people look silly with his knuckleball. Joe pitched to Ernie Banks in his first game and against Roger Clemens in his last game. He passed away in 2006.
Happy ’80s Birthday to John Tamargo. His 3-run pinch-hit homer against the Cardinals kept the Expos in the race in 1980.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Jim Kaat, who won 16 straight Gold Gloves and 283 games and pitched to both Ted Williams and Darryl Strawberry.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Buck Martinez, who spent 17 years in the bigs behind the plate and has been calling Jays games forever.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Willie Norwood, who spent four years with the Twins (1977-1980) and later played in Mexico.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Guy Sularz, who played for the Giants from 1980 through 1983 and was part of an all-rookie triple play in 1980.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Reggie Patterson, who four games for the White Sox and Cubs from 1981 through 1985, including a 3-0 1985. He was also on the mound when Pete Rose tied Ty Cobb.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Orlando Mercado, who spent eight years in the bigs with eight teams. He also hit a grand slam in the first game he ever started.
11/7/84
The Expos trade Chris Welsh to the Rangers for Dave Hostetler.
Welsh goes 2-5 for Texas in 1985 and signs with the Reds for 1986.
11/7/85
The Expos sign Mel Rojas as an amateur free agent. He makes his debut in 1990 and saves 126 games over the course of his career.
11/7/83
It’s the eighth Free Agent Re-entry draft. Darrell Evans and Kent Tekulve are the two most popular players in the draft. Evens signs with Detroit, while Teke re-signs with Pittsburgh.
11/7/85
The Pirates name Syd Thrift as their new General Manager. Thrift had been out of baseball for nine years but he hires a relatively obscure base coach named Jim Leyland to be his manager and that works out well.
11/7/85
Representatives from Columbus, OH, Denver, Miami, Washington, D.C., Vancouver, and Indianapolis pitch Commissioner Peter Ueberroth on joining MLB as expansion cities.
11/7/89
Gregg Olson becomes the first relief pitcher to win the American League Rookie of the Year Award. He edges out Tom Gordon and some outfielder from Seattle.
11/7/89
Earl Weaver earns his first ejection in the Senior League.
“These umpires are high school rejects,” he says.
11/7/89
The A’s meet with President Bush in the Rose Garden.
11/7/88
The Astros name Art Howe as their new manager.
He lasts five seasons in Houston before moving on to Oakland and the Mets.
11/7/88
The Mariners name Jim Lefebvre as their new manager.
He lasts three seasons in Seattle before moving on to the Cubs and, eventually, Milwaukee.
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