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October 26th

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Steve Rogers 1980 Topps Baseball Card

Happy ’80s Birthday to the underrated Steve Rogers, who could flat-out pitch. He went 107-77 between 1977 and 1983.

Toby Harrah 1986

Happy ’80s Birthday to Toby Harrah, who once played both ends of a doubleheader at shortstop and had zero defensive chances the entire day which is one of my favorite things ever.

Mike Hargrove 1982 Donruss Baseball Card

Happy ’80s Birthday to Mike Hargrove, AKA “The Human Rain Delay.”

I was at an Indians/Rangers doubleheader once and someone yelled, “Do us a favor, Hargrove, swing at the first pitch.” Pretty sure Grover heard him because the game was in Cleveland and there were about 900 people there.

Happy ’80s Birthday to former White Sox SS Harry Chappas.

Happy ’80s Birthday to Wayne Garland, who won 20 for the Orioles in 1976 and became one of the first big-money free agents when he signed with Cleveland. Unfortunately for Wayne, he developed arm trouble and won just 28 more games over the course of his career.

Happy ’80s Birthday to Steve Ontiveros, who spent eight years in the bigs with the Cubs and Giants from 1973 through 1980 before playing in Japan for six years.

Ed Vande berg 1988 Fleer baseball card

Happy ’80s Birthday to Ed Vande Berg, who pitched in the big leagues for seven years and won 25 games while saving 22. He also led the American League in games pitched as a rookie with 78 in 1978.

Frank Wills 1987 Topps Baseball Card

Happy ’80s Birthday to Frank Wills, who won 22 games over nine years with Toronto, Kansas City, Cleveland, and Seattle. Frank played both baseball and football at Tulane and was a first-round draft pick of the Royals in 1980.

Gus Polidor 1988 Donruss Baseball Card

Gus Polidor was born OTD in 1961. He spent seven years in the big leagues with the Angels, Brewers, and Marlins from 1985 through 1993. He was milled in a robbery attempt in 1995. He was just 33.

Big Days

Steve Carlton wins 1982 Cy Young Award_3

10/26/82

Steven Norman Carlton becomes the first player to win four Cy Young Awards.

Harvey Keunn 1982

10/26/82

Harvey Kuenn is named A.L. Manager of the Year after leading the Brewers to their first World Series appearance. Kuenn took over the team in June and they went 72-43 under his direction.

10/26/85

This happened and people were very upset.

10/26/88

Tommy Lasorda is named N.L. Manager of the Year after leading the Dodgers to their second World Series title of the 1980s. He also accompanies his team to meet with President Reagan at the White House. 

Deaths

Jeff Robinson 1989 Diamond King

We lost Jeff Robinson OTD in 2014. Jeff pitched for Detroit, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Texas from 1987 through 1992. He was just 52

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