Happy ’80s Birthday to Fred McGriff who could flat hit and was silky smooth every day.
When he was playing well it was effortless.
When he wasn’t he was lazy, just ask all the “experts.”
Happy ’80s Birthday to Matt Nokes, who finished 3rd in the 1987 AL ROY balloting when he hit .289 with 32 homers for the Tigers.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Paul Zuvella, who spent nine years in the bigs with four teams and enjoyed his best year in 1985 when he played in 81 games and hit .253 for the Braves.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Ray Soff, who went 5-2 out of the pen for the Cardinals in 1986 and 1987.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Mike Gallego, who spent 13 years in the bigs with the A’s, Yankees, and Cardinals and won a World Series in 1989 with Oakland.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Mike, Smith, who is one of three pitchers named Michael Anthony Smith to appears in the big leagues since the 1980s. He was teammates with another one of them twice. This Mike Smith went 2-03 in 15 games for the Orioles in 1989 and 1990.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Steve Rosenberg, who was drafted by the Yankees out of the University of Florida and won six games for the White Sox and Padres from 1988 through 1991.
10/31/81
The Blue Jays sign Jose Mesa as an amateur free agent. He makes his debut in 1987 and earns 321 saves over the course of his career.
10/31/86
The Cardinals re-sign Jack Clark to a one-year deal. Clark missed much of the 1986 season with a hand injury. He bounces back in 1987, hitting .286 with 35 homers, and helps the Cardinals reach the World Series for the third time in the decade.
10/31/81
The Royals beat the Yomiuri Giants 3-0 in the first game of their tour of Japan.
10/31/83
The Braves announce that they are not interested in signing free agent Pete Rose, who had been released by the Phillies earlier in the month. Pete eventually signs with the Expos.
10/31/85
The Reds make Pete Rose the highest-paid manager in baseball when he signs a three-year deal worth $2.75 million.
10/31/89
Chicago’s Don Zimmer is named National League Manager of the Year after leading the Cubs to the NLCS.
10/31/83
The Phillies grant Joe Morgan his release. He signs with Oakland and retires at the end of 1984.
10/31/85
The Dodgers release Jay Johnstone and his career is over.
He finishes with 1,254 hits and a ring over a 20-year career.
We lost Stretch OTD in 2018
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