Happy ’80s Birthday to Brian Downing, who was cut from his high school team, was a bullpen catcher in college, signed at an open tryout, and then spent 20 years in the big leagues with the White Sox, Angels and Rangers
Happy ’80s Birthday to Freddie Patek, who, like most power hitters, once hit three dingers in a game. Here’s the story.
Happy ‘80s Birthday to Alex Taveras, who spent parts of three seasons in the bigs and managed in the minor leagues until 2007.
Happy ‘80s Birthday to Ray Krawczyk, who led the PCL in saves in 1985 and spent parts of five seasons in the bigs with the Pirates, Angels, and Brewers before becoming a scout.
Happy ‘80s Birthday to Felix Fermin, who spent ten years in the bigs as a middle infielder with Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Seattle, and the Cubs. He led the N.L. in sac bunts in 1989 with 32.
10/9/82
After a bounce-back 1982, the Red Sox sign Carl Yastrzemski to a one-year contract for 1983. It is his final year in the bigs.
10/9/88
The Blue Jays sign Carlos Delgado as an amateur free agent.
10/9/81
With his team fighting for their postseason lives, Phillies manager Dallas Green denies reports that he has accepted the VP and GM position with the Chicago Cubs. Once the Phillies are eliminated, he takes the Cubs job.
10/9/80
Willie Randolph is gunned down at the plate in the top of the 8th inning and the Royals beat the Yankees to take a 2-0 lead in the 1980 ALCS.
George wanted to fire 3rd base coach Mike Ferraro for sending Randolph because George Steinbrenner.
10/9/81
The A’s sweep the Royals to earn a berth in the 1981 ALCS
10/9/81
The Dodgers get a 2-run shot from Steve Garvey in the 1st and Happy Hooton allows just three hits over seven innings to keep L.A. alive in the 1981 N.L. West Division Series.
10/9/81
The top 5 hitters in the Brewers lineup go 8-for-19 and Milwaukee scores 5 in the final three innings to beat the Yankees 5-3 to stay alive in the 1981 A.L. East Division Series.
10/9/81
Larry Christenson makes his first start in 47 days and beats the Expos to keep the Phillies alive in the 1981 N.L. East Division Series.
10/9/82
The Brewers look like they’re in trouble.
Down 2-0 in the ALCS, OF Ben Oglivie is scratched due to sore ribs, but his replacement, Mark Brouhard, goes 3-4 with 3 RBIs and a game-clinching home run to help Milwaukee tie the series at two games each.
Brouhard was in AAA in late August and hadn’t started a game in more than a month.
10/9/82
The Braves decide to pitch to Ken Oberkfell and that turns out to be a bad idea.
10/9/84
Jack Morris throws a CG and Larry Herndon’s 2-run dinger off Mark Thurmond gives the Tigers a 3-2 win in Game 1 of the 1984 World Series.
10/9/85
George Brett homers twice but Al Oliver’s 10th inning single off Dan Quisenberry gives the Blue Jays a 6-5 win and a two games to none advantage over the Royals in the 1985 ALCS
10/9/85
Fernando and Tom Niedenfuer hold the Cardinals to just one run and the Dodgers score four against John Tudor to take a 1-0 lead in the NLCS. Steve Sax’s 6th-inning double drives in two for L.A.
10/9/86
Bob Ojeda goes the distance and the Mets rough up Nolan Ryan to even the 1986 NLCS at one game each.
10/9/87
Down 4-0 after five innings, the Cardinals score 2 in the 6th and 4 in the 7th to beat the Giants 6-5 and take a 2-1 advantage in the 1987 NLCS.
Jim Linedman’s three-run homer off Atlee Hammaker is the big blow.
10/9/88
Gibby’s 12th-inning homer off Roger McDowell gives the Dodgers a 5-4 win over the Mets and ties the 1988 NLCS at two games each.
10/9/88
The A’s complete the sweep of the Red Sox and reach for World Series for the first time since 1974.
10/9/89
Despite the fact that Will Clark only hits .650 in the NLCS, the Giants still manage to beat the Cubs to advance to the World Series for the first time since 1962.
10/9/84
The Brewers release Roy Howell.
Howell signed with Milwaukee prior to 1981 but struggled in his new home. He catches on with the Giants in spring training in 1985 but does not make the team and his career is over.
10/9/85
The Tigers release Rusty Kuntz and his major league career is over. He signs with Oakland in December but never plays another game.
10/9/85
The Tigers release Mickey Mahler, who went 2-6 for Detroit and Montreal in 1985.
He signs with Texas, splits 1986 with them and Toronto and his career is over.
10/9/85
Gary Carter undergoes arthroscopic surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee. It is the second consecutive season in which The Kid has knee surgery, but it held up well in 1986.
10/9/89
Giants pitcher Dave Dravecky is injured in the post-game celebration after the Giants clinch the N.L. Pennant. He doesn’t think the injury is serious, but it turns out that his arm is broken again.
10/9/84
The Angels announce that John McNamara has decided he will not return for the 1985 season. Gene Mauch returns to manage the Angels in 1985 and McNamara moves on to the Boston Red Sox.
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