Happy Birthday to Randy Johnson who made his debut in 1989 as a guy who kinda had no idea where the ball was going and finished as one of the most dominant pitchers of his era. He won 303 games and struck out 4,875 hitters while winning 5 Cy Young Awards.
Happy Birthday to Len Whitehouse, who went 7-1 for the 1983 Twins and won 9 games overall over four seasons. He was also on the hill when Reggie Jackson struck out for the 2,000th time.
Happy Birthday to Preston Hanna, who was the #11 overall pick in the 1972 draft and won 17 games over eight seasons for the Braves and A’s from 1975 through 1982.
Happy Birthday to Bruce Robbins, who won seven games for the Tigers in 1979 and ’80.
Happy Birthday to Joe Kraemer, who appeared in 18 games for the Cubs in 1989 and 1990.
9/10/85
The Angels acquire Don Sutton from the A’s for two PTBNL (Bob Sharpnack & Jerome Nelson.) Sutton goes 2-2 down the stretch and wins 26 games for the Angels over the next two seasons
9/10/87
The Royals finally sign their 58th-round draft pick. He plays in the big leagues for 17 years.
9/10/80
Dave LaPoint throws three scoreless innings and gets a save against the Twins in his big-league debut for the Brewers. Three months later he heads to St. Louis in the seven-player deal that sends Ted Simmons, Rollie Fingers, and Pete Vuckovich to Milwaukee.
9/10/82
Tom Henke throws 2 2/3 scoreless against Seattle in his big-league debut. He spends parts of the next two seasons in Texas before being selected by the Blue Jays as a free agent compensation pick and recording 308 saves over the rest of his career.
9/10/84
Zane Smith allows just one run over six innings against Houston in his big-league debut and gets the win. He spends a total of 13 years in the majors and wins 100 games.
9/10/84
Billy Hatcher goes 0-for-1 as a pinch-hitter in his big-league debut. He spends twelve years in the majors and wins a ring with the 1990 Reds.
9/10/85
Jose Guzman allows three earned runs over five innings against Oakland in his big-league debut. He goes 3-2 in five starts after getting called up and wins 80 games in eight years in the major leagues with Texas and the Cubs.
9/10/87
Jose Mesa allows three runs over six innings in his big-league debut for the Orioles. After some up and down years as a starter, he is converted to a closer and leads the A.L. in saves in 1995.
9/10/89
Darrin Fletcher goes 1-for-1 with a single off Mike Hartley in his big-league debut. He spends 14 years in the major leagues with Montreal, Toronto, Philadelphia, and the Dodgers.
9/10/89
Jose Vizcaino goes 0-for-2 against the Padres in his big-league debut. He plays until 2006 and wins a ring with the Yankees in 2000.
9/10/89
Tommy Greene allows four runs in five innings against the Phillies in his big-league debut. A year later, the Braves trade him to Philadelphia along with Dale Murphy in exchange to Jeff Parrett.
9/10/80
Marty Bystrom makes his first start and becomes a key to the Phillies 1980 World Series run by going 5-0 with a 1.50 ERA. It’s not a stretch at all to say that without him the Phillies don’t win a World Series until 2008.
9/10/80
Bill Gullickson sets a rookie record by striking out 18 in a win over the Cubs
9/10/83
Gary Carter goes 3-for-4 with 2 homers and drives in 5 as the Expos hold on to beat the Mets 10-9.
9/10/85
Michael Jack Schmidt hits the 10th and final walk-off dinger of his career. The three-run shot comes off of Montreal’s Tim Burke.
9/10/85
Rick Reuschel allows just one unearned run over 8 innings and strikes out 12 in a 2-1 Pirates win over the Cubs.
9/10/86
Eric Davis hits 3 homers and drives in four as the Reds hammer the Giants 14-2.
9/10/86
Glenn Davis homers thrice and drives in five but the Astros fall to the Padres 8-7. Davis hit 30 and drove in 101 in 1986 and finished 2nd in the N.L. MVP race.
9/10/86
Kirk Gibson and Darnell Coles both homer twice and the Tigers hit six homers as a team in an 11-7 win over the Brewers.
9/10/88
Roger Clemens throws a one-hit shutout against Cleveland but, surprisingly, strikes out just five batters. It takes him all of 86 pitches.
9/10/88
Ruben Sierra’s RBI double in the bottom of the 17th inning gives the Rangers a 3-2 win over the Angels.
9/10/89
Steve Wilson strikes out ten in five innings of work and Cubs pitchers strike out 18 in a 4-1 win over the Cardinals.
9/10/85
Danny Cox drills George Foster in the buttocks and the benches clear.
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