Another installment in my "Born on the Same Day" series, featuring players who were born on the same day (!) and year.
This is post #21 in the series: Jeff James and Rich Reese - both born on 9/29/1941.
(Although the backs of their cards show them as born exactly a year apart, I'm going with the more accurate Baseball-Reference.com information.)
Jeff James pitched for the Phillies in 1968 and in September 1969. He began as a starter, but as other players joined the team (notably Jerry Johnson), James was moved to a relief role, and then back to the minors for all of 1969 except for a September call-up. He had cards in the 1969 and 1970 sets.
Rich Reese joined the Twins in 1967, essentially filling the role previously manned by the traded Don Mincher - which was to play 1st base whenever Harmon Killebrew was moved over to third base. Reese was a regular player for the Twins from 1968 to 1972, then finished up in 1973 with the Tigers (and back to the Twins for a month).
In 2007 I returned to collecting cards after stopping at the age of 13 in 1994. When I restarted, my Dad gave me his collection, which included a few hundred dusty Topps baseball cards from the late 60's and early 70's from when HE was a kid. Now, I've decided to complete the 1969 set with a good start of about a third of the set.
-- Pack Addict 3/13/2009
Pack Addict has turned this blog over to me, so I will be continuing the tradition.
-- Jim from Downingtown - Jan 2012
Sunday, April 29, 2018
Tuesday, April 17, 2018
Born on the Same Day - 6/29/1941
Another installment in my "Born on the Same Day" series, featuring players who were born on the same day (!) and year.
This is post #20 in the series: John Boccabella and Larry Stahl - both born on 6/29/1941, one day after Al Downing and Fred Talbot.
John Boccabella played for 12 seasons, mostly as a 3rd-string catcher and backup 1st baseman. After 6 seasons wth the Cubs (1963-68), he joined the expansion Montreal Expos, and played 5 seasons in Canada. In 1973 he was the team's primary catcher, starting over 100 games for the only time in his career. He wrapped up with the Giants in 1974.
Larry Stahl played for the Athletics, Mets, Padres, and Reds from 1964-73. Most of his major-league playing time came in 1966 (with the Athletics) and 1971-72 (with the Padres), the only 3 seasons he managed to stay out of the minor leagues.
This is post #20 in the series: John Boccabella and Larry Stahl - both born on 6/29/1941, one day after Al Downing and Fred Talbot.
John Boccabella played for 12 seasons, mostly as a 3rd-string catcher and backup 1st baseman. After 6 seasons wth the Cubs (1963-68), he joined the expansion Montreal Expos, and played 5 seasons in Canada. In 1973 he was the team's primary catcher, starting over 100 games for the only time in his career. He wrapped up with the Giants in 1974.
Larry Stahl played for the Athletics, Mets, Padres, and Reds from 1964-73. Most of his major-league playing time came in 1966 (with the Athletics) and 1971-72 (with the Padres), the only 3 seasons he managed to stay out of the minor leagues.