Tony Conigliaro Baseball Birthday Quote of the Day for January 7th

On this day in 1945, Tony Conigliaro was born. Many baseball fans know the story of Tony C. How he started out with such a promising career---1964 Rookie of the Year, 1965 led the American League in Home Runs, became the second fastest player behind Mel Ott to hit 100 home runs.

Then everything changed on August 18th, 1967 when he was hit in the eye on a pitch from Jack Hamilton. The promising career of a future superstar was never the same though he did come back a few years later and won the American League Comeback Player of the Year Award.

Sadly he retired after one year with the Angels in 1971 and passed away at the age of 45.

A Massachusetts native; there were few people in the history of the Red Sox as loved as Tony C.

In honor of his greatness and his birthday, he is today's baseball birthday quote of the day.

"If we improves much more, they won't have a league for him."
--Billy Herman, talking about Tony Conigliaro

EARLY WYNN BASEBALL BIRTHDAY QUOTE OF THE DAY FOR JANUARY 6TH

Happy Birthday to Hall of Famer Early Wynn. Wynn won exactly 300 games in his 23 year career. He played in four decades from 1939--1963.

He was a 9 x all-star and the 1959 Cy Young Award winner. He had a reputation as a nasty guy who never had any problem intimidating hitters. He was as tough as they came.

When he was asked if he'd even give his mother a good pitch to hit, Wynn said, "No. Don't forget, mother was a hell of a hitter."

Happy Birthday Early Wynn.

CHARLIE HOUGH BIRTHDAY QUOTE OF THE DAY FOR JANUARY 5

Hilarious knuckle ball pitcher extraordinaire, Charlie Hough turns 68 today. He retired in his mid 40's after playing for several teams, most notably the Dodgers from 1970-1980 and the Texas Rangers from 1980--1990. He is in the Rangers Hall of Fame.

He had a career record of 216 and 216. He is 85th in all-time wins. He is 51st all time in inning pitched and 44th in strikeouts.Very impressive. Even more impressive is the knuckleballer's sense of humor he displayed throughout his career.

For his consistent play and his sense of humor, Charlie Hough is today's recipient of the Birthday Baseball Quote of the Day

"They say most good managers were mediocre players. I should be a helluva manager."
--Charlie Hough

Lots more Hough quotes at www.baseballquotations.com

KRIS BRYANT--BASEBALL BIRTHDAY QUOTE OF THE DAY FOR JANUARY 4

Happy 25th Birthday to Kris Bryant. I know if you go through the history books, you will likely find someone who had a better first two years than Bryant, but I for the life of me can't think of anyone who has done what he has done.

2015 ROY, 2016 MVP,--leads the Cubs to their first World Series in 108 years. The throw he made to first for the final out of the World Series will be iconic for years to come.

As a baseball fan, I am excited for years to come to watch him play. The future is limitless.

In honor of two incredible years and the many great years ahead, Kris Bryant is our Baseball Birthday Quote of the Day.

"He's a great player. I expect him to do great things in his career--hopefully not against us."
--Randall Grichuk, Cardinal Outfielder, talking about Kris Bryant

FRENCHY BORDAGARY BASEBALL BIRTHDAY QUOTE OF THE DAY

Frenchy Bordagary was born on this day in 1910. He was one of the true characters of his era. He played from 1934--1945 for several teams including the Brooklyn Dodgers.

He was a good ballplayer but he was known more for his off field activities. He was an actor in the off season and a very funny guy. He created a lot of controversy back in the day by sporting a mustache.

His wit is on full display in the Baseball Birthday Quote of the Day,

"It was more than I expectorated."
--on being fined fifty dollars for spitting.

EDGAR MARTINEZ BASEBALL BIRTHDAY QUOTE OF THE DAY FOR JANUARY 2ND

Happy Birthday to arguably the greatest Designated Hitter of All-Time, Edgar Martinez (Papi fans may disagree). Edgar Martinez was born on this day in 1963 (sharing the same exact birth date as former major leaguer David Cone).

I certainly hope that Martinez is given serious consideration this year for the Hall of Fame. Look at his incredible numbers and years of clutch play. He played all 18 years with the Mariners. He compiled 2247 hits, 307 Home Runs and a career batting average of .312. He was a 7 X All Star, 5 X Silver Slugger, 2 X Batting Champion. He is the only Designated Hitter in history to lead the league in batting average.

On top of all his accomplishments, he is recognized throughout baseball as one of the real good people in the game. He was selected for the Mariners Hall of Fame in 2007.

I hate the Designated Hitter rule---always have, always will, but it has been around for over forty years. When you have a player who has so excelled as a DH, it is about time he is recognized for his accomplishments as a hitter.

In honor of hopefully future Hall of Famer, Edgar Martinez, here is the Baseball Birthday Quote of the Day.

"I've never talked to him much about hitting. What I do is employ him to share his knowledge with other guys."
--Lou Piniella, talking about Edgar Martinez

HANK GREENBERG; BIRTHDAY QUOTE OF THE DAY FOR JANUARY 1

 For the last few week I have posted the baseball birthday quote of the day on another site, but now this will be the permanent home in 2017 so come visit every day for the baseball birthday quote of the day.

Today's Birthday Quote is about Hank Greenberg. Hankus Pankus was born on January 1, 1911. He spent every year of his career with the Tigers outside of his final season with the Pirates.

The great Hall of Fame power hitter was the American League MVP in both 1935 and 1940. In '37, he had 184 RBIs (still an American League record) and in 1938, he hit 58 home runs.

He was a hero of my childhood as there were not a lot of great Jewish ballplayers and my dad would frequently talk about him. He famously didn't play on Yom Kippur during the World Series. He was also the first Jewish player elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

He was also a hero because of his military service. He missed three full seasons and parts of two seasons because of World War II. He would have easily hit over five hundred home runs if he did not serve on World War II. Like my dad, another American hero, he spent a lot of the war in India, China and Burma.

Call him the Hebrew Hammer, Hammerin' Hank or Hankus Pankus, but he is an all-time great player and person. Happy Birthday to Hank Greenberg.

 

"Hank Greenberg has class. It stands out all over him."--Jackie Robinson