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

 

Happy December 18th Baseball Birthday to TY COBB

Tyrus Raymond Cobb was born on this day in 1886. Today would have been his 130th birthday.

Reciting all his accomplishments is like citing the history of baseball. He holds the record for best career batting average at .367, all time record for leading the American League in batting, 1911 MVP and so much more.

The feisty (that's a nice politically correct way to say it) Georgia Peach was rough and tumble as they come. He played for the Tigers for twenty two years, several as the player-manager. He ended his career with the Philadelphia Athletics. In 1999, The Sporting News named him the third greatest player of all-time. Many regard him as the greatest of all-time.

In honor of his birthday, here are two all-time great Ty Cobb quotes.

 

"They were all against me, but I beat the bastards and left them in the dirt."
--Ty Cobb

"That's easy. You take a gun and shoot him."
--Ring Lardner, sports columnist, on how you stopped Ty Cobb from getting on base.

Lots more at www.baseballquotations.com

December 17th Happy Baseball Birthday Quote to CHASE UTLEY

Chase Utley was born this day in 1978.  Utley is the ultimate professional ball player even though as a Mets fan, I am still upset about the Ruben Tejada slide. Yet, I am still enough of a fan of the game to respect his work ethic and his clutch play.

From 2003--2015, Utley was virtually the everyday second baseman for the Phillies. You just put him in the lineup every day and he produced to all star level status on a yearly basis. Utley signed with the Dodgers during the 2015 season and was with the team for all of 2016.

He is a six time all-star and four time Silver Slugger. Sports Illustrated chose him as the second baseman of the all-decade team from 2000-2010.

For all these great accomplishments, Utley is today's recipient of the Baseball Birthday Quote of the Day. Lots more Utley quotes at www.baseballquotations.com

"He's ferocious. When he shows up, he means business. There is no joking around. That's why he's go great."
--Greg Dobbs

MIKE FLANAGAN---DECEMBER 16TH BASEBALL BIRTHDAY QUOTE OF THE DAY

Former Cy Young Award winner Mike Flanagan was born on December 16th, 1951.

Flanagan was known mostly for his terrific career with the Orioles, though he did play for several seasons with the Blue Jays. Among his accomplishments was being named the 1979 Cy Young Award Winner. He was also an all-star in 1978. His career record in 18 years was 167-143.

Besides being a top notch pitcher, Flanagan also had a great sense of humor which is on display today as the recipient of the Baseball Birthday Quote of the Day.

"None, really, but I never pitch well on days the play the National Anthem."
--Mike Flanagan, asked if he had any superstitions

Haywood Sullivan--Baseball Birthday Quote of the Day

Former major league catcher and Red Sox part owner, Haywood Sullivan was born on this day in 1930.

Sullivan was a catcher mostly with the Red Sox. He played several seasons. He served the United States during the Korean War--losing several years of playing time. From 1978--1993, he was a part owner of the Red Sox. He also drafted his son Marc in the second round of the 1979 draft which led to the baseball birthday quote of the day.

"He better be a better hitter than his father or he's out of work."
--Haywood Sullivan, on the Red Sox drafting his son Marc in the second round of the 1979 Baseball Draft.

Postscript--His son hit .186 in parts of five major league seasons