centerfield maz

Darius Dutton Hillman was born on September 14, 1927 in Dungannon, Virginia. The five foot eleven right-hander signed with the Chicago Cubs in 1950. In 1951 at Rock Hill in the Tri-state league he won twenty games, striking out 200 batters & pitched a no hitter. The next season he rose through the ranks of the minor leagues getting to AAA Springfield. In 1954 he won 16 games posting a 3.32 ERA with 129 strike outs. In 1955 he was pitching for Los Angeles in the AAA Pacific Coast League earning a call up to the Chicago Cubs where he made 25 appearances. In 1956 he was back at AAA Los Angeles where he won 21 games & was brought back to the Cubs where he was 0-2. Hillman would pitch five years in Chicago never having the success he had in the minors. In 1959 he was 8-11 with a 3.53 ERA, striking out 88 batters in 191 innings pitched. In May he posted his only career shutout coming against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Forbes Field. In November of 1959 he was sent along with

William Joseph Rigney was born on January 29, 1918 in Oakland, California. The six foot one, right hand hitting infielder, known as "the cricket" was signed by the New York Giants in the early forties. He was also known as "specs" being one of the few players to wear glasses. Rigney spent three years in the military during World War II, making it back to the Giants in 1946. He played 110 games, 73 at third base & 33 at second that year. He would become the team’s smain econd baseman from 1947-1949, with career highs in HRs (17) doubles (24) RBIs (59) in 1947. In 1948 he led the NL in errors, the next year he batted a career high .278 which would be his last season as a Giants regular. By 1950 the Giants had Eddie Stanky to play second base & Hank Thompson for third base. Rigney became a reserve player through the 1953 season. Post Season: In the 1951 World Series he had four at bats (1-4) as a pinch hitter, driving in the Giants only run in Game #2

Ernie Banks is best remembered in many ways, a gentleman on & off the field, he was nick named "Mr. Cub" as well as "Mr. Sunshine". What baseball fan can not love the fact the Banks loved the game so much his most famous quote was "let's play two". Something many of the All Stars that came after him probably would't have time for. Ernie Banks was a two time NL MVP & 14 time All Star who was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977. His cheerful nature made him one of the most popular Cubs players ever, as well as one of the games most respected & popular players of all time.  He was the first player to have his uniform number (#14) retired by the Chicago Cubs. He won back to back MVP Awards & was the 9th MLB Player to hit 500 career HRs. Banks must be remembered as one of the all time best hitting short stops, especially in an era when the position had mostly weak hitters. Ernest Banks was born on January 31st 1931 i

Roger Royce Ring was born on December 21, 1980 in La Mesa, California. The six foot left hander was the star closer for San Diego State University getting signed by the White Sox in the first round (18th pick overall) of the 2002 draft. Ring was considered a top prospect and a future big league closer; when came to the New York Mets with Edwin Almonte in the Roberto Alomar trade of 2003. He soon fell out of grace with the ballclub, starting with his nonchalant attitude about working out. He then appeared in Spring Training a bit out of shape with a few extra pounds on him, which also angered management. But he had a good spring Training in 2005 & made the staff as a reliever. He made his debut against the Washington Nationals on April 29th in DC, pitching a third of an inning. After three games he was back to AAA Norfolk but returned a month later to fill a roster spot. Ring got credit for three holds but earned two losses as well. On June 15th he allowed a ninth inning

Vernon Gerald Ruhle was born January 25, 1951 in Coleman Michigan. The right hander was drafted out of Olivet College in Michigan, where he had a pitcher’s mound built outside his fraternity house. In 1972 he was drafted by his home state team, the Detroit Tigers in the 17th round. By 1975 he was in the Tiger rotation having his best season in Detroit going 11-12 with a 4.03 ERA. After going 24-29 in four seasons in Detroit he signed as a free agent with Houston in 1978. After seeing 14 starts or less in three years at the Astrodome he had a big season in 1980. He went 12-4 with a .750 winning percentage, posting a 2.37 ERA with two shut outs & six complete games. He allowed three runs, pitching seven innings in the 1980 NLCS getting no decision against the Phillies. In the strike shortened 1981 season, he was 4-6 with one save (15 starts in 20 games) but still posted an ERA under three (2.91). Post Season: In the 1981 NLDS he lost a 2-1 pitchers duel to the Dodgers Fern

William Albert Bill Graham was born on January 21, 1937 in Flemingsburg, Kentucky. The right handed Florida Gator was originally signed by the Detroit Tigers in 1957. He had a long minor league career going 64-69 with a 4.02 ERA in 183 games between A & AAA ball. Almost a full decade later he broke into the big leagues at age 29, pitching in two scoreless innings for the Detroit Tigers. His contract was purchased by the New York Mets in August of 1967 getting place on the staff right away. He debuted on September 3rd against the Chicago Cubs pitching well until the 5th inning when Billy Williams & Ron Santo hit back to back HRs off him. He took his first loss, as the Mets got shut out by Hackensack, New Jersey's own Bill Hands. Hands would win 16 games or more for the Cubs from 1968-1970. In Grahams next start he only gave up one earned run over seven innings, but took another loss, as the Cincinnati Reds Gary Nolan shut out New York 2-0. After two no decisions

Grover David Powell was born October 10th 1940 in Sayre, Pennsylvania. The five foot ten left handed pitcher attended the University of Pennsylvania getting signed by the New York Mets in 1962. Powell went 2-6 in the New York Penn League in 1962 getting pushed up to AAA Syracuse right away. There he also went 2-6 with a 5.9 ERA. In 1963 he started out in the Carolina League at A Ball Raleigh getting near .500 at 5-6 with a solid 3.07 ERA. It was all the Mets needed to see, giving him a chance on a bad ball club with a poor staff. Powell debuted on July 13th pitching one inning of relief in a 11-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Polo Grounds. He would make nine relief appearances & pitch well enough to earn a start. On August 20th he started the first game of a double header in Philadelphia and surprised everyone with an incredible four hit shutout, striking out six. He was given another start on August 27th in Pittsburgh, pitching five shutout innings matching fram

Kurt Anthony Bevacqua was born on January 23, 1947 in Miami Beach, Florida. The six foot right handed infielder, attended Miami-Dade North Community College originally getting drafted in the 32nd round of the 1966 draft by the New York Mets but he did not sign. He was then drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 12th round the following season. Bevacqua hade some good years in the minors from 1969 at A ball through 1971 at the AAA levels. He made it to the big leagues that year with the Cleveland Indians. He would play a 15 year career as a utility infielder in Cleveland (1971-1972) with the Kansas City Royals (1973-1974), Pittsburgh Pirates (1974/ 1980-1981), Milwaukee Brewers (1975-1976), Texas Rangers (1977-1978) & San Diego Padres (1979-1980 / 1982-1985). In Cleveland he earned the nickname "Dirty Kurt" due to the fact that the scrappy player was always donning a dirty uniform because of his gritty play. He was originally brought in to the 1975 Brewers tea

Sabath Anthony Mele was on born January 21, 1922 in Astoria, New York. He eventually earned the nickname "Sam" due to his initials. Both of Sam Mele's parents were born in Avellino, Italy in the Campania Regional. In the Soprano's Tony Soprano claimed his family was also from this town. Although from the same town, Sam Mele's parents both met in America. In Astoria New York, Sam's father; Antonio worked for the Con Edison Company. His mother was sister to big league brothers Al & Tony Cuccinello, making them Sam's uncle's. One time when he was a kid he had gone hit less during a weekend of playing baseball, he went home & threw his uniform on the ground saying he was through with the game. His mother chewed him out about being a quitter, then she told her big league brothers who gave it to him even worse. He came home a few days later to find a noose hanging from the ceiling, they said if your going to quit, you should just hang yo

Ronald Samuel Herbel was born on January 16, 1938 in Denver, Colorado. He went to the University of North Colorado and got drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 1958 just as they arrived on the West Coast.  The right hander spent five years in the minors making his MLB debut against the New York Mets in 1963 at the Polo Grounds. He spent seven seasons with the Giants being used as both starter & reliever. His best season was in 1965 going 12-9 with a save striking out 106 batters in 170 innings pitched posting a 3.85 ERA. As the sixties closed out he was pretty much strictly a relief pitcher. In 1970 he was 7-5 with 9 saves for the Padres, through the end of August, when he was traded to the New York Mets for Rod Gaspar. Herbel was brought in to help bolster their bullpen up for the stretch run. At the time the Mets were 1 ½ games out of first place, & although they were only one game out by mid September they faded finishing six games behind the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Charles Keith Cottier was born on January 8, 1936 in Delta, Colorado. The four letter college boy was signed as an amateur free agent by the Baltimore Orioles in 1964. By 1956 the second baseman was traded to the Milwaukee Braves, where he made his MLB debut in 1959. There he made some good connections with two future managers whom he would later coach for. The two friends he made were Rookie Joe Torre & All Star catcher Del Crandall. In 1960 he played in 95 games with Milwaukee batting just .227 getting traded to Detroit the the Washington Senators in 1961. That season he posted the league’s third best fielding percentage & would rank first in range factor the next two seasons. He spent three seasons as the Senators main second baseman before finishing his career with the California Angels in 1969. He was known more for his glove than his bat, hitting .220 lifetime with 19 HRs 63 doubles & 127 RBIs in 580 games over eight seasons. Retirement: He was named to M

Philip Samuel Masi was born on January 6, 1916 in Chicago Illinois. He was first signed by the Cleveland Indians in 1936 but was let go &then signed with the Boston Braves. He made it to the big leagues by 1939 first as backup catcher to Al Lopez. The next two seasons he played behind Ray Berres & then Hall of Famer Ernie Lombardi from 1942-1945. When Lombardi got traded to the New York Giants that year, Masi became the Braves full time catcher. He was known for his great defensive abilities, leading all catchers in fielding three times, put outs & assists one time each. He threw out 40% or more of would be base stealers eight times in his career, including three seasons of 50% or better. He made three straight All Star teams from 1946-1948 getting to the World Series in 1948 as well. He hit over .270 three straight seasons (1943-1945) with a career high 25 doubles in 1945. In 1946 he batted .267 with 55 walks & a .358 on base %. His defense was so good he