centerfield maz

Daniel Joseph Staub was born on April 1, 1944 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was a star baseball player while attending Jesuit high school in Louisiana making a local name for himself.  The left handed hitting Staub, threw right handed and played outfield in his early career. Staub worked hard to develop his skills, believing baseball was part discipline & part sport. His science of preparing to play was an obsession to him, "Hitting takes concentration," he said, "practice is the most important thing to my game." He was different from the average ball player; he was worldly, studying the history of gourmet cooking, went to the Theater & enjoyed fine cuisine while on the road. "He leads the league in idiosyncrasies," said one Staub team mate. In 1961 Staub was signed as a “bonus baby” for the expansion Houston Colt 45’s (later becoming the Astros) for $100,000. He was the 1961 Carolina League’s MVP hitting 23 HRs & batting .293.  ...

Lee Louis Mazzilli Jr. was born September 6th, 1990 in Greenwich, Connecticut. Known as L.J. he has a twin sister Lacey, as well as a second sister, Jenna. As a child his mother Dani would toss baseballs at him in the yard while his father, Lee Mazzilli was still playing in his MLB career. The six foot one, right hand hitting infielder; Mazzilli Jr. attended Greenwich High school, but found that the baseball program was not he main sport, falling behind to to lacrosse & football. Mazzilli then transferred to Iona College in New Rochelle, NY & eventually to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida in his senior year. He then attended the University of Connecticut playing at second base for the UConn Huskies.  He was offered a contract by the Minnesota Twins as a ninth round pick in his freshman year. He declined the offer & by his senior year he signed as a fourth round pick, with the New York Mets. That year he hit .354 with 29 stolen bases ...

Felipe Rojas Alou was born on May 12th, 1935 in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic. He is a pioneer in the sense that although he is not the first Dominican player to get to the majors, he is the first to play on a regular basis. The six foot right hand hitter, was the oldest of the famous Alou brothers, who all had fine MLB careers. His other two brothers are Matty & Jesus. As a child living in poverty, Felipe dreamed of one day being a doctor to escape the life he knew. Although he was known as a javelin thrower in his country, it was baseball & his athletic ability that would make him a star. Felipe was originally signed by the New York Giants in 1955 & got to the big leagues three years later. The team was now relocated from New York to San Francisco.  By 1961 he was the Giants main right fielder, playing alongside future Hall of Famer, Willie Mays & & batting behind another Hall of Famer, Willie McCovey, who was the Giants' first baseman. That sea...

Danny Jon Boitano was born March 22, 1953 in Sacramento, California. The six foot right hander was a highly touted prospect, getting drafted first round by the St. Louis Cardinals (18th pick overall) but did not sign. He was then chosen first round by the Philadelphia Phillies (17th pick overall) but again did not sign. The next year he was being pursued by the Montreal Expos & Milwaukee Brewers but once again was chosen first round by the Phillies (11th pick overall) & this time he did sign.   Boitano went 8-2 with a 2.08 ERA in the New York / Penn. League in 1974 making his future look even brighter. But he didn’t pitch as well moving through the levels of the minor leagues, going 37-43 through 1978. He still got his chance making his MLB debut, pitching just one scoreless inning on October 1st against the Pittsburgh Pirates.  In Spring Training of 1979 he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for Gary Beare. He would pitch in just 16 games of relief over th...

Gary Melvin Kroll was born on July 8, 1941 in Culver City, California. The big six foot -six inch, 220 pound right hander attended Los Angeles Pierce College & Brigham Young University. He was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1959. In the low levels of pro ball he was 17-12 with a 2.91 ERA in 1960. The next he year lost 19 games playing with three different teams. In 1962 he rebounded to going 12-2 at A ball Williams port posting a 2.15 ERA. He was promoted to AAA Arkansas by 1963. MLB Career: The Phillie's brought him up in July 1964,  debuting in the second game of a double header against the St. Louis Cardinals. After just two games, he was traded along with Wayne Graham to the New York Mets for slugger Frank Thomas. Mets Career: Kroll arrived in New York & was given a start that same week, on August 2nd. He pitched into the 6th inning, allowing three runs & taking a loss to the Chicago Cubs 3-2 at Shea Stadium. He then pitched out of the bull...

Gordon Clark Richardson was born on July 19, 1938 in Colquitt, Georgia. The area is a farming area, where Gordie's father managed a cow pasture team. He started pitching because he was the only left hander around.  The six foot tall lefty, was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1957.  He won double figures in the minor leagues from 1961-1963 at AA Tulsa, with a best 13 victories in 1962.  MLB Career: He made his MLB debut, on July 26th 1964, with the '64 World Champion St. Louis Cardinals. That day Gordie, pitched the only complete game of his career. He beat the first place, Philadelphia Phillies 6-1.  He pitched as both starter & reliever in 19 games for St. Louis that season, going 4-2 with a save & a 2.30 ERA. He helped the Cardinals catch the Phillies lose a giant first place lead, in one of the biggest collapses in MLB history. 1964 World Series: He made two brief appearances in the World Series, getting roughed up for three runs in 2/3 of an...

Gary Alan Kolb was born on March 13, 1940 in Rock Falls, Illinois. The six foot left hand hitter attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign getting signed by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1960. The talented Kolb, would play outfield, second base, third base & even catcher in his baseball career. Although he batted left handed, Kolb threw right handed. He made some brief appearances with the Cardinals in the 1960 & 1962 seasons then had his best minor league season in 1963 batting .318 at AA Tulsa. He was called back up to St. Louis during that season where he hit a career best .271 in 73 games. Kolb was the last Cardinal to wear the uniform #20 before Hall of Famer Lou Brock took it over& had the number retired. In April 1964 Kolb was traded to the Milwaukee Braves for the legendary baseball personality Bob Ueker. But soon, in July 1965 Kolb was traded to the New York Mets for catcher Jesse Gonder. Kolb debuted as a Met in Pittsburgh playing centerfield...