Birthdays: 2/18

[chicoruiz]

Reds:

Chad Moeller (37) -Career backup C who went 8 for 48 with the 2007 Reds.

Shawn Estes (39) -Not a great birthday for Reds. Shawn pitched in 6 games for the 2002 Reds, going 1-3, 7.71.

Herm Wehmeier -Cincinnati kid from Western Hills H.S. who pitched in six full seasons for the Reds and led the league in walks for three of them. Died in Dallas at age 46 while he was testifying in a trial.

Others:

Bruce Kison (62) -Pitched in the bigs three years after graduating from high school. Righthanded sidearmer with a reputation as a headhunter. Remembered for leaving a game in the 1971 World Series via helicopter so he could get to his wedding on time.

Dal Maxvill (73) - Earned an electrical engineering degree from St. Louis's prestigious Washington University, then went to work at shortstop for the hometown Cards. Holds the NL record for fewest hits in a season of at least 150 games (80). Back then, the theory was that if you were a good enough defensive shortstop (and Dal was very good), it didn't matter what you hit. Later a Cardinal GM.

Manny Mota (74) -Great pinch-hitter (career .297 as a pinch hitter). First pick in the 1969 expansion draft by Montreal. Currently holds the NL record for most consecutive years coaching with the same team.

Joe Tipton -Career backup catcher who could at least brag that he was traded one-for-one for a future Hall of Famer- in his case it was Nellie Fox; maybe the best rade in White Sox history.

Joe Gordon -How's this for versatility: at the University of Oregon, besides baseball Joe played football, soccer, gymnastics, ran track and played the violin in the school orchestra. Still holds the AL record for career home runs by a second baseman. His election to the Hall in 2009 was long overdue.

[chicoruiz]

Let's add two Reds shortstops from opposite ends of the timeline:

Didi Gregorius turns 23 today.

Frank Fennelly was a Reds shortstop in the mid-1880s. The Reds infield of that time (Long John Reilly, Bid McPhee, Fennelly and Hick Carpenter) stayed together longer than any infield in the history of the American Association. One source called Fennelly the best player in the AA in 1884. You'd think I'd have heard of the guy. So much left to learn...