Birthdays: 12/26

[chicoruiz]

Reds (sort of):

Dustin Moseley (30) -Former hot Reds prospect dealt off for Ramon Ortiz in what turned out to be pretty much a minor deal.

Chris Chambliss (63) -A good-but-not-great player, and IMHO the best hitting coach the Reds have had in recent years.

Others:

Jeff King (47) -Former #1 overall draft pick, he was beset with back problems and grew to dislike playing the game so much he retired the day after his pension became vested.

Ozzie Smith (53) -Didn't get along with LaRussa, which makes him OK in my book. Originally drafted by the Tigers, he held out for a $10,000 bonus and Detroit wouldn't budge from their offer of $8500. Think Detroit regrets not spending the extra fifteen hundred bucks?
-On January 8, 2002, Ozzie had a pretty good day. He learned of his election to the Hall of Fame in the morning, and in the evening he carried the Olympic torch in the relay to Salt Lake City. Nope, not a bad day at all...

Carlton Fisk (64) -In 1984 he caught all 25 innings of an extra-inning game; a new record. Hit 72 homers after the age of 40, also a record.

Stu Miller (84)- Quintessential junkball pitcher; threw an assortment of offspeed stuff that registered as slow as 53 mph. Combined on a no-hitter with Steve Barber. Surrendered Mickey Mantle's 500th home run.

[George Anderson]

Carlton Fisk (64) -In 1984 he caught all 25 innings of an extra-inning game; a new record. Hit 72 homers after the age of 40, also a record.

.

I have really grown to admire Fisk. His run in with Deion Sanders late in his career over hustling out a fly ball was something i first admird about him. Then late in his career when his body seemed to be breaking down he hired a personal trainer that put him through daily intense work outs, even during the season. Fisk commented these workouts extended his career for 5 or so years.

[Bob Borkowski]

Stu Miller (84)- Quintessential junkball pitcher; threw an assortment of offspeed stuff that registered as slow as 53 mph. Combined on a no-hitter with Steve Barber. Surrendered Mickey Mantle's 500th home run.

Miller's claim to fame is that he was supposedly 'blown off the mound' by a gust of wind during the 1961 All-Star Game at Candlestick Park. He claims that the wind simply caused him to lose his balance while on the rubber resulting in a balk.

Ok, so the media exaggerates things. Who'd a thunk it?!

[Bob Borkowski]

Ozzie Smith (53) -Didn't get along with LaRussa, which makes him OK in my book. Originally drafted by the Tigers, he held out for a $10,000 bonus and Detroit wouldn't budge from their offer of $8500. Think Detroit regrets not spending the extra fifteen hundred bucks?
-On January 8, 2002, Ozzie had a pretty good day. He learned of his election to the Hall of Fame in the morning, and in the evening he carried the Olympic torch in the relay to Salt Lake City. Nope, not a bad day at all...

In 2012 he made news headlines by selling all of his Gold Gloves at auction together for more than $500,000.

[15fan]

Reds (sort of):

Dustin Moseley (30) -Former hot Reds prospect dealt off for Ramon Ortiz in what turned out to be pretty much a minor deal.

Seems like an appropriate time to pause for a moment in honor of former poster TMos.