Birthdays- 7/22 - RedsZone.com - Cincinnati Reds Fans' Home for Baseball Discussion

chicoruiz · 07-22-2011, 08:20 AM

No Reds today, or at least none that I could find...

Others of note:

Rob Johnson (28)- Career backup catcher with bad teams and an unmemorable name; is he baseball's most obscure player?

Dave Stieb (54)

Cliff Johnson (64)- He looked 64 when he broke in. Born to DH but it took a long time for the Astros to figure that out; they kept figuring that since he was big and strong they could make a catcher out of him. They couldn't. If he'd come up in the American League he might have had quite a career, cause he could mash.

Sparky Lyle (67)- Lots of you have probably read "The Bronx Zoo" and I haven't, so I'll leave the Sparky commentary to someone else.

Jack Glasscock (deceased)- One of the greatest players of the 19th century, with one of the most unfortunate names...

cumberlandreds · 07-22-2011, 08:31 AM

Dave Steib was a very good pitcher for the Blue Jays. He flirted with quite a few no hitters and finally got one near the end of career,IIRC. A cousin of mine said he played against him in American Legion baseball. He said in a game he played against him he was brought in from the outfield to pitch. They figured he wasn't any good but found in short order he was really good.

I think I read the Bronx Zoo a long time ago bit really don't remember anything about it now. There were a lot books that came out at that time from players that were all about the same. They were probably trying to write the next "Ball Four".

George Anderson · 07-22-2011, 08:52 AM

"The Bronx Zoo" was a really good book.

How those Yankee teams won with all the drama and controversy is pretty amazing.

Sparky Lyle was pretty hard on Reggie Jackson.

RichRed · 07-22-2011, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicoruiz

Cliff Johnson (64)- He looked 64 when he broke in.

Young Cliff Johnson, age 33-ish.

chicoruiz · 07-22-2011, 09:52 AM

He looks sad... possibly because of the way his hat fits.

CySeymour · 07-22-2011, 09:57 AM

Wasn't it Cliff Johnson who got into a locker room fight with Goose Gossage?

cumberlandreds · 07-22-2011, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CySeymour

Wasn't it Cliff Johnson who got into a locker room fight with Goose Gossage?

Yes that's right. He busted the Goose's shoulder or arm and was promptly traded. I had forgotten about that.

Bob Borkowski · 07-22-2012, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicoruiz

Rob Johnson (28)- Career backup catcher with bad teams and an unmemorable name; is he baseball's most obscure player?

I have to admit he was obscure to me until I checked him out at Baseball Reference. Better to have played in the majors obscurely than never to have played at all, I guess.

07-22-2011, 08:20 AM	#1
chicoruiz Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,663	Birthdays- 7/22 No Reds today, or at least none that I could find... Others of note: Rob Johnson (28)- Career backup catcher with bad teams and an unmemorable name; is he baseball's most obscure player? Dave Stieb (54) Cliff Johnson (64)- He looked 64 when he broke in. Born to DH but it took a long time for the Astros to figure that out; they kept figuring that since he was big and strong they could make a catcher out of him. They couldn't. If he'd come up in the American League he might have had quite a career, cause he could mash. Sparky Lyle (67)- Lots of you have probably read "The Bronx Zoo" and I haven't, so I'll leave the Sparky commentary to someone else. Jack Glasscock (deceased)- One of the greatest players of the 19th century, with one of the most unfortunate names... __________________ "In baseball, you don't know nothin'"...Yogi Berra

07-22-2011, 08:31 AM	#2
cumberlandreds Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Sterling VA Posts: 7,847	Re: Birthdays- 7/22 Dave Steib was a very good pitcher for the Blue Jays. He flirted with quite a few no hitters and finally got one near the end of career,IIRC. A cousin of mine said he played against him in American Legion baseball. He said in a game he played against him he was brought in from the outfield to pitch. They figured he wasn't any good but found in short order he was really good. I think I read the Bronx Zoo a long time ago bit really don't remember anything about it now. There were a lot books that came out at that time from players that were all about the same. They were probably trying to write the next "Ball Four". __________________ Reds Fan Since 1971 Last edited by cumberlandreds; 07-22-2011 at 09:53 AM.

07-22-2011, 08:52 AM	#3
George Anderson Beer is good!! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 4,121	Re: Birthdays- 7/22 "The Bronx Zoo" was a really good book. How those Yankee teams won with all the drama and controversy is pretty amazing. Sparky Lyle was pretty hard on Reggie Jackson. __________________ "Boys, I'm one of those umpires that misses 'em every once in a while so if it's close, you'd better hit it." Cal Hubbard

07-22-2011, 09:52 AM	#5
chicoruiz Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,663	Re: Birthdays- 7/22 He looks sad... possibly because of the way his hat fits. __________________ "In baseball, you don't know nothin'"...Yogi Berra

07-22-2011, 09:57 AM	#6
CySeymour .377 in 1905 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 1,483	Re: Birthdays- 7/22 Wasn't it Cliff Johnson who got into a locker room fight with Goose Gossage? __________________ ...the 2-2 to Woodsen and here it comes...and it is swung on and missed! And Tom Browning has pitched a perfect game! Twenty-seven outs in a row, and he is being mobbed by his teammates, just to the thirdbase side of the mound.

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