Birthdays: 5/21

[chicoruiz]

Reds:

Josh Hamilton (31) -I did the research, but his story is so familiar to RedsZoners that I don't really have anything to add here.

Eddie Milner (57) -Eddie holds a unique record: He had the only hit in a game for his team five times (teid for the ML record with ex-Red Cesar Tovar).

Others:

Kent Hrbek (52) -Born, raised and spent his entire career in the Minneapolis area.

Monty Stratton -For some reason I thought he made it all the way back to the bigs after his amputation. He didn't; some historian I am...If you see the movie The Stratton Story, watch for cameos from Bill Dickey, Jimmie Dykes and Gene Beardon.

Mace Brown - The first player to be selected to an All-Star team as a relief pitcher (in 1943). Later a Red Sox scout; he discovered Jim Rice.

Earl Averill -"The Earl of Snohomish"...Like DiMaggio he came out of the Bay Area, and like DiMaggio he did a lot of things awfully well...Still the Indians career leader in total bases, doubles and RBI...Hit the line drive that broke Dizzy Dean's toe in the All-Star Game.

Eddie Grant -"Harvard Eddie" is the only major league player to die in combat; it happened in the 1918 in the Argonne Forest. Judge Landis put forth the idea that he should be enshrined in the Hall Of Fame, but it never happened.