<— MAY 26     MAY 28 —>

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1849 Jimmy Hallinan
1856 Jim Tyng
1862 Ed Crane
1875 Clarence Franklin (Lefty) Hopper
1882 Bill Ludwig
1890 Johnny Miller
1894 Frank Snyder
1899 Charles Banks
1903 Ted Stockard
1908 Euel Moore
1908 Samuel Thompson
1909 Michael (Pinky) Higgins
1912 Terry Moore
1913 Hal Spindel
1914 Johnny Welaj
1916 John Dudra
1924 Tom Hurd
1926 Harvey Gentry
1929 George O’Donnell
1934 Ray Daviault
1935 Jerry Kindall
1938 Fred Bruckbauer
1941 Dan Ardell
1944 Jim Holt
1948 Gary Nolan

Member of the Big Red Machine – he and Don Gullett used to have these great records on the back of baseball cards (110-67 with the Reds – a bunch of 15 – 5 and 15 – 9 type seasons).

1949 Terry Collins
1955 Ross Baumgarten
1956 Mark Clear
1956 Bud Anderson
1959 Ron Tingley
1963 Ed Nunez
1963 Scott Jordan
1965 Jacob Brumfield
1965 Jim Vatcher
1966 John Jaha
1968 Jeff Bagwell
1968 Frank Thomas

The last really good nickname for a star player is “The Big Hurt”, right? A wonderful hitter with command of the strike zone and a ton of power…

1969 Todd Hundley
1977 Mike Caruso
1984 Miguel Gonzalez
1988 Garrett Richards
1988 Brad Boxberger
1991 Jairo Diaz
1993 Tanner Anderson
1994 Jose Berrios
1994 Danny Young
1995 Yoan Moncada
1996 Isan Diaz
1999 Nick Gonzalez

It’s 2026 and the Pirates have Nick, who as of today (May 27, 2026) remains homerless, batting cleanup. He has 14 homers in his 270ish game career. And you wonder why the Pirates can’t compete for pennants… (To his credit, he’s hitting around .300, but still.)

2000 Brandyn Garcia

I’m writing this in a snide mood and for that I will apologize. However, I see Brandyn and not Brandon and think that is just some mom trying too hard to be clever. There are two Brandyns to have made it to the majors, by the way. The other, Brandyn Sittinger, also played for the Diamondbacks in 2021 and was still active in independent leagues as of 2025.

In Garcia’s favor, the Texas A&M alum appears to be a talented lefty reliever, having played with Arizona and Seattle since coming up in 2025.

OBITUARIES:

1917 Tom Ford

Thomas Walter Ford was a pitcher who got two chances with Columbus and Brooklyn of the American Association in 1890. He made just one relief appearance for Columbus, but seven appearances (six starts) for the Bridegrooms. (He also appeared at shortstop in four games.) Statistically, it was rough for Mr. Ford – he lost all six decisions as a pitcher and in his 31 at bats he got but one hit.

His full professional and amateur career lasted more than a decade from the 1880s to the late 1890s. The earliest record I have found shows him playing in a local exhibition and hitting a game winning homer in 1883.

Anyway… Ford was listed as a ballplayer and inventor when he had a heart issue that took him to the next league on May 27, 1917. His death certificate says he died of an aortic insufficiency. He’s buried in Forest Hills Cemetery in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the city of his birth and death.

1937 Frank Grant
1945 Walter Carlisle
1947 Harry Sage
1947 Ed Konetchy
1949 Jim Canavan
1952 Lew Ritter
1953 Jesse Burkett
1954 Manuel Stewart
1956 Freddy Sale
1963 Dave Jolly
1968 Rip Collins
1968 Herman Bronkie
1968 Charlie Jackson
1969 Lou Jackson
1971 Jack Doscher
1979 Norman Glaser
1981 Elmer Leonard
2011 Bill Harris
2014 Roberto Vargas
2019 Kelly Paris
2019 Bill Buckner

YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN IT!!!

1939 Charlie Gehringer collects four hits, 5 RBI and completes the cycle.

1955 Boston’s Norm Zauchin hits three homers, goes 4 for 5, and drives in 10 runs as Boston clocks the Senators, 16 – 0.

1975 Lou Brock completes the cycle – the two big hits coming off San Diego’s Dave Freisleben.

TRANSACTION WIRE:

1919 Philadelphia sends Iron Joe Oeschger to the Giants for Ed Sicking and George Smith.

1928 The Braves purchase an aging George Sisler from the Senators for about $7500.

1980 Detroit sends Jason Thompson to the Angels for Al Cowens.