Today's Birthday: Joe Stephenson, Springfield Rifles (1943)

Globe Printing & Trading Card Database

Former Eastern League prospect Joe Stephenson was born on this date in 1921. He played in 106 games for the 1943 Springfield Rifles.

Stephenson played in the major leagues during three seasons appearing in a total of 29 games for the New York Giants (9 games in 1943), Chicago Cubs (4 games in 1944) and Chicago White Sox (16 games in 1947).

After his playing career, Stephenson worked as a major league scout and died on September 20, 2001 at the age of 80.

Source: Baseball Reference

Eastern League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, or any of its teams.

 

Today's Birthday: Bob Shaw, Syracuse Chiefs (1956)

Topps Co & Trading Card Database

Former Eastern League prospect Bob Shaw was born on this date in 1933. He pitched of the Syracuse Chiefs in 1956.

He played in the major league during 11 seasons for the Detroit Tigers (1957-58), Chicago White Sox (1958-61), Kansas City Athletics (1961), Milwaukee Braves (1962-63), San Francisco Giants (1964-66), New York Mets (1966-67) and Chicago Cubs (1967).

After his playing career, Shaw coached and managed in the minor leagues and was a coach for the Milwaukee Brewers in 1973. He died on September 22, 2010 at the age of 77.

Source: Baseball Reference

Eastern League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, or any of its teams.

 

Today's Birthday: Al Downing, Binghamton Triplets (1961, '68)

Credits: NY Yankees via Trading Card Database

Happy 80th Birthday to former Eastern League prospect Al Downing. He pitched for the Binghamton Triplets in 1961 (9-1, 1.84 ERA) and 1968 (1-4, 3.48 ERA).

Downing played 17 seasons in the major leagues for the New York Yankees (1961-69), Oakland Athletics (1970), Milwaukee Brewers (1970) and Los Angeles Dodgers (1971-77).

He is remembered for giving up Hank Aaron's record breaking 715th career home run in 1974.

Source: Baseball Reference

Eastern League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, or any of its teams.

 

Today's Birthday: Lou Kretlow, Williamsport Grays (1946)

Credits: Topps Co. & Trading Card Database

Former Eastern League prospect Lou Kretlow was born on this date in 1921. He pitched for the Williamsport Grays in 1946 (10-7, 3.56 ERA).

Kretlow went on to play in the major leagues during 10 seasons with the Detroit Tigers (1946, '48-'49), St. Louis Browns (1950, '53), Chicago White Sox (1950-53), Baltimore Orioles (1954-55) and Kansas City Athletics (1956).

After baseball, he was a golf pro. Kretlow died on September 12, 2007 at the age of 86.

Source: Baseball Reference

Eastern League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, or any of its teams.

 

Today's Birthday: Dick Tettelbach, Binghamton Triplets (1953)

Credit: SABR

Former Eastern League prospect Dick Tettelbach was born on this date in 1929.

He played baseball at Yale University (1948-50) and was a teammate of future president George H.W. Bush.

He played in 122 games for the Eastern League Binghamton Triplets in 1953.

Tettelbach played for the New York Yankees (1955) and Washington Senators (1956-57), appearing in a total of 29 major league games.

He died on January 26, 1995 at the age of 65 and was inducted into the Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame in 2006.

Source: Baseball Reference

Eastern League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, or any of its teams.

 

Today's Birthday: Alex Garbowski, Utica Blue Sox (1948)

Source: Baseball Reference

Former Eastern League prospect Alex Garbowski was born on this date in 1922. He played for the Utica Blue Sox in 1948 appearing in 138 games (.301/.301/.408) and led the league in runs scored with 100.

Garbowski appeared in two games for the 1952 Detroit Tigers as a pinch-runner.

After his baseball career, he worked as a pipe fitter in Yonkers, New York. He died on June 27, 2008 at the age of 86.

Source: Baseball Reference

Eastern League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, or any of its teams.

 

Today's Birthday: Charlie Dees, Springfield Giants (1958, '60-'61)

Topps Co. & Trading Card Database

Happy 86th Birthday to former Eastern League prospect Charlie Dees! He played in the Eastern League during three seasons for the Springfield Giants (1958, '60-'61.

Dees played for the Los Angels/California Angels during three seasons (1963-65).

Source: Baseball Reference

Eastern League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, or any of its teams.

 

Today's Birthday: Faye Throneberry, Scranton Miners (1950) & Red Sox (1951)

Topps Co & Trading Card Database

Former Eastern League prospect Faye Throneberry was born on this date in 1931. He played for the Scranton Miners (1950) & Red Sox (1951).

Throneberry played in the majors during 8 seasons with the Boston Red Sox (1952, '55-'57), Washington Senators (1957-60) and Los Angeles Angels (1961).

The brother of Marv Throneberry, Faye died on April 26, 1999 at the age of 67.

Source: Baseball Reference

Eastern League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, or any of its teams.

 

Today's Birthday: Clem Koshorek, Williamsport Tigers (1947)

Credits: Topps Co. & Trading Card Database

Former Eastern League prospect Clem Koshorek was born on this date in 1925. He played for the Williamsport Tigers in 1947.

Koshorek played for the 1952 and 1953 Pittsburgh Pirates.

 

He died on June 8, 1991, at the age of 66. 

Source: Baseball Reference

Eastern League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, the Eastern League, or any of its teams.

 

Today's Birthday: Hank Mason, Schenectady Blue Jays (1955, '56)

Credits: Leaf & Trading Card Database

Former Eastern League prospect Hank Mason was born on this date in 1931. Mason played for the Schenectady Blue Jays in 1955 and '56.

He played in a total of four major league games for the Philadelphia Phillies during the 1958 and '60 seasons.

Mason was a Methodist minister after his baseball career and died on May 29, 2020 at the age of 88.

Source: Baseball Reference

Eastern League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, the Eastern League, or any of its teams.

 

Today's Birthday: Billy Harrell (Reading Indians, 1952-53)

Credits: Jay Publishing & Trading Card Database

Former Eastern League prospect Billy Harrell was born on this date in 1928. He played for the Reading Indians in 1952 and '53. He was second in league batting average in 1953 (.330).

Harrell played in the majors during four seasons with the Cleveland Indians (1955, '57-'58) and Boston Red Sox (1961).

He was elected to the Siena College (New York) Athletic Hall of Fame in 1966. After baseball, he worked for the State of New York. Harrell died on May 6, 2014 at the age of 85.

Source: Baseball Reference

Eastern League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, the Eastern League, or any of its teams.

 

Today's Birthday: Dave Pope, Wilkes-Barre Indians (1951-52)

 

Credits: Bowman & Trading Card Database

Former Eastern League prospect Dave Pope was born on this date in 1921. He played for the Wilkes-Barre Indians in 1951 and '52.

Pope played in the majors during five seasons with the Homestead Grays (1946), Cleveland Indians (1952, '54-'55, '56) and the Baltimore Orioles (1955-56).

He attended the University of Pittsburgh prior to serving in the Army during World War II.

Pope died on August 28, 1999 at the age of 78.

Source: Baseball Reference

Eastern League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, or any of its teams.

Today's Birthday: Ernie Johnson, Hartford Bees/Chief (1942, '46, '47, '48, '50)

Credits: Bowman & Trading Card Database

Former Eastern League prospect Ernie Johnson was born on this date in 1924. Johnson played in the Eastern League during five seasons with the Hartford Bees/Chiefs (1942, '46, '47, '48 and '50).

He pitched in the majors during 9 seasons for the Boston/Milwaukee Braves (1950, '52-'58) and the Baltimore Orioles (1959).

Johnson was a broadcaster for the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves for several years and is the father of broadcaster Ernie Johnson, Jr.

He died on August 12, 2011 at the age of 87.

Source: Baseball Reference

Eastern League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, or any of its teams.

Today's Eastern League Birthday: Ben Flowers, Scranton Red Sox (1949, '51)

Credits: Bowman Gum Co & Trading Card Database

Former Eastern League prospect Ben Flowers was born on this date in 1927. He pitched for the Scranton Red Sox during the 1949 (11-9, 3.35 ERA) and 1951 (17-8, 3.26 ERA) seasons.

Flowers pitched in the majors during four seasons with the Boston Red Sox (1951, '53), Detroit Tigers (1955), St. Louis Cardinals (1955-56) and Philadelphia Phillies (1956).

Source: Baseball Reference

 

 

 

Eastern League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, the Eastern League, or any of its teams.

Today's Birthday: Bill Virdon

Credits: Topps Inc. & Trading Card Database

Happy 90th Birthday to Bill Virdon. He played in the Eastern League for the 1952 Binghamton Triplets and managed the Eastern League Williamsport Mets in 1966.

Virdon played in the major leagues during 12 seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals (1955-56), Pittsburgh Pirates (1956-65, '68). He was the 1955 National League Rookie of the Year.  

He managed the Pittsburgh Pirates (1972-73), New York Yankees (1974-75), Houston Astros (1975-82, and Montreal Expos (1983-84).

Source: Baseball Reference

Eastern League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, or any of its teams.

 

Today's Birthday: Phil Paine, Hartford Chiefs (1950-51

Credits: Johnston Cookies & Trading Card Database

Former Eastern League prospect Phil Paine was born on this date in 1930. He played for two seasons in the Eastern League for the Hartford Chiefs (1950-51).

Paine pitched in the majors during six seasons with the Boston/Milwaukee Braves (1951, '54-'57) and the St. Louis Cardinals (1958). He appeared in 95 games and had a career record of 10-1 with a 3.36 ERA.

Source: Baseball Reference

Eastern League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, or any of its teams.

Eastern League News: June 5, 1999

Source: Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin and newspapers.com

Eastern League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, or any of its teams. 

 

Eastern League Birthday: Art Mahaffey (Williamsport Grays, 1958-59)

Credits: Topps Co. & Trading Card Database

Happy 83rd Birthday to former Eastern League prospect Art Mahaffey. He played for the Williamsport Grays in 1958 and '59.

Mahaffey pitched in the major leagues during 7 seasons for the Philadelphia Phillies (1960-65) and St. Louis Cardinals (1966).

Source: Baseball Reference

Eastern League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, or any of its teams.

 

Eastern League News on June 3, 1987

Source: York Daily Record and newspapers.com

Eastern League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, or any of its teams. 

 

 

 

Eastern League News on June 2, 1950

Source: Shamokin News-Dispatch and newspapers.com

Eastern League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, or any of its teams. 

 

 

Eastern League News: June 1, 1987

Harrisburg Senators and Glen Falls Tiger split doubleheader; Vermont Reds defeat Reading Phillies.

Source:  Lebanon Daily Newsand newspapers.com

Eastern League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, or any of its teams.