Today's Birthdays: 14 former PONY/New York-Penn League Prospects

There are a total of 14 birthdays today of former Pennsylvania-Ontario-New York (PONY)/New York-Penn League prospects. Here is the complete list. You can link to more information at Baseball Reference by clicking on their names.

Bill Higdon (Bradford Blue Wings, 1946). Born in 1924. Died April 30, 1986. Played in 11 games for the 1949 Chicago White Sox.

Frank Wurm (Olean Oilers, 1942). Born in 1924. Died September 19, 1993. Pitched in one game for the 1944 Brooklyn Dodgers.

Fred Koenig (Hamilton Cardinals, 1951). Born in 1931. Died Januayr 12, 1993. Played 13 seasons in the minor leagues.

O-Pee-Chee & Trading Card Database

Willie Upshaw (Oneonta Yankees, 1975). Happy 65th birthday. Played ten seasons in the majors with the Toronto Blue Jays (1978, 1980-87) and the Cleveland Indians (1988).

Brian Giles (Little Falls Mets, 1978). Happy 62nd birthday. Played six seasons in the majors with the New York Mets (1981-83), Milwaukee Brewers (1985), Chicago White Sox (1986), and Seattle Mariners (1990).

Bill Kazmierczak (Geneva Cubs, 1986). Happy 58th birthday. Played four seasons in the minor leagues.

Bob MacDonald (St. Catharines Blue Jays, 1987). Happy 57th birthday. Played six seasons in the majors with the Toronto Blue Jays (1990-92), Detroit Tigers (1993), New York Yankees (1995), New York Mets (1996).

Bob Ayrault (Batavia Clippers, 1989). Happy 56th birthday. Played in the majors during two seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies (1992-93) and the Seattle Mariners (1993).

Eric Hillman (Little Falls Mets, 1987. Happy 56th birthday. Played three seasons for the New York Mets (1992-94)

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Tom Singer (St. Catharines Blue Jays, 1990). Happy 53rd birthday. Played five seasons in the minor leagues (1990-94).

Casey Janssen (Auburn Doubledays, 2004). Happy 40th birthday. Played nine years in the major leagues with the Toronto Blue Jay (2006-07, '09-'14) and Washington Nationals (2015).

Anthony Hewitt (Williamsport Crosscutters, 2009). Happy 33rd birthday. Played eight years in the minor leagues.

Cody Dickson (Jamestown Jammers, 2013). Happy 30th birthday. Played five seasons in the minor leagues.

J.D. Davis (Tri-City ValleyCats, 2014) Happy 29th birthday. Davis is in his third year playing in the majors (Houston Astros, 2017-18) and New York Mets (2019).

Source: Baseball Refernce

New York-Penn LeagueHistory is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball or any of its teams.

On This Date: News from the PONY League on April 26, 1956

Source: Wellsville Daily Reporter & newspapers.com

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball or any of its teams.

 

Today's Birthday: Amos Otis, Oneonta Red Sox (1966)

Topps Co. & Trading Card Database

Happy 75th Birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Amos Otis. He played for the 1966 Oneonta Red Sox.

Otis played in the majors during 17 seasons with the New York Mets (1967, '69), Kansas City Royals (1970-83), and Pittsburgh Pirates (1984).

After he retired as a player, Otis coached for the San Diego Padres (1988-89), Colorado Rockies (1993), and minor league Colorado Springs Sky Sox (1994-95).

Source: Baseball Reference

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, or any of its teams 

Today's Birthday: Bob Johnson, Auburn Mets (1964-65)

Pittsburgh Pirates & Trading Card Database

Happy Birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Bob Johnson, who was born on this date in 1943. He pitched for the Auburn Mets during two seasons (1964-65).

Johnson went on to play in the major leagues for the New York Mets (1969), Kansas City Royals (1970), Pittsburgh Pirates (1971-73), Cleveland Indians (1974), and Atlanta Braves (1977). He pitched in two games for the 1971 World Champion Pirates.

Source: Baseball Reference

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, or any of its teams

Today's Birthday: Mike Blowers, Jamestown Expos (1986)

ProCards & Trading Card Database

Happy Birthday (57th) to former New York-Penn League prospect Mike Blowers. He played for the 1986 Jamestown Expos.

Blowers played in the majors during 11 seasons for the New York Yankees (1989-91), Seattle Mariners (1992-95, '97, '99), Los Angeles Dodgers (1996), and Oakland Athletics (1998).

He has been a television and radio broadcaster for the Seattle Mariners since 2007.

Source: Baseball Reference

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, the New York-Penn League or any of its teams. 

Today's Birthday: Warren Spahn, Bradford Bees (1940)

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Former Pennsylvania-Ontario-New York League prospect Warren Spahn was born on this date in 1921, in Buffalo, New York. He pitched for the 1940 Bradford Bees.

He went on to a 21 year major league career with the Boston/Milwaukee Braves (1942, 1946-64), New York Mets (1965), and San Francisco Giants (1965) and compiled a record of 363-245.

He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973, and the New York-Penn League Hall of Fame in 2012.

Spahn died on November 24, 2003, in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma at the age of 82.

Source: Baseball Reference

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, the New York-Penn League or any of its teams.

On This Date: News from the PONY League on April 22, 1946

Source: The Warren Mail & newspapers.com

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball or any of its teams.

 

Today's Birthday: Moose Haas, Newark Co-Pilots (1974)

Topps Gardner's Bread & Trading Card Database

Happy Birthday (66th) to former New York-Penn League prospect Moose Haas. He pitched in 13 games for the 1974 Newark (New York) Co-Pilots.

Haas played in the majors during 12 seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers (1976-85) and Oakland Athletics (1986-87).

Source: Baseball Reference

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball or any of its teams.

Today's Birthday: Joe Keener, Jamestown Expos (1973)

Tiefel & Associates and Trading Card Database

Happy Birthday (69th) to former New York-Penn League prospect Joe Keener. He played for the 1973 Jamestown Expos.

Keener pitched in two games for the Montreal Expos in 1976. 

He suffered a career ending arm injury in 1979.

Source: Baseball Reference

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, or any of its teams.

Today's Birthday: Don Mattingly, Oneonta Yankees (1979)

Donruss & Trading Card Database

Happy Birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Don Mattingly, who was born on this date in 1961. He played for the 1979 Oneonta Yankees.

Mattingly went on to a 14 year major league career with the New York Yankees (1982-95).

He managed the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2011 to 2015, and has been the manager of the Miami Marlins since 2016.

He was inducted into the New York-Penn League Hall of Fame in 2015.

Source: Baseball Reference

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, or any of its teams.

Today's Birthday: John O'Neil, Jamestown Falcons (player, 1941, '54; manager, 1963)

Trading Card Database

Former Pennsylvania-Ontario-New York League prospect and New York-Penn League manager John O'Neil was born on this date in 1920. He played for the Jamestown Falcons in 1941 and 1954, and managed the team during the 1963 season.

He played in 46 games for the 1946 Philadelphia Phillies.

O'Neil lived in Jamestown, New York after his career and died there in on April 18, 2012, at the age of 91. 

Source: Baseball Reference

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, or any of its teams.

On This Date in PONY League History: April 18, 1952

Source: Elmira Advertiser & newspapers.com

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball or any of its teams.

 

Today's Birthday: Steve Blass, Batavia Pirates (1961)

Topps Co. & Trading Card Database

Happy 80th Birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Steve Blass. He played for the 1961 Batavia Pirates (13-6, 3.32 ERA, 160 IP, 117 BB, 227 SO, 1.563 WHIP).

Blass pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates during 10 seasons (1964, '66-'74) and had a career record of 103-76, and 3.63 ERA. He was 19-8 in 1971 and pitched in the World Series for the World Champion Pirates (2-0, 1.00 ERA, 0.611 WHIP).

He was broadcaster for the Pirates starting in  1986 until his retirement at the end of the 2019 season.

Source: Baseball Reference

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, or any of its teams.

Today's Birthday: Pedro Garcia, Newark Co-Pilots (1970)

Topps Co. & Trading Card Database

Happy Birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Pedro Garcia. He played for the 1970 Newark Co-Pilots.

Garcia played for the Milwaukee Brewers (1973-76), Detroit Tigers (1976), and Toronto Blue Jays (1977). He led the American League in doubles in 1973, with 32.

Source: Baseball Reference

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball or any of its teams.    

Today's Birthday: Bob Montgomery, Olean Red Sox (1962)

Topps Co. & Trading Card Database

Happy 78th Birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Bob Montgomery. He played for the 1962 Olean Red Sox.

Montgomery played in the majors during 10 seasons as a backup catcher for the Boston Red Sox (1970-79). 

After he retired as a player, he worked for several years as a television color analyst for Red Sox games.

Source: Baseball Reference

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball or any of its teams.   

 

Today's Birthday: Woodie Fryman, Batavia Pirates (1965)

Sports Service & Trading Card Database

Former New York-Penn League prospect Woodie (aka: Woody) Fryman was born on this date in 1940. He pitched for the Batavia Pirates in 1965.  

He pitched for 18 seasons in the majors with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1966-67), Philadelphia Phillies (1968-72), Detroit Tigers (1972-75), Montreal Expos (1975-76, '78-'83), Cincinnati Reds (1977), and Chicago Cubs 1978).

Fryman died on February 4, 2011, in Lexington, Kentucky at the age of 70.

Source: Baseball Reference

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball or any of its teams

Today's Birthday: Pete Rose, Geneva Redlegs (1960)

Cincinnati Reds & Trading Card Database

Former New York-Penn League prospect Pete Rose was born on the date in 1941. He played for the 1960 Geneva Redlegs.

Rose played in the majors for 24 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds (1963-78, '84-'86), Philadelphia Phillies (1979-83) and Montreal Expos (1984). He hold the major league for career hits with 4,256. He was the 1963 National League Rookie of the year and during his career, he was a National League All-Star 17 times. He was awarded two Gold Gloves (1969, '70) and a Silver Slugger award (1981) and was the 1975 World Series Most Valuable Player.

He was the last player-manager in major league history for the Cincinnati Reds (1984-86), and continued managing the Reds in 1987, until 1989, when he was suspended because of allegations that he gambled on games while managing the Reds. 

He was convicted of income tax evasion for failing to report his income from memorabilia signings and related deals, and served time in federal prison in the early 1990s. 

Source: Baseball Reference

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball or any of its teams.    

Today's Birthday: Ike Brown, Jametown Tigers (1962)

O-Pee-Chee & Trading Card Database

Former New York-Penn League prospect Ike Brown was born on this date in 1942. 

The Detroit Tigers obtained Brown in 1962 from the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro American League. He played in nine games with the Jamestown Tigers during the 1962 season.

After advancing thru the minor leagues, Brown made his major league debut with Detroit in 1969. He played six seasons with the Tigers and was released on October 8, 1974.

Brown died on May 19, 2001 in Memphis, Tennessee at the age of 59.

Source: Baseball Reference

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball or any of its teams.   

Today's Birthday: Charlie Lau, Jamestown Falcons (1952)

Topps Co. & Trading Card Database

Former Pennsylvania-Ontario-New York League prospect Charlie Lau was born on this date in 1933. He played for the 1952 Jamestown Falcons. 

Lau spent 11 seasons in the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers (1956, '58-'59), Milwaukee Braves (1960-61), Baltimore Orioles (1961-63; '64-'67), Kansas City Athletics (1963-64), and Atlanta Braves (1967).

After his playing career, Lau managed the 1968 Shreveport Sports in the Texas League and was a hitting coach for the Baltimore Orioles, Oakland Athletics, Kansas City Royals, New York Yankees, and Chicago White Sox. He authored the books, The Art of Hitting .300 and Charlie Lau's Laws on Hitting.

Lau died of cancer on March 18, 1984 in Key Colony Beach, Florida at age of 50.

Source: Baseball Reference

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball or any of its teams 

Today's Birthday: Willie Royster, Niagara Falls Pirates (1976)

Crown/Coca-Cola & Trading Card Database

Former New York-Penn League prospect Willie Royster was born on this date in 1954. He played for the 1976 Niagara Falls Pirates.

Royster was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 22nd round of the 1972 Major League Baseball amateur draft. He spent four seasons in the Orioles organization and was released by Baltimore on April 8, 1976.

The Pittsburgh Pirates signed him as a free agent on May 11, 1976. He was assigned to the Niagara Falls Pirates in the New York-Penn League.

Royster was released by the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 1, 1977. He was out of baseball until the Baltimore Orioles re-signed him on October 27, 1977. He spent five seasons in Baltimore's minor league system and appeared in four games for the Orioles in 1981.

Royster finished his pro career playing for the 1983 Evansville Triplets in the Detroit Tigers organization.

He died on November 23, 2015, in Ocean View, New Jersey at the age of 61.

Source: Baseball Reference

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball or any of its teams

Today's Birthday: Frank Lary, Jamestown Falcons (1950)

Topps Co. & Trading Card Database

Former Pennsylvania-Ontario-New York prospect Frank Lary was born on this in 1930. He played for the 1950 Jamestown Falcons.

Lary pitched in the majors for 12 seasons with the Detroit Tigers (1954-64), New York Mets (1964, '65), Milwaukee Braves (1964), and Chicago White Sox (1965). He was an American League All-Star in 1960 and '61 and was a Gold Glove winner in 1961. He was known as "The Yankee Killer" for his ability to beat the New York Yankees.

After his playing career, he owned a used car business in Alabama. Lary died on December 14, 2017, at the age of 87.

Source: Baseball Reference

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball or any of its teams.

On This Date: News from the New York-Penn League on April 9, 1994

Source: Port Chester (NY) Daily Item & newspapers.com

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball or any of its teams.

 

Today's Birthday: Hal Jones, Batavia Indians (1958)

Topps Co. & Trading Card Database

Happy 86th Birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Hal Jones. He played for the 1958 Batavia Indians.

Jones played in a total of 17 games for the Cleveland Indians during the 1961 and 1962 seasons. 

Source: Baseball Reference

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball or any of its teams.  

On This Date: News from the PONY League on April 8, 1952

Source: Scranton Tribune & newspapers.com

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball or any of its teams.

 

Today's Birthday: Tom Butters, Jamestown Falcons (1957)

Topps Co. & Trading Card Database

Former New York-Penn League prospect Tom Butters was born on this date in 1938. He played for the Jamestown Falcons in 1957.

Butters played in the majors during four seasons with Pittsburgh Pirates (1962-65).

After he retired as a player he was the head baseball coach at Duke University (1968-70). He became Duke's athletic director in 1977 and served that capacity until 1998.

Butters died on March 31, 2016, at the age of 77.

Source: Baseball Reference

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball or any of its teams. 

On This Date: News from the PONY League on April 7, 1948

Source: The Era (Bradford, PA) & newspapers.com

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball or any of its teams.

 

Today's Birthday: Phil Regan, Jamestown Falcons (1956)

Topps Co. & Trading Card Database

Happy 85th birthday to former Pennsylvania-Ontario-New York League prospect Phil Regan. He played for the 1956 Jamestown Falcons.

Regan was signed by the Detroit Tigers as an amateur free agent in 1956 out the Western Michigan University. He pitched in 34 games for Jamestown that summer (17-9, 229 IP, 3.66 ERA). He worked his way thru the Tigers organization and made his major league debut in 1960.

He pitched for Detroit until 1965 and was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on December 15, 1965, for another PONY alum, Dick Tracewski (Hornell Dodgers, 1954). He was traded to the Chicago Cubs on April 23, 1968. He spent five seasons with the Cubs and was sold the the Chicago White Sox on June 2, 1972. He appeared in 10 games for the White Sox and was released on July 20, 1972. Regan had a career record of 96-81 in 13 major league seasons.

Following retirement as a player, Regan was a college head coach (Grand Valley State, 1974-82) and was a major league pitching coach with the  Seattle Mariners, Cleveland Indians, and Chicago Cubs. He managed the Baltimore Orioles in 1995 (71-73) and later managed and coached in the minor leagues. He was the interim pitching coach for the New York Mets in 2019, and coached in the Dominican Republic winter league in 2019-20.

Source: Baseball Reference

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball or any of its teams.

 

On This Date: News from the PONY League on April 5, 1952

Source: Scranton Tribune & newspapers.com

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball or any of its teams.

 

On This Date: News from the PONY League on April 4, 1948

Source: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle & newspapers.com

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball or any of its teams.

 

Today's Birthday: Ron Locke, Auburn Mets (1963)

Happy 80th Birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Ron Locke. He played for the 1963 Auburn Mets.

Locke pitched in 25 games for the New York Mets in 1964.

Source: Baseball Reference 

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball or any of its teams.

 

On This Date: News from the PONY League on April 3, 1950

Source: Olean Times Herald & newspapers.com

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball or any of its teams.

 

Today's Birthday: Danny Leon, Jamestown Expos (1987-88)

Pro Cards & Trading Card Database

Happy Birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Danilo "Danny" Leon, who was born on this date in 1967. He pitched for the Jamestown Expos during two seasons (1987-88).

Leon played in 15 games for the Texas Rangers in 1992.

Source: Baseball Reference 

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball or any of its teams.

 

On This Date: News from the PONY League on April 2, 1947

Source: Bradford Era & newspapers.com

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball or any of its teams

 

Today's Birthday: Tom Johnson, Auburn Twins (1970)

Happy Birthday (70th) to former New York-Penn League prospect Tom Johnson. He played for the 1970 Auburn Twins.

Johnson pitched in the majors for 5 seasons with the Minnesota Twins (1974-78).

Source: Baseball Reference 

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball or any of its teams.

 

Today's Birthday: Phil Niekro, Wellsville Braves (1959)

Baseball HOF & Trading Card Database

Former New York-Penn League prospect Phil Niekro was born on this date in 1939. He pitched for the Wellsville Braves in 1959. 

Niekro played in the majors for 24 years with the Milwaukee Braves (1964-65), Atlanta Braves (1966-83, '87), New York Yankees (1984-85), Cleveland Indians (1986-87), and Toronto Blue Jays (1987). 

After he retired as a player, he managed the Richmond Braves for one season (1991).

He was a 5 time All-Star and was awarded 5 Gold Gloves. Niekro was inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997.

He died on December 27, 2020, at the age of 81.

Source: Baseball Reference 

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball or any of its teams.