Today's Birthday: Billy Murphy, Binghamton Triplets (1965)

WIZ and Trading Card Database

Happy 78th Birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Billy Murphy. He played for the 1965 Binghamton Triplets.

Murphy played in 84 games for the New York Mets in 1966.

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: Russ Gibson, Corning Red Sox (1957)

Boston Red Sox & Trading Card Database

Former New York-Penn League prospect Russ Gibson was born on this date in 1939. He played in two games for the 1957 Corning Red Sox.

Gibson played in the major leagues during six seasons with the Boston Red Sox (1967-69) and San Francisco Giants (1970-72).

Following his playing career, he worked for the Massachusetts State Lottery for several years. 

He died of a heart attack on July 27, 2008, at the age of 69.

Source: Baseball Reference

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

Today's Birthday: Johnny Rutherford, Olean Oilers (1947)

Topps Co. & Trading Card Database

Former Pennsylvania-Ontario-New York League prospect Johnny Rutherford was born on this date in 1925. He pitched for the Olean Oilers in 1947.

Rutherford played in the minor leagues for eight seasons and pitched in 22 games for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1952.

After his baseball career ended in 1955, he attended the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and practiced medicine in Dearborn, Michigan.

He died on December 25, 2016, 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.

Today's Birthday: Howie Koplitz, Jamestown Falcons (1956)

Topps Co. & Trading Card Database

Former Pennsylvania-Ontario-New York League prospect Howie Koplitz was born on this date in 1938. He pitched for the 1956 Jamestown Falcons. 

Koplitz was the Minor League Player of the Year and Southern Association Most Valuable Player with the Birmingham Barons in 1961.

He made his major league debut in 1961 with Detroit and pitched in 54 games (9-7, 4.21 ERA) over 5 seasons with the Tigers (1961-62) and the Washington Senators (1964-66).

Koplitz died on January 2, 2012, at the age of 73.

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: Keith Smith, Geneva Senators (1972)

Donruss & Trading Card Database

Happy (69th) Birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Keith Smith. He played for the 1972 Geneva Senators.

Smith played in a total of 53 major league games over three seasons with the Texas Rangers (1977, '79, '80).

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: Larry Gowell, Oneonta Yankees (1967-68)

WIZ and Trading Card Database

Former New York-Penn League prospect Larry Gowell was born on this date in 1948. He played for Oneonta Yankees in 1967 and 1968.

Gowell pitched in 2 games for the 1972 New York Yankees.

He died of a heart attack while playing golf on May 11, 2020.

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: Ray Searage, Pitching Coach, Hudson Valley Renegades (1998) & Williamsport Crosscutters (2003-04)

Choice SportsCards & Trading Card Database

Happy Birthday to former New York-Penn League pitching coach Ray Searage, who was born on this date in 1955.

He was the pitching coach for the Hudson Valley Renegades in 1998 and Williamsport Crosscutters during the 2003 and 2004 seasons.

Searage pitched in the majors leagues during 7 seasons with the New York Mets (1981), Milwaukee Brewers (1984-86), Chicago White Sox (1986-87), and Los Angeles Dodgers (1989-90).

He was the pitching coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2010 until 2019.

Source: Baseball Reference

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