Joined July 2008
- Tweets 7,050
- Following 4,301
- Followers 1,476
- Likes 47,768
3,062 Photos and videos
Max Effgen retweeted
Nothing like a Kaline bat flip from 1955 ... 👍⚾️
4
2
47
671
22h
Godspeed Alan Closter (1943-2026)
15 Jun 2025
Alan Edward Closter, born June 15, 1943, in Creighton, Nebraska, was a left-handed pitcher who played parts of four MLB seasons between 1966 and 1973, appearing in 21 games for the Washington Senators (Rangers) #AllForTX, New York Yankees #RepBX, and Atlanta Braves #BravesCountry. Standing 6’2” and weighing 190 pounds, Closter debuted at 22 with the Senators, but his MLB career was brief, totaling 35.1 innings with a 6.62 ERA and 26 strikeouts. His journey included stints in the minors, notably with the Syracuse Chiefs, where he played 249 games, winning 69. He was a standout at Iowa State University. Closter also represented the USA 🇺🇸 at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo in baseball, a demonstration sport. Traded to the Braves in 1973, he made only six relief appearances. Despite his contributions, Closter, like many players of his era, received no pension due to MLB’s pre-1980 pension rules requiring four years of service for vesting. His post-playing life remains private, but his 2006 induction into the Syracuse Baseball Wall of Fame honors his legacy. Card by @wthballs
ALT Alan Closter, card by @wthballs
2
1
15
216
Jun 12
Happy 80th Birthday to Jim Strickland! âšľ
Lefty reliever who debuted with the @Twins in 1971 after serving in during the Vietnam era.
Career: 4-2, 2.68 ERA, 5 saves, 60 K in 60 relief games (Twins 1971-73 Cleveland).
True grit on and off the field! Who remembers this baseball vet?
baseballbytheletters.com/201…
#baseball #MLB #MLBHistory #thehobby #BaseballTwitter Card by @wthballs
ALT Happy 80th Birthday to Jim Strickland!
1
12
110
Jun 12
Happy 81st Birthday to Gareth “Gary” Jones!
Born #OnThisDay June 12, 1945. Left-handed reliever who debuted with the @Yankees on Sept 25, 1970 (age 25).
14 MLB games • 0-0 record • 12 K’s • Brother of Steve Jones.
#RepBX
#baseball #MLB #MLBHistory #thehobby #BaseballTwitter Card by @wthballs
ALT Born #OnThisDay June 12, 1945. Left-handed reliever who debuted with the @Yankees on Sept 25, 1970 (age 25).
1
5
75
Max Effgen retweeted
Here's my column about Tinker-Evers and other toxic teammates from my new book, In My Humble Opinion: Musings of a Sports Columnist, available on Amazon. thesportscol.com/2025/03/tox…
2
5
640
Jun 10
Ken Lehman pitched in the 1952 World Series for the Brooklyn @Dodgers ....most fans have never heard his name. Lefty reliever → Korean War vet → 8-3 with a 2.78 ERA and 6 saves for the 1957 @Orioles → final stint with the @Phillies . 14-10 career, 3.91 ERA, then 8 seasons coaching at University of Washington @UW_Baseball #GoDawgs.
seattletimes.com/sports/uw-h…
#baseball #MLB #MLBHistory #thehobby #BaseballTwitter
ALT Ken Lehman pitched in the 1952 World Series for the Brooklyn Dodgers…and most fans have never heard his name. Lefty reliever → Korean War vet → 8-3 with a 2.78 ERA and 6 saves for the 1957 Orioles → final stint with the Phillies. 14-10 career, 3.91 ERA, then 8 seasons coaching at University of Washington.
1
92
Jun 10
Dexter Lake Club
Dexter, Oregon
Sadly, permanently closed and looking for a new leasor.
1
53
Jun 9
The 1969 Topps #317 Bruce Look “mystery” card — he only played ONE MLB season (1968 @Twins catcher, .246 AVG, 29 hits in 59 games) yet still got a rookie card the next year! Michigan State star turned big-league backup behind Roseboro. Forgotten gem #MNTwins
#baseball #MLB #MLBHistory #thehobby #BaseballTwitter
ALT The 1969 Topps Bruce Look “mystery” card — he only played ONE MLB season (1968 @Twins catcher, .246 AVG, 29 hits in 59 games) yet still got a rookie card the next year! Michigan State star turned big-league backup behind Roseboro.
1
14
525
Jun 8
Happy 84th Birthday to Larry Colton!
Born June 8, 1942, the 6'3" righty pitcher (lefty bat) from LA signed with the Phillies in '64 and got his one and only MLB shot on May 6, 1968 vs. the Reds: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 2 K, 1 ER, 4.50 ERA. Went from one-game wonder to bestselling author (Southern League) and founder of Portland's Book Festival. Baseball to books. #RingTheBell
#baseball #MLB #MLBHistory #thehobby #BaseballTwitter
ALT Happy 84th Birthday to Larry Colton! Born June 8, 1942, the 6'3" righty pitcher (lefty bat) from LA signed with the Phillies in '64 and got his one and only MLB shot on May 6, 1968 vs. the Reds: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 2 K, 1 ER, 4.50 ERA. Went from one-game wonder to bestselling author (Southern League) and founder of Portland's Book Festival. Baseball to books.
2
2
17
591
Jun 8
Happy 80th Birthday, Jack Lind!
Born June 8, 1946, the switch-hitting infielder debuted with the Milwaukee @Brewers in 1974 (26 games, .135 AVG in 37 AB). He later lit it up in Japan for the Yomiuri Giants in 1977 (.237 AVG, 9 HR, 23 RBI). Went on to manage three minor-league championships and coach 3B for the Pirates. True baseball lifer. #ThisIsMyCrew
#baseball #MLB #MLBHistory #thehobby #BaseballTwitter Card by @wthballs
1
2
7
205
Jun 6
Forgotten @Yankee: Jim Deidel, 15th-round pick by the New York Yankees in 1967, grinded 9 years in the farm system before debuting in 1974 as Thurman Munson’s backup catcher. Just 2 games, 2 AB, 0-for-2… but perfect defense (1.000 fielding %, caught the only stolen base attempt). A true cup-of-coffee legend in pinstripes!
"He really helped me turn my career around as far as pitching." - Ron Guidry
#RepBX ⚾️
#baseball #MLB #MLBHistory #thehobby #BaseballTwitter Card by @wthballs
ALT Jim Deidel, 15th-round pick by the New York Yankees in 1967, grinded 9 years in the farm system before debuting in 1974.
1
1
16
151
Jun 6
Godspeed Mike Johnson (1951-2026)
#ForTheFaithful
1974 San Diego @Padres flashback: Mike Johnson (born March 2, 1951, Faribault HS, Slaton, MN) made his MLB debut July 25 and wrapped his entire big-league career on Oct 2. 18 relief appearances • 21.1 IP • 15 strikeouts • 0-2, 4.64 ERA.
#baseball #MLB #MLBHistory #thehobby #BaseballTwitter
ALT Godspeed Mike Johnson (1951-2026) #ForTheFaithful 1974 San Diego @Padres flashback: Mike Johnson (born March 2, 1951, Faribault HS, Slaton, MN) made his MLB debut July 25 and wrapped his entire big-league career on Oct 2. 18 relief appearances • 21.1 IP • 15 strikeouts • 0-2, 4.64 ERA.
2
11
358
Jun 5
Paul Siebert, was drafted by the Houston Astros in the third round of the 1971 MLB Draft from Edina High School (Minnesota). Siebert debuted in 1974, showing promise with a shutout against the San Francisco Giants. He played five seasons (1974–1978) for the @Astros, San Diego @Padres, and New York @Mets , appearing in 87 games with a 2–6 record, a 3.79 ERA, and 59 strikeouts.
Despite a solid minor league record (36–24, 2.86 ERA), Siebert struggled in the majors, often splitting time between MLB and the minors, including stints with the Hawaii Islanders and Tidewater Tides. Traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1978 and later signed by the Montreal Expos, he retired after the 1979 season following a brief run with the Denver Bears.
Siebert’s short MLB tenure left him ineligible for a pension. If he had been on MLB roster for 1 day from 1980 on, he would be pension eligible. Card by @wthballs #baseball #MLB #MLBHistory #thehobby #BaseballTwitter
#ChaseTheFight #ForTheFaithful #LGM
ALT Paul Siebert, was drafted by the Houston Astros in the third round of the 1971 MLB Draft from Edina High School (Minnesota). Siebert debuted in 1974.
1
13
276
Jun 5
Forgotten Yankee Alert: Darryl Jones, 5th-round pick out of Westminster College, finally got his MLB shot with the 1979 New York @Yankees at age 28. #RepBX
Drafted in the fifth round of the 1972 MLB Draft from Westminster College, Jones appeared in only 18 games, recording 12 hits in 47 at-bats for a .255 batting average. His professional career was short, spanning primarily in the minors from 1977 to 1979, and he never qualified for an MLB pension, which then required four years of MLB service credit. This lack of pension eligibility reflects a broader issue for fringe players who, despite reaching the majors, misse out on long-term benefits due to brief careers.
Jones is the older brother of former MLB player Lynn Jones (Tigers, Royals). After ball, Jones coached at Allegheny College, leveraging over four decades of baseball experience. His story highlights the challenges faced by “cup of coffee” players, who experience the majors, pay union dues, but are not supported like today's athletes, underscoring inequities in MLBPA pension system.
BY thanks to @wthballs for this custom card.
#baseball #MLB #MLBHistory #thehobby #BaseballTwitter
ALT Forgotten Yankee Alert: Darryl Jones, 5th-round pick out of Westminster College, finally got his MLB shot with the 1979 New York @Yankees at age 28. #RepBX
1
15
492
Jun 4
There will almost certainly be a work stoppage when the current MLB MLBPA CBA expires.
Meanwhile in 1972, players on the bubble were sent down before the strike. This move likely cost several ballplayers service time towards a MLBPA pension.
newspapers.com/article/the-t…
espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/4894…
1
2
9
480
Jun 4
⚾️ Immaculate Grid 1159 9/9:
Rarity: 6
IMMACULATE!
đźź©đźź©đźź©
đźź©đźź©đźź©
đźź©đźź©đźź©
Play at:
sports-reference.com/immacul…
1
24
Jun 4
The late Larry Demery (June 4, 1953 – February 20, 2024) was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates #LetsGoBucs📷 from 1974 to 1977.
Born in Bakersfield, California, Demery followed in the footsteps of his father, Art Demery, a notable semipro and Negro League pitcher with Baltimore Elite Giants.
A standout at Locke High School in Los Angeles, where he threw two no-hitters, Demery was drafted by the Pirates in 1972. He debuted in the majors on June 2, 1974, posting a 29-23 record with a 3.72 ERA over four seasons, appearing in 136 games and pitching in two National League Championship Series (1974, 1975).
Despite his contributions, Demery, like many players of his era, did not qualify for an MLB pension, which requires four years of service credit (Since 1980 only 43 roster days are needed). His career ended in 1977.
Demery’s legacy endures through his on-field achievements and his family’s baseball heritage, though his story highlights the pension disparities faced by players from his time.
ALT The late Larry Demery (June 4, 1953 – February 20, 2024) was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates #LetsGoBucs📷 from 1974 to 1977.
4
19
523
Max Effgen retweeted
"Did I hear 11 players have hit home runs on this stretch? Sharing the wealth. Socialists." – Daniel Murphy
24
50
1,763
248,215
Jun 3
Ron Keller, the Indianapolis native who pitched for the Minnesota @Twins in 1966 & 1968 turns 83 today.
Drafted in the 8th round out of Indiana, he appeared in 9 MLB games (21.1 IP), going 0-1 with a sharp 3.38 ERA and 12 strikeouts.
He is the father of Jason Keller — co-writer of Ford v Ferrari and creator of Apple TV ’s Stick staring Owen Wilson. #Wow
#MNTwins
#baseball #MLB #MLBHistory #thehobby #BaseballTwitter
ALT Ron Keller, the Indianapolis native who pitched for the Minnesota @Twins in 1966 & 1968 turns 83 today. Drafted in the 8th round out of Indiana, he appeared in 9 MLB games (21.1 IP), going 0-1 with a sharp 3.38 ERA and 12 strikeouts. He is the father of Jason Keller — co-writer of Ford v Ferrari and creator of Apple TV ’s Stick staring Owen Wilson. #Wow #MNTwins #baseball #MLB #MLBHistory #thehobby #BaseballTwitter
1
10
281
Jun 3
By any measure, these former ballplayers have demonstrated a legacy and responsibility built on equity, loyalty and fair play.
More than 470 of these men have more that the 43 days of service time that has been the minimum vesting since the 1980 season to qualify for the MLBPA pension. Another 140 have less than 43 days but are not eligible for health benefits.
The MLB and MLBPA can correct this at any time.
In the CBA negotiations, the @MLBPA is reportedly seeking to make the minimum salary $1.5 million a year, with 10 percent annual raises, beginning next season. Currently, the minimum is “only” $780,000. Meanwhile, no pension and benefits for 480 retirees who played before 1980.
1
5
9
1,874