Maybe within the spirit of giving, the baseball gods have gifted us a number of notable MLB gamers on Christmas Eve. Right here’s a subjective rating of the highest 5 born on Dec. 24.
1) Kevin Millwood (1974)Although Millwood may need been overshadowed on the late ‘90s Braves by a number of future Corridor of Fame teammates, he greater than held his personal on a perennial contender. Millwood’s finest 12 months got here in Atlanta’s pennant-winning season of 1999, by which he was an All-Star, led the Nationwide League with a 0.996 WHIP and completed third within the NL Cy Younger voting. That season, he additionally threw 10 shutout innings towards the Cardinals on Aug. 28 and hurled a one-hitter towards the Astros within the NLDS. Different profession highlights embody throwing a no-hitter with the Phillies in 2003 and tossing the primary six innings of a mixed no-no for the Mariners in 2012.
2) William Contreras (1997)William is one in every of two Main League catchers in his household. His brother, Willson, debuted with the Cubs in 2016. William and Willson usually are not the primary brothers to catch within the large leagues on the identical time — they comply with within the footsteps of Bengie, José and Yadier Molina, who’re the one three brothers in MLB historical past to all be catchers and all win World Sequence rings. In 2022, the Contrerases joined a brief record of brothers to start out an All-Star Sport collectively. After three seasons with the Braves, William was traded to the Brewers, and he gained a Silver Slugger Award whereas serving to Milwaukee to the NL Central title in 2023. He adopted that up final season with profession highs in homers (23) and RBIs (92) whereas ending fifth within the NL MVP voting.
3) Grégor Blanco (1983)Blanco was a key cog for 2 World Sequence-winning Giants groups in 2012 and 2014, and he made it to the postseason with San Francisco once more in 2016. Nonetheless, his single most heroic second got here within the common season, not the playoffs (although he delivered key hits and defensive performs in each World Sequence). On June 13, 2012, Blanco helped protect Matt Cain’s good sport with an unbelievable diving seize within the seventh inning. Cain went on to finish the perfecto, the primary in Giants franchise historical past.
4) Jamey Wright (1974)This right-handed hurler bounced round fairly a bit, pitching for 10 completely different groups over a 19-year profession. Wright handled some wildness throughout his taking part in days, main the NL in hit-by-pitches in each 2000 and 2001. He lastly made it to the postseason with the Rays in 2013, his 18th Main League season. After tossing greater than 2,000 innings in his MLB tenure, Wright launched into a brand new chapter when he turned a Minor League pitching coach for the Dodgers in 2021.
5) Joe Quinn (1862)This Australia native turned the primary participant from Down Beneath to play within the Main Leagues when he made his debut in 1884, and he spent 17 seasons within the large leagues as an infielder and outfielder. Quinn transitioned to managing whereas he was nonetheless a participant, and he has the unlucky distinction of managing the 1899 Cleveland Spiders to their 20-134 report. After Quinn, it took 102 years till the subsequent Australian participant, Craig Shipley, debuted for MLB in 1986.
Miguel Castro (1994)The veteran right-handed reliever pitched for six groups over the primary 9 years of his Main League profession. Castro, a local of the Dominican Republic, helped the D-backs to the NL pennant in 2023.
Victor Cruz (1957)No, not THAT Victor Cruz. This MLB participant could not have salsa danced in the long run zone, however he did play for 4 completely different groups over 5 seasons. Cruz was concerned in three trades for notable gamers, first in 1977 for Pete Vuckovich (1982 AL Cy Younger winner), then in 1978 for Alfredo Griffin (1979 AL Rookie of the 12 months) and once more in 1980 for Bert Blyleven (2011 Corridor of Fame inductee).
Zeke Wilson (1869)Wilson performed for 3 NL groups within the Eighteen Nineties which have all since modified their names or ceased operations: the Boston Beaneaters (now the Atlanta Braves), the Cleveland Spiders (folded after the 1899 season) and the St. Louis Perfectos (now the Cardinals). He and a number of other different Spiders gamers had been despatched from Cleveland to St. Louis in 1899 after the Spiders’ house owners purchased the Perfectos, thus decimating Cleveland’s roster and resulting in its notorious 20-134 season. Wilson completed his five-year profession with a 52-44 report, a 4.03 ERA and 84 full video games in 106 begins.
