7/8 Birthdays: J-Hay, Bob, Hank, Johnnie, Jay, Bill, Rosario & John

• 1859 - Ump and P Hank O’Day was born in Chicago. He tossed one year for the Alleghenys, in 1885 (5-7/3.67). Later, he became noted as an ump, calling plays for 30 years, most famously the controversial “Merkle Bonehead” decision. He wore the blue for 10 World Series and in 2,710 major league games. O’Day also managed a couple of times, and for his long service to early baseball, he was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2012. 

Hank O'Day 1905 (photo Chicago Daily News)

• 1874 - RHP Jay Parker was born in Theresa, New York. The unfortunate Jay had one MLB outing as an 1899 Bucco in late September against the Chicago Orphans; he walked two batters and plunked another before he was pulled. Two of them eventually scored and so he has a lifetime ERA of infinity. In justice, it should be noted that he was a 1B/C by trade and that was the first time as a pro that he had ever stepped on the mound; it was the second game of a twinbill and ended up a 7-7 draw. He did have a long career in organized ball, starting in 1895 and keeping on through the 1914 campaign, and did pitch again, briefly, going 1-1 for Evansville in 1905. 
• 1894 - C Bill Haeffner was born in Philadelphia. He played for the A’s in 1918, the Giants in 1928 and got his best look in Pittsburgh in 1920 when he got into 54 games and hit .194. After his playing days, he managed the LaSalle University nine from 1947-52. 
• 1929 - OF Johnny Powers was born in Birmingham, Alabama. Johnny was a legendary minor league masher with 298 long balls during his farm career, but with Pittsburgh between 1955-58, he hit just .190 with four homers in 160 PA. He played two more seasons for four teams, hit two more long balls and that was his career. 

Bob Kipper 1988 Topps

• 1964 - LHP Bob Kipper was born in Aurora, Illinois. The lefty tossed for seven seasons (1985-91) for the Bucs. He spent his first three years as a starter and then was converted to the pen. Kipper went 24-33-11/4.34 with the Pirates, appearing 195 times in his last four seasons and was part of Jim Leyland’s 1991 NLCS club. After retirement, he began coaching for indie teams and in 1999 joined the Red Sox organization, working his way from minor league pitching coach to Boston’s bench. 
• 1969 - LHP Rosario Rodriguez was born in Los Mochis, Mexico. He spent parts of three seasons in the majors, the first two with the Reds, and of his 34 appearances, 15 were with the Pirates in 1991 with a line of 1-1-6, 4.11. He had an outing during the 1991 NLCS against the Braves, allowing three runs in one inning, and that was his last MLB call. He opened for AAA Buffalo in 1992 but made just four appearances as he spent three stints on the DL with shoulder issues. His year was shut down in June, and the bum wing ended his career at age 23. 
• 1983 - OF/1B John Bowker was born in Sacramento. A third-round pick of the Giants, he played for the Bay Bombers from 2008-10 and then was traded to the Pirates at the deadline, along with Joe Martinez, in return for Javier Lopez. He hit .233 as a Bucco and was flipped in late 2011 to the Phillies. John spent 2012-14 in Japan, with a stint in the Mexican League, too. The Bucs brought him back in 2015, but he never got past AAA Indy and retired after the campaign. 

John Bowker 2010 Topps Update

• 1987 - Jack-of-all-trades Josh Harrison was born in Cincinnati. The utility guy was up-and-down with the Bucs since 2011 after coming over in the John Grabow/Tom Gorzelanny deal with the Cubs in 2009. But in 2014, playing LF and then later claiming the third base job, he broke out, winning an All-Star berth with a .315 BA, second best in the NL (he won a second nod in 2017). He inherited the second base spot after Neil Walker was traded to the Mets, but still revisits his old hot corner and outfield spots when needed.