Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star John Roseboro

John Roseboro was one of the best defensive catchers during the 1960’s. However, he is best remembered for an incident where he was hit in the head with a bat by San Francisco Giants pitcher Juan Marichal.

Roseboro was a six time all-star, won the Gold Glove award in 1961 and 1966. He played on three World Series Championship teams in 1959, 1963 and 1965. He caught two of Sandy Koufax’s no hitters, and was the catcher for 112 shutouts.

He lacked prowess with the bat with a hitting line of .249/.326/.371.  He had 104 career home runs and knocked 548 runs.

Joe Glasgow is a former senior staff writer at Fanstop.com, and is the author of the book Play Ball! Growing Up With Baseball https://amzn.to/2o4M62h

New York Yankees Catcher Elston Howard

Elston "Ellie" Howard was one of the best catchers in storied history of the New York Yankees. Following in the footsteps of a the great Yogi Berra. In his career with the Yankees, he would be on four World Series champion teams. His career started in the Negro Leagues with the famed Kansas City Monarchs under Buck O'Neill.  Where he would be the roommate of a future member of the baseball Hall of Fame, a kid named Ernie Banks. In 1950, he was signed by the New York Yankees. Howard was signed as an outfielder, and it wasn't until the spring training of 1954.

In 1955, he made his debut with the Yankees.  He would spend his first three seasons playing between outfield, and serving as the backup catcher. In his first season, he hit .290/.336/.477 slash line with 10 home runs, with 43 RBI, in 305 plate appearances. On April 14, 1955, he became the first black player to wear the uniform of the New York Yankees. 

During the course of his career, he was a 12 time all-star in as a member of the New York Yankees. 1963 was his best season, he hit 28 home runs with 85 RBI, and a slash line of .287/.342/.528. He would be named Most Valuable Player in the American League, and becoming the first black player to win the award in the junior circuit. He also was the Gold Glove award winner that season, and would capture the award again in 1964. 

He finished his playing career with the Boston Red Sox. After his playing days, he would return to the Yankees as a coach for two seasons, and being a part of the staff on the World Series champions in 1977 and 1978. Tragically Howard would die at the young age of 51 of heart failure after being diagnosed with myocarditis. His #32 was retired by the Yankees. 

Ken Griffey Jr. First Career Home Run

On this day in baseball history Ken Griffey jr. connected on the first pitch he saw at the Kingdome off the White Sox's Eric King for a home run. It is his father Ken Griffey Sr's birthday, he is an outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds. It is the first of the 630 home runs that he would hit in his career

Griffey, or Junior as he was known was an 13 times All-Star, awarded with 10 Gold Gloves, 7 Silver Slugger award, 1997 American League MVP, and will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as a part of the class of 2016.