January thirty first, 2023
Right here’s a subjective rating of the highest 5 for Jan. 31, one of many strongest birthdays in baseball.
1) Ernie Banks (1931)
How do you decide a No. 1? There’s a case to be made for any of the highest three, however right here’s the argument for Banks: His 14 All-Star Video games in 11 seasons almost matches the mixed complete of Nolan Ryan (eight) and Jackie Robinson (seven), and his seven-year peak bWAR of 52.1 tops these of the subsequent two gamers on this record. So beloved on the North Aspect that he was generally known as Mr. Cub, Banks was the primary back-to-back NL MVP winner (1958-59) and his 5 40-homer seasons at shortstop are surpassed solely by Alex Rodriguez’s six.
2) Jackie Robinson (1919)
Robinson is a lot greater than his stats, to the purpose that in 2008 the Corridor of Fame unveiled a new plaque to acknowledge the historical past he made: “Displayed super braveness and poise in 1947 when he built-in the fashionable Main Leagues within the face of intense adversity.” He broke the colour line in 1947, profitable NL Rookie of the Yr, and two years later was named NL MVP. His 10 seasons with the Dodgers included six World Collection, profitable it in 1955. In 1997, 50 years after his debut, MLB retired his quantity throughout the sport and the BBWAA renamed the Rookie of the Yr Award in his honor.
3) Nolan Ryan (1947)
“The Categorical” leads all Jan. 31 gamers in bWAR (81.3) partially as a result of his 27 seasons within the Majors is probably the most by any pitcher in AL/NL historical past. He led his league in strikeouts 11 instances – and in walks eight instances. He additionally allowed the fewest hits per 9 innings (amongst starters) 12 instances, and he’s the profession chief in all three classes with 5,714 Ok’s, 2,795 BB and 6.6 H/9. Ryan was the primary participant to go well with up for MLB’s first 4 growth groups (the Mets, Angels, Astros and Senators/Rangers), and he’s the one participant to have his quantity retired by three groups for which he performed (Angels, Astros and Rangers).
4) George Burns (1893)
The one different Jan. 31 participant with a bWAR over 30 (35.1), Burns hit .307/.354/.429 from 1914-29 taking part in for the Tigers, A’s, Indians, Pink Sox and Yankees. He twice led the Majors in hits, together with his 1926 AL MVP season: 216 hits, a .358/.394/.494 line and 115 RBIs. Burns additionally hit 64 doubles that season, nonetheless tied for second all-time with Joe Medwick, three behind record-holder Earl Webb.
5) Josh Johnson (1984)
Johnson’s 915 profession strikeouts are second amongst pitchers born on this present day — however they’re simply 16 % of Ryan’s complete. A two-time All-Star who spent eight of his 9 seasons with the Marlins, Johnson remains to be close to the highest of Miami’s profession lists for pitcher bWAR (25.8), ERA (3.15) and WHIP (1.23).
Others of word:
Tommy La Stella (1989)
La Stella broke in with Atlanta in 2014 and was traded to the Cubs earlier than the ’15 season. A member of Chicago’s 2016 championship crew, La Stella didn’t seem in that World Collection. He was named an All-Star reserve in 2019 with the Angels, however broke his proper leg every week earlier than the sport. Traded to the A’s in 2020, La Stella crossed the Bay to play for the Giants in 2021. He signed with the Mariners for the 2023 season.
Buck Ewing (1903)
To not be confused with the Corridor of Fame catcher from the nineteenth century, William Monroe Ewing was a backstop within the Negro Leagues with the Chicago American Giants, Columbus Buckeyes and Homestead Grays. Within the late Nineteen Twenties, he was the titular draw of Buck Ewing’s Stars, a barnstorming crew of Black gamers based in Schenectady, N.Y. And in 1930, it was Ewing’s harm — the legend goes — that prompted the Grays to name an 18-year-old Josh Gibson out of the stands to fill in behind the plate.
Hank Aguirre (1931)
A left-hander who principally pitched in reduction for Cleveland and Detroit within the ’50s and ’60s, Aguirre’s AL-leading 2.21 ERA in 1962 (his lone All-Star season) remains to be the second-best single-season mark for the Tigers within the Growth Period.
Need to see extra baseball birthdays for Jan. 31? Find the complete list on Baseball Reference.
