Happy 28th birthday to Michael Busch. Busch earned PCL MVP honors after batting .323 with 27 HR, 90 RBI, and a 1.049 OPS at AAA OKC in 2023. Unfortunately, a log jam of corner infielders led the Dodgers to trade him to the Cubs. Last season, he hit 34 HR and batted in 90 runs.

Happy 105th birthday to the late Dick Whitman. Whitman served in the Army during WWII before making his big league debut with the Dodgers in 1946. He played the first 4 of his 6 MLB seasons with Brooklyn and appeared in 2 WS - 1949 with the Dodgers and 1950 with the Phillies.

Happy 128th birthday to the late Johnny Gooch. Gooch was a longtime professional player, coach, and scout. He played 11 years in the MLB and was a member of the 1925 WS champion Pirates. And thanks to his 43 games with Brooklyn, we can say the Dodgers once had a guy named Johnny Gooch.

Today in 1990, Darryl Strawberry joins the Dodgers in one of the most anticipated FA signing in team history. Expectations in LA were high with the addition of the 8-time AS. But after a strong first season, hopes soured as his production diminished the next several years.

Happy 37th birthday to Yasmani Grandal. Grandal earned AS honors in his 4 seasons with LA. That said, he is as streaky a player as the Dodgers have ever had - he was either red hot or freezing cold. Last year he signed with Boston after spending a season in Pittsburgh.

Happy 40th birthday to Darwin Barney. Barney was a member of back-to-back national championship teams at Oregon State in 2006 and 2007. He went on to play 8 MLB seasons, winning a GG with the Cubs in 2012. He spent parts of 2 seasons with the Dodgers in 2014 and 2015.

Happy 48th birthday to Nick Punto. Punto was the centerpiece of one of the biggest Dodger trades in recent memory when he came to LA for James Loney and 4 high end prospects. Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, and Carl Crawford evidently went to LA as part of the deal, as well.

Happy 49th birthday to Víctor Álvarez. Álvarez signed with the Dodgers in 1997 and made his MLB debut with the club in 2002. He appeared in his only 9 big league games with LA over the next 2 seasons before finishing his pro career playing 10 seasons in the Mexican Leagues.

Happy 57th birthday to José Offerman. The Dodgers hoped Offerman was their SS of the future when he came up in 1990. In fact, he earned an AS selection in 1995 when he batted .287. Unfortunately, he also had to field - and committed 79 errors over the course of 1992 and 1993.

Happy 58th birthday to Henry Rodríguez. Rodríguez was a promising prospect for the Dodgers when he made his big league debut with LA in 1992. He was eventually traded to the Expos where he was an AS and hit 36 HR in 1996. In all, he played 11 seasons with 5 different teams.

Happy 58th birthday to Eric Anthony. Anthony played the final 47 games of his 9 season MLB career with LA. That said, he had a significant Dodger connection he didn’t even know about until he was nearly 50 years old when he discovered he was the son of Willie Davis.

Happy 118th birthday to the late Tony Cuccinello. Cuccinello was the Dodgers’ 1st AS as he was the lone Brooklyn representative in the inaugural 1933 game. And though he never saw the postseason in 15 years as a player, he earned a WS ring as a coach with Detroit in 1968.

Happy 64th birthday to Orlando Mercado. Mercado broke in with the Mariners in 1982 and played for 8 different teams over the course of an 8 year MLB career, spent mostly as a back-up catcher. He came to the Dodgers in mid-1987 and appeared in just 7 games with LA.

Happy 66th birthday to Rich Rodas. Rodas signed with the Dodgers in 1979 and was a really good minor league pitcher, going 35-14 in 4 seasons at AAA Albuquerque. He made his debut with the Dodgers in 1983 and played his only 10 MLB games with LA over the next 2 seasons.

Happy 93rd birthday to the late Dick Stuart. Dr. Strangelove (one of the greatest nicknames ever) played with the Dodgers in just 1966, even seeing action in the WS. His best days were with Pittsburgh, where he was a WS champ in 1960, AS in 1961, and led the NL in RBI in 1963.

Happy 109th birthday to the late Joe Hatten. Hatten was a mainstay in the Dodger rotation in the late 1940s, winning 12 or more games in 4 straight seasons. He also appeared in both the 1947 and 1949 WS for Brooklyn, making 6 total appearances in the 2 series.

Happy 29th birthday to Gus Varland. Varland made his MLB debut with the Brewers before being picked up by the Dodgers. He appeared out of the bullpen in 15 total games with LA in 2023 and 2024 before being released. He is currently with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Happy 37th birthday to James Paxton. The Big Maple had some great seasons and threw a no-hitter with the Mariners before his career was curtailed by arm injuries. He battled through and appeared in 18 games with the Dodgers in 2024 before being traded to the Red Sox.

Chad Curtis turns 57 today. Curtis played 10 big league seasons, appearing in 43 games with the Dodgers in 1996 and winning WS rings with the 1998 and 1999 Yankees. In 2013, he was convicted of sexually assaulting 3 underaged female students at the HS where he was employed.

Happy 72nd birthday to John Candelaria. The Candy Man was a Pirate great, earning an AS selection, winning the 1979 WS, and throwing a no-hitter during his 12 years with Pittsburgh. In all, he played 19 MLB seasons with 8 different teams, including 2 years with the Dodgers.

Happy 95th birthday to the late Bob Darnell. Darnell was a lifelong minor leaguer who appeared in 272 AAA games. He enjoyed a taste of the big leagues when he appeared in 7 total games for Brooklyn in 1954 and 1956 and counted Richie Ashburn among his 5 career strikeouts.

Today in 2008, Greg Maddux is awarded the 18th Gold Glove Award of his career. It is the final such honor for Maddux who will retire at the end a year split between the Padres and Dodgers. The 18 GGs put him 2 ahead of Brooks Robinson and Jim Kaat for most in MLB history.

Today in 1936, Burleigh Grimes is named manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Having finished a HOF playing career in 1934, he takes over after the recent dismissal of Casey Stengel. Grimes will be let go after 2 subpar seasons best highlighted by the hiring of Babe Ruth as a coach.

Happy 58th birthday to Eric Karros. No one has hit more home runs as a Los Angeles Dodger than Karros, who had 5 seasons of 30 or more homers. And his NL Rookie of the Year honor in 1992 set off a streak of 5 straight Dodgers to win the award. All in all, a great Dodger.

Today in 1965, Sandy Koufax wins the 2nd CY Award of his career. Koufax is the unanimous selection after leading the MLB with 26 wins, a 2.04 ERA, and a big league record 382 strikeouts. He also finished 2nd to Willie Mays in NL MVP voting and earned WS MVP honors.

Happy 24th birthday to World Series champion Roki Sasaki. Sasaki went through it all in his 1st MLB season - from can’t miss prospect to enormous disappointment to postseason hero. Could not be happier for the man and cannot wait to see what he’ll do next in Dodger blue.

Happy 57th birthday to Paul Quantrill. Quantrill was originally drafted by the Dodgers in 1986 but chose to play college ball instead. He was an AS with Toronto in 2001 and led the MLB in appearances for 4 straight seasons, including his 2 years with LA in 2002 and 2003.

Happy 62nd birthday to Mike Christopher. Christopher made his big league debut with the Dodgers in 1991, his only season with LA. He pitched in 3 games, giving up no runs in 4.0 IP. The following off-season, he and Dennis Cook were sent to Cleveland for Rudy Seanez.

Happy 69th birthday to the late Bob Welch. Welch was an enormously important pitcher for the Dodgers in the 1970s and 80s, helping LA get to the postseason 4 times and winning the WS in 1981. He won the AL CY and another WS with the As but he’ll always be a Dodger great.

Happy 106th birthday to the late John “Spider” Jorgensen. Jorgensen’s MLB debut with the Dodgers on April 15, 1947 has been overshadowed a bit by the debut of another rookie that day. In all, Jorgensen played that game plus 214 more over parts of 4 seasons with Brooklyn.

Happy 44th birthday to Wilson Betemit. Betemit was a promising prospect when he first came up with Atlanta. The Dodgers traded for him in 2006 in hopes he’d be LA’s answer at 3rd base. Expectations weren’t met, though, and he was dealt to the Yankees a year later.

Happy 79th birthday to Tom Paciorek. Nicknamed Wimpy by Tom Lasorda, Paciorek spent the 1st 6 of his 18-year career with the Dodgers. He was known as much for his personality as he was for his on field play so in retirement he transitioned naturally into a broadcasting career.

Happy 109th birthday to the late Al Campanis. Campanis dedicated decades as a player, instructor, scout, and successful GM with the Dodgers. He should be one of the Dodger giants but his unfortunate 1987 appearance on Nightline led to the sudden but deserved end of his career.

Happy 151st birthday to the late George Bell. Bell was 32 when he made his big league debut with Brooklyn but still managed to pitch 5 seasons for the Superbas. He enjoyed his best season when he won 16 games in 1909 but things took a turn the next season when he lost 27.

Today in 2022, Justin Turner is named the recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award. Justin and his wife Courtney made enormous contributions to homeless veterans and others through their foundation. He becomes just the third of now four Dodgers to earn the award.

Today in 2007, the Dodgers name Joe Torre as the team’s next manager. After parting ways with the Yankees after 12 years, Torre takes over LA for the recently departed Grady Little. In his 3 seasons with the Dodgers, Torre will lead LA to 2 NL West titles and NLCS appearances.

Today in 2000, Jim Tracy is named manager of the Dodgers. Tracy, who has no previous big league managerial experience, is promoted after serving as bench coach under out-going manager Davey Johnson. He will skipper LA for 5 seasons and win the NL West title in 2004.

Today in 1966, Sandy Koufax becomes baseball’s 1st 3-time winner of the CY Award. Koufax is selected unanimously after leading the majors with 27 wins, 1.73 ERA, and 317 strikeouts. In just over 2 weeks, he will shock the sports world by announcing his sudden retirement.

Today in 1951, the Dodgers’ Roy Campanella is named NL MVP. The Brooklyn catcher batted .325 with 33 HR and 108 RBI to receive 11 first place votes and beat out second place finisher Stan Musial. It is the 5th time a Dodger wins the award and 1st since Jackie Robinson in 1949.

Today in 1942, the Dodgers name Branch Rickey as the team’s new president. After developing the minors leagues and building a perennial contender while with St. Louis, Rickey will further revolutionize the sport in Brooklyn by initiating integration and building pennant winners.

Happy 65th birthday to the late, great Fernando Valenzuela. Few players have meant as much to the Dodger organization and fan base. An LA hero and absolute Dodger legend. Last year the Dodgers had a parade on his birthday. Hoping this year they have even more to celebrate.

Happy 40th birthday to Javy Guerra. Guerra debuted with the Dodgers in 2011 and was a very pleasant surprise when he saved 21 games that year. Inconsistency led to fewer appearances and he eventually played for 5 different teams before winning a WS ring with the 2019 Nationals.

Happy 56th birthday to Oreste Marrero. A native of Puerto Rico, Marrero played 19 years of pro baseball both in the US and internationally. He spent just 2 seasons in the MLB, in 1993 with the Expos and in 1996 with the Dodgers when he appeared in 10 games with LA.

Happy 62nd birthday to the great Fred McGriff. McGriff earned his much deserved HOF induction as a 4-time AS, 3-time Silver Slugger, 493 HR hitter, ASG MVP, and WS champ. He spent just one of his 19 MLB seasons with LA but it was phenomenal seeing him in Dodger blue.

Today in 2024, the Dodgers win the WS as they defeat the Yankees 7-6 in Game 5. LA overcomes an early 5-run deficit to win the game and the trophy. Freddie Freeman earns WS MVP honors as the Dodgers win the 8th title in franchise history and 7th since the team moved to LA.

Today in 1963, Sandy Koufax received 14 of 18 1st place votes to win NL MVP. Having already been named the Cy Young Award winner days earlier, Koufax becomes just the 2nd player ever - and 2nd Dodger - to win both awards in the same season following Don Newcombe in 1956.

Happy 73rd birthday to Tom Brennan. Nicknamed “The Gray Flamingo” due to his pitching style, Brennan played 5 years in the big leagues with 3 different teams. He spent his final season with the Dodgers, appearing in 12 games in LA while splitting time with AAA Albuquerque.

Happy 108th birthday to the late Bobby Bragan. Bragan appeared in the 1947 WS when he played in Brooklyn in the 1940s and later was a coach with LA in the 1960s. In the late 1950s, he managed at AAA Spokane where Maury Wills credited Bragan with teaching him to switch hit.

Happy birthday to my brother Ryan, the bestest big brother a boy like me could ever ask for. We ride the highs and lows of Dodger fandom together and have shared a love for cards for many years (he also used to design some great looking designs). A great brother and a fantastic dad. Happy bday!

Today in 2024, Freddie Freeman sets a record by hitting a HR in his 6th consecutive WS game as LA loses to NY 11-4. With the 1st inning blast, Freeman becomes the 1st player to homer in the 1st 4 games of a WS. He will earn WS MVP honors as the Dodgers win the title in 5 games.