The Minnesota Twins’ third baseman Trevor Plouffe celebrated his return from the disabled list (hadn’t played since May 21) and his 27th birthday in style yesterday – going three-for-three with a walk, double, home run, two runs scored and three RBI; as the Twins topped the Division-leading Tigers 6-3 in Minneapolis.
Nomar Garciaparra threw best birthday party ever – 3 HRs, 8 RBI!
Plouffe’s strong performance, however, fell short of MLB’s best “birthday party” ever. That would be Boston Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra’s 29th birthday (July 23, 2002), when he went three-for-five with three home runs (MLB birthday record), three runs scored, eight RBI (another MLB birthday record) and a walk – as the Sox drubbed the Rays 22-4 in Boston.
Today, BBRT would like to look at some other top birthday performances by MLB hitters.
We’ll start with Kirk Gibson, who seemed determined to defy his age. On May 28, 1994 Gibson celebrated his 37th birthday coming in as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning and hitting a game-tying three-run homer. Gibson stayed in the game in center field and hit a second round-tripper in the top of the ninth (giving the Tigers a lead they didn’t hold, losing 10-9 in ten innings). For his birthday, Gibson finished two-for-two with two homers, four RBI and two runs scored.
A year later, the 38-year-old Gibson celebrated his birthday, with a four-hit performance (in six at bats) that included a double, two homers, two runs scored and two RBI. For you trivia buffs, Gibson is the only MLB MVP Award winner to never make an All Star Team.
Then Phillies’ second baseman Joe Morgan also defied father time. Batting lead off on his fortieth birthday (September 19, 1983), Morgan went four-for-five with a double, two homers, two runs scored and four RBI, as his Phillies topped the Cubs 7-6.
Birthday bashes aren’t limited to the senior set. Cubs’ rookie first baseman Brant Brown – a .247 hitter in his five-year MLB career – had arguably his best day ever on his 25th birthday (June 22, 1996). In a 16-inning 9-6 win over the Padres in San Diego, Brown went five-for-nine with a double, home run (a two-run shot in the 16th), run scored, two RBI and a stolen base.
Then there is Kansas City DH Mike Sweeney, who turned thirty-one on July 22, 2004 and celebrated with a seven-RBI performance – a Grand Slam and a three-run blast – as his Royals topped the Tigers 13-7 in Detroit. It was an especially good day for Sweeney who had been in a slump (two-for-twenty with just one RBI in the previous five games). Sweeney’s line: two-for-five, two homers, one walk, two runs scored, seven RBI.
Some other multi-homer birthdays:
Mets journeyman first baseman Jim Beauchamp collected two home runs (in a two-for-four game) on his 33rd birthday (August 21, 1972) as the Mets topped the Astros 4-2. Beauchamp scored twice and drove in three.
Albert Belle, manning left field for the Indians on his 29th birthday (August 25, 1995), went three-for-three with two home runs, two walks, three runs scored and two RBI as his Indians (at home) topped the Tigers 6-5 in eleven innings.
Ray Boone, of the multi-generational MLB Boone family, won the game for the Indians at Boston on his 28th birthday (July 27, 1951) with his second home run of the game in the top of the ninth (Cleveland won 3-2). For the day, Boone was three-for-four, with two runs, two RBI and one walk.
Ken Harrelson did his best to keep his Kansas City Athletics in the game against the Yankees on his 23rd birthday (September 9, 1964). Playing at first base, the Hawk went two-for-five, with two runs, three RBI and two walks. His second homer tied the contest at 5-5 in the bottom of the ninth, and the As lost 9-7 in ten innings.
Milwaukee Brewers’ SS Jose Hernandez celebrated his 33rd birthday with two homers against the Pirates in a 5-3 Brewers’ win at Milwaukee. The 6’ 1”, 180-pound utility man had shown some power (the homers were his 16th and 17th of the season, following a career-high 25-homer campaign the year before.) Hernandez went two-for-two, with two homers, a walk, two runs and four RBI.
Andruw Jones was in left field for the White Sox on his 33rd birthday (April 23, 2010), when he went two-for-four with a walk, two homers, two runs, two RBI and a stolen base. His second homer was a walk-off game winner in the bottom of the ninth in a 7-6 win over the Mariners.
Houston left fielder Derrick May turned 28 on July 14, 1996 and, in the first game of a doubleheader in New York, contributed to a 7-5, 11-inning Astros’ win, going three-for-five, with two round trippers, a walk, two runs scored, three RBI, and a stolen base for good measure. (May totaled only five home runs for the season, .251-5-33.)
Yankee left fielder Tim Raines celebrated his 37th birthday, with two three-run homers as the Yanks topped Toronto 10-0 on September 16, 1996. Raines went tw0-for-five, with two runs and six RBI.
Alex Rodriguez made his “Golden Birthday” (July 27, 2002) truly golden with a tenth-inning walk off grand slam as his Ranger topped Oakland 10-6 in Texas. For the day, A-Rod was three-for-six, with two home runs (his 33rd and 34th of the season) three runs scored and five RBI.
