Happy 32nd birthday to Zach Reks. Reks was drafted by the Dodgers in 2017 and made his MLB debut with the club in 2021. He played in 6 games with LA before going to Texas in 2022 and appearing in 16 games for the Rangers. He most recently played in the Padres organization.

Happy 64th birthday to Greg Gagne. Gagne was one of the more solid shortstops in the 1980s and 90s and was a 2-time WS champion with the Twins before signing with the Dodgers ahead of 1996. He spent the last 2 seasons of his career with LA and played in the 1996 NLDS.

Today in 1981, Fernando Valenzuela becomes the 1st rookie in MLB history to win the Cy Young Award. Valenzuela squeaks by Tom Seaver in a remarkably close vote. Having already been named NL ROY, he becomes the 1st player to win both awards in the same season.

Happy 45th birthday to Jessica Mendoza. Mendoza was one of the greatest softball players of her era, earning All-American honors 4 times at Stanford and winning 2 Olympic medals. She’s since worked as a broadcaster, calling Dodger games for SportsNet LA the past 4 seasons.

Happy 58th birthday to Noe Muñoz. Muñoz played his only 2 MLB games with the Dodgers in 1995, popping out against Tom Henke in his only at bat. Before and after that, he had an extensive career in the Mexican League, playing for over 20 seasons and later coaching.

Happy 63rd birthday to Cory Snyder. While Snyder finished his career with 2 seasons with the Dodgers, he played some of his biggest games at Dodger Stadium as a member of the 1984 US Olympic team. In all, he enjoyed a 9-year MLB career, most notably with Cleveland.

Happy 134th birthday to the late, great Walter “Rabbit” Maranville. The HOFer spent just one of his 23 big league seasons with the Dodgers. Rabbit was a star with the Boston Braves, particularly the 1914 Miracle Braves who went from last in the NL at mid-season to WS champions.

Today in 1988, Orel Hershiser is announced as the unanimous winner of the NL CY Award. Hershiser finished the season with 23 wins, 8 shutouts, 2.36 ERA, and a record streak of 59 scoreless innings. He adds this award to his NLCS and WS MVPs and SI Sportsmen of the Year honors.

Happy 36th birthday to Matt Magill. Magill was originally drafted by the Dodgers in 2008 and made his MLB debut with LA in 2013, pitching in 6 games. He bounced around in the ensuing years, making appearances for Reds, Twins, and most recently the Mariners in 2020.

Happy 37th birthday to Rob Segedin. Segedin was drafted by the Yankees in 2010 and battled for 6 years in the minors before getting a chance to play in the MLB with the Dodgers in 2016. He played his only 2 seasons with LA before injuries and arthritis shortened his career.

Happy 53rd birthday to Shawn Green. Green was already a star with the Blue Jays when the Dodgers traded Raul Mondesi to get him. He continues to shine in his 5 years with LA, setting the then-franchise single-season HR mark (49) in 2001 and hitting 4 HRs in one game in 2002.

Happy 74th birthday to Mike Vail. Vail spent the last of his 10 big league seasons with the Dodgers in 1984. He didn’t have a lot of luck in LA, collecting just one hit in 16 at bats. That said, his one hit was a walk-off single that gave LA a 3-2 win over the Cardinals.

Absolutely love those cards.

Jack Clark turns 70 today. Every year I debate whether or not to post this. Clark crushed Dodger souls in the 1985 NLCS and in 2013 baselessly accused Albert Pujols of using PEDs. That said, he was a Dodger hitting coach from 2001 to 2003 so happy birthday or whatever.

Happy 99th birthday to the late Carmen Mauro. Mauro broke in with the Cubs and played parts of 3 seasons with Chicago before being traded to the Dodgers. He was really good at AAA Montreal but a crowded Brooklyn outfield led to his playing only 8 games with the Dodgers in 1953.

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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.