Growing up, it seemed like the Yankees never won on my birthday. My memory fails me a little bit there, as they did manage to win twice on May 17 from 1977, when I became a fan, through 1982. Worse, when I looked up players born on my birthday, I’m sure I’d see some famous stars like Billy Martin (nope, May 16) or Reggie Jackson (sorry, May 18). Best I could do with the 17th was Carlos May, and that wasn’t really going to cut it, even if by having worn #17 with the White Sox he proudly proclaimed our shared birth month and year on his back.
In fact, a team of Major League players born on my birthday is a mediocre lot at best:
C – Wiki Gonzalez (b. 1974, .239 avg., 17 HR, 103 RBI from 1999-06)
1B – Carlos Pena (b. 1978, .245, 207, 590 from 2001 to present)
2B – Lou Chiozza (b. 1910, .277, 14, 197 from 1934-39)
SS – Harry Riconda (b. 1897, .247, 4, 70 from 1923-30)
3B – Ozzie Virgil (b. 1932, .231, 14-73 from 1956-69)
LF – May (b. 1948, .274, 90, 536 from 1968-77)
CF – Dick Smith (b. 1939, .218, 0, 7 from 1963-65)
RF – Jose Guillen (b. 1976, .271, 203, 835 from 1997 to present)
DH – Jack Voigt (b. 1966, .235, 20, 83 from 1992-98)
SP – Hal Carlson (b. 1892, 114-120, 3.97 ERA from 1917-30)
RP – Billy Hoeft (b. 1932, 97-101, 33 saves, 3.94 ERA from 1952-66)
Let’s just say that, in my adulthood, the Yankees have more than made up for it.
First came David Wells‘ perfect game on May 17, 1998, which I missed because my friends and I were celebrating something even more important than my birthday – our college friend’s ordination as a Catholic priest. Then four years later, Jason Giambi had his “welcome to the Yankees” moment, a 14th-inning Grand Slam between the raindrops to beat the Twins. I was at that game, thought not the 14th inning, having left after 13 to catch the last train to Newark.
Carl Pavano actually pitched a complete-game, five-hit shutout with no walks and seven strikeouts on May 17, 2005, in Seattle, in what must have been his finest performance as a Yankee. I don’t recall that one at all, and since it was a late-night West Coast game I doubt I saw the finish.
Three straight walkoff wins in a three-game series with the Twins last year culminated in Johnny Damon’s game-winner on May 17. And on Monday night, Alex Rodriguez and Marcus Thames brought a finish to an exciting win over the Red Sox with two-run home runs in the ninth.