Many fans probably don't remember this, but Gorman Thomas' Brewer career got off to a pretty slow start. The franchise's first pick in the 1969 June draft had some huge seasons in the minors, but didn't make his big league debut until 1973 and hit just .193/.280/.355 in his first four seasons as a major leaguer.

One of Thomas' best minor league performances came in 1974 when he hit 51 home runs en route to a .297/.413/.656 line for AAA Sacramento, on a team that included another 50 home run hitter (third baseman Bill McNulty had 55) and three other 30 home run hitters.

Thomas' strong performance led to a September callup to the Brewers and on this day that season he made his 1974 debut with a bang, hitting a two run homer in the ninth to give the Brewers an eventual 4-3 victory over the Red Sox. It was career home run #3 for Thomas, who would go on to hit 205 more as a Brewer.

With help from the B-Ref Play Index, happy birthday today to:

• 2000-01 Brewer Jimmy Haynes, who turns 39.
• 1996 Brewer Mike Potts, who turns 41.
• 1995 Brewer Ron Rightnowar, who turns 47.
• 1991 Brewer Candy Maldonado, who turns 51.