On this day in 1997 the Royals acquired pitcher Ricky Bones from the Brewers for cash, ending his second and final stint with the organization.
Bones had joined the Brewers in the 1992 trade that sent Gary Sheffield to San Diego and pitched reasonably well over five seasons, making 151 appearances (137 starts) and posting a 4.64 ERA. He was struggling in 1996, though, and things only got worse after the Brewers sent him to New York in August of that year.
Bones made four appearances for the Yankees that September and struggled mightily, posting a 14.14 ERA over seven innings. The Reds signed him as a free agent following the season but he struggled there too, posting a 10.19 ERA over nine outings before being released.
The Brewers reclaimed their former starter a week later and put him back to work in the minors, where he posted a 2.79 ERA over eight appearances for AAA Tucson. With his feet back under him, Bones joined the Royals and went on to pitch five more major league seasons.
With help from Brewerfan.net and the B-Ref Play Index, happy birthday today to:
- Wisconsin Timber Rattler Drew Gagnon, who turns 22.
- Brevard County Manatee Brooks Hall, who also turns 22.
- 2008-09 Brewer Jason Kendall, who turns 38.
- 1998-99 Brewer Mike Myers, who turns 43.
- UW-Madison alum Rodney Myers, who turns 43. He pitched nine major league seasons between 1996-2004 as a member of the Cubs and two other teams.
- 1976 Brewer Steve Bowling, who turns 60.
Today is also the 41st anniversary of a game where starting pitcher Marty Pattin allowed eleven hits but still finished a complete game shutout against the Twins. We covered that event in this space last year.