On this day in 1917, Sal "The Barber" Maglie was born in Niagara Falls, New York. Despite not making his major league debut until age 28, then not returning from the Mexican League until age 33, Maglie carved out a pretty solid major league career. In ten major league seasons (seven of them with the New York Giants), Maglie won 119 games with a 3.15 ERA. He was a two time All Star and in 1956 he was the runner-up for the Cy Young Award while splitting the season between the Indians and Brooklyn Dodgers.
Following his career, Maglie was the Seattle Pilots' pitching coach in 1969. Here are some of the insights he shared with his players, as chronicled in Jim Bouton's Ball Four:
"Knock him down, then put the next three pitches knee high on the outside corner, boom, boom, boom, and you've got him."
Finally, Sal Maglie: "Well, pitch around him."
When the meeting was over, Gary added up the pitch-around-hims and there were five, right in the beginning of the batting order. So, according to Sal Maglie you start with two runs in and the bases loaded.
Maglie died in 1992. He was 75.
With help from the B-Ref Play Index and Brewerfan.net, happy birthday today to:
- Wisconsin Timber Rattler Robbie Garvey, who turns 23.
- 2004-05 Brewer Chris Magruder, who turns 34.