On this day in 1970, the Seattle Pilots laid some of the groundwork for what would turn out to become the original Milwaukee Brewers. They traded first baseman Don Mincher and infielder Ron Clark to Oakland in exchange for pitcher Lew Krausse, catcher Phil Roof, outfielder Mike Hershberger and pitcher Ken Sanders.
Mincher had been one of the Pilots' few bright spots in their expansion season, leading the team with 25 home runs and serving as its lone All Star representative. He would go on to hit a career high 27 home runs for the A's.
The Brewers, meanwhile, received the primary starting catcher for their inaugural season in Roof, a pitcher who would go on to become one of the game's best closers in Sanders and Krausse, who months later would become the team's first Opening Day starter in Milwaukee.
Krausse was a Brewer for two seasons before being traded to the Red Sox in a ten player deal that brought George Scott and Jim Lonborg to Milwaukee, among others.
With help from the B-Ref Play Index, happy birthday today to:
- 2000-02 and 2007 Brewer Ray King, who turns 38.
- Jerry Narron, who turns 56.
- Seattle Pilot and 1972 Brewer Ron Clark, who turns 69.
- Seattle Pilot Mike Marshall, who also turns 69.