On this day in 1944 John Briggs was born in Paterson, New Jersey. He signed with the Phillies as an 18 year old amateur free agent in 1962, made his big league debut with them in 1964 and played his first seven and a half years in their outfield. All of that came to an end pretty abruptly in 1971 when, just three weeks into the season, the Phillies traded him to Milwaukee.
Briggs played parts of five seasons in left field for the Brewers and was solid if unspectacular, hitting .258/.358/.441 in 584 career games. When the Brewers dealt him to the Twins for pitcher Bobby Darwin in 1975 he was the franchise's all-time leader with 80 career home runs. George Scott passed him for the record later that season.
Briggs turns 68 today. With help from the B-Ref Play Index, we'd also like to wish a happy birthday to:
- 1998-99 Brewer Bobby Hughes, who turns 41.
- Appleton Baseball Hall of Fame member John Cangelosi, who turns 49.
- 1986-89 Brewer Mike Birkbeck, who turns 51.
- 1970 Brewer Wayne Twitchell, who would have turned 64.