On this day in 1974, Gary Wayne Franklin was born in Wilmington, Delaware. After stints at a community college and the University of Maryland at Baltimore County, the Dodgers selected him in the 36th round 1078th overall pick in the 1996 draft. Guys drafted that late don't frequently make the majors at all, so Franklin had already beaten the odds when he made 25 relief appearances for the Astros in 2000 and eleven more in 2001.
Near the end of the 2002 season the Astros sent Franklin to the Brewers in exchange for free agent-to-be Mark Loretta, and Franklin performed well enough down the stretch to earn a full time opportunity in 2003. Unfortunately, Franklin used the opportunity to prove that he wasn't a fit for the role, leading the National League with 119 earned runs allowed and setting a franchise record by giving up 36 home runs.
As luck would have it, Franklin only held that record for six seasons: Braden Looper allowed 39 in 2009 to take over the lead. Franklin, meanwhile, was traded to the Giants in March of 2004 as part of the deal that brought Carlos Villanueva to Milwaukee.
Franklin turns 38 today. With help from the B-Ref Play Index we'd also like to wish a happy birthday to Shawano native and UW-Oshkosh alum Dan Neumeier, who turns 64. He pitched three games in the majors as a member of the 1972 White Sox.