When the Brewers drafted young shortstop Paul Molitor with the #3 overall pick in the 1977 draft, they probably expected him to reach the majors pretty quickly. What they probably didn't expect, though, was having Molitor make his big league debut just nine months later, on this day in 1978.
Molitor made the 1978 roster out of spring training despite having played just 64 games in the minors with low-A Burlington the previous season. He was the starter at short and leadoff hitter as the Brewers opened the season with an 11-3 win over Baltimore, and went 1-for-5 . His lone hit drove in a run in the second inning.
Molitor's five trips to the plate that day were the first of his 12,167 PAs as a major leaguer, 8443 of which came as a Brewer. He went on to finish second in the AL Rookie of the Year voting in his first of 15 seasons as a Brewer.
With help from Brewerfan.net and the B-Ref Play Index, happy birthday today to:
- Wisconsin Timber Rattler Kevin Shackelford, who turns 23.
- Racine, Wisconsin native, UW-La Crosse alum and 2006-08 Brewer Vinny Rottino, who turns 32.
- 2002 Brewer Jimmy Osting, who turns 36.
- 1998-2002 Brewer Ronnie Belliard, who turns 38.
- 1992-96 Brewer Ricky Bones, who turns 44.