On this day in 1971 Randall Scott Karl was born in Fontana, California. He went to college at the University of Hawaii before the Brewers selected him in the sixth round (164th overall pick) of the 1992 draft. He made his MLB debut three seasons later, appearing in 25 games during the strike-shortened 1995 season.
Karl was somewhat unspectacular as a Brewer (a 4.57 ERA over 914.2 innings with just 4.7 strikeouts per nine innings), but his durability was pretty impressive. He pitched 207.1 innings in his first full MLB season in 1996 and 192 or more in each of the three seasons that followed. Karl is one of just seven pitchers in franchise history to throw over 190 innings in four different seasons.
Following the 1999 season the Brewers included Karl in the deal that sent Jeff Cirillo to the Rockies in exchange for Jamey Wright and Henry Blanco. Karl was 28 at the time of the deal but pitched just one more partial major league season.
Karl turns 41 today. With help from the B-Ref Play Index we'd also like to wish a happy birthday to:
- 2008 Brewer Mike Lamb, who turns 37.
- 1994-95 and 2000 Brewer Bob Scanlan, who turns 46.
- 1986 and 1988 Brewer Jim Adduci, who turns 53.
- 1981-85 Brewer Ted Simmons, who turns 63. We covered his birthday in this space last year.
- Seattle Pilot Gary Timberlake, who turns 64.