Baseball Birthdays: June sixth

Bill Dickey caught for nineteen years, an all-time Yankee great.
He taught Yogi how to catch and passed on number eight.

Merv Rettenmund won series rings with both the Reds and O’s.
And later, as A’s hitting coach, he’d add one more to those.

Bud Harrelson played good glove shortstop for Amazing Mets.
His fight with Rose in playoff game is one no fan forgets.

Junichi Tazawa is the Red Sox setup man.
He holds ’em for the closer, who is also from Japan.

Baseball Birthdays: June fifth

Jack Chesbro is in the Hall, some say for the wrong reason.
"Happy" may have got the nod for forty-one win season.

Eddie Joost, a shortstop, played for Boston Braves and Sox.
Known mostly for his fielding, though he drew a lot of walks.

Bill Spiers was an infielder with Brewers, Mets and ‘stros.
He once reached base thirteen straight times. And that’s the way it goes.

Russ Ortiz won twenty-one with Braves in his best year.
The rest was all downhill with five more teams in his career.

Baseball Birthdays: June fourth

Phil Linz took over shortstop when the Yanks began to skid.
Remembered more for playing harp than baseball things he did.

Tony Pena caught with a unique defensive style.
He’s coached a lot and even managed K.C. for a while.

John McNamara managed six teams, all over the place.
His albatross is leaving Buckner in to play first base.

Scott Servais, born the same day as Rick Wilkins of Cubs,
Not only was a catcher, too, but once they traded clubs.

Baseball Birthdays: June third

Jim Gentile, first sacker, had best years in Baltimore.
Five slams in one season. Only Mattingly has more.

Jim Dwyer played for seven teams, his best years with the O’s.
He got the nickname Pig Pen, perhaps for his dirty clothes?

Carl Everett was an outfielder who seemed to thrive on friction.
Amongst his odd pronouncements was that dinosaurs were fiction.

Steve Lyons, nicknamed "Psycho," was oft prone to bizarre antic.
Retired now, a broadcaster who must make censors frantic.

Baseball Birthdays: June second

Jim Maloney threw quite hard and often made Reds proud.
Had three career no-hitters, one later disallowed.

Horace Clarke played second after Richardson retired.
His hitting was a plinking thing, his fielding uninspired.

Gene Michael was nicknamed "Stick." It referred to his size.
As two-time manager of Yanks, he made moves deemed as wise.

Marshall "Sheriff" Bridges liked to joke and kid and scam.
He was the first A.L.er to give up a series slam.