Issue #520

The goal with The Baseball Buffet series is to provide the best daily dose of relevant baseball info in a smart-brevity format (mostly short bullets, getting to the point, with quick analysis/insights.) Think of it like what baseball fans of a certain age would look forward to in their morning newspaper’s sports section each day!

⚾ Welcome! ⚾

Once again, very light on offseason MLB news yesterday. I noticed one free agent signing:

  • Rangers sign pitcher Jakob Junis. According to an article by Jeffrey Lutz and Kennedi Landry at MLB, the Rangers are signing right-hander Jakob Junis to a 1-year, $4 million deal. Junis has pitched nine years in the majors, mostly as a starter with the Royals early on, but then as a reliever more recently with the Giants, Brewers, Reds, and Guardians. In 2025 for Cleveland he had a 2.97 ERA over 66.2 IP and 57 relief appearances. Now 33 years old, Junis is one of several newcomers to the Rangers’ bullpen mix for 2026, including Tyler Alexander and Alexis Díaz.

RIP, Wilbur Wood

As reported in an article by Brent Maguire at MLB, the White Sox have announced that Wilbur Wood has passed away at 84 years old. Wood had a 17-year major league career that spanned from 1961-1978. He pitched sparingly during his first five seasons for Boston and Pittsburgh, then after a full year in the minors, was traded to the White Sox. There he added a knuckleball to his fastball and curveball, having gotten some help from veteran knuckleball specialist Hoyt Wilhelm. Wood was an effective reliever from 1967-1970, then converted to being a starter and pitching frequently since his knuckleball didn't stress his arm. He won 20+ games each year from 1971-1974, including leading the AL with 24 wins in both 1972 and 1973. He was a three-time All-Star, and overall had a 164-156 record, 57 saves, a 3.24 ERA, and a 114 ERA+.

Reader Survey - Favorite Baseball Movies

I announced this quick survey yesterday, but wanted to mention it again and then I’ll close it out. I plan to start sprinkling in video clips from baseball movies now and then in The Baseball Buffet, so I’d like to know both which are readers’ all-time favorite baseball movies—but also which ones you’ve enjoyed that are perhaps a bit less well known. Thanks in advance for taking a minute and doing this two-question survey to give me your perspective.

Today’s Trivia Question

Over the past 20 years (2006-2025), who has had the most sacrifice bunts?

Countdown to Spring Training!

Continuing with this fun series… Spring Training games are now just 32 days away, so here are some top players who had uniform #32 for extended periods of time (and the teams they wore it with):

  • SP Steve Carlton - Cardinals (1965-71), Phillies (1972-86), and three other clubs

  • SP Sandy Koufax - Dodgers (1955-66)

  • SP Roy Halladay - Blue Jays (1999-2009)

  • C Elston Howard - Yankees (1955-67)

  • SP Dennis Martinez - Expos (1986-93), Indians (1994-96), and two other clubs

  • SP Milt Pappas - Orioles (1958-65) and three other clubs

  • SP Jon Matlack - Mets (1971-77), Rangers (1978-83)

  • SP/RP Derek Lowe - Red Sox (1998-2004), Braves (2009-11)

  • SP Vern Law - Pirates (1954-67)

  • OF Josh Hamilton - Rangers (2008-12, 15), Angels (2013-14)

  • SP Larry Gura - Royals (1978-85), Cubs (1985)

  • SP Tom Browning - Reds (1985-94), Royals (1995)

  • OF Jay Bruce - Reds (2008-16) and two other clubs

On this day in baseball history…

Here is what stands out to me for this day in baseball history. All quoted descriptions are from baseball-reference.com.

📅 On January 19…

  • 1937: Nap Lajoie, Tris Speaker, and Cy Young are elected to the Hall of Fame. “In the second annual Hall of Fame election, the Baseball Writers Association of America elects second baseman Nap Lajoie, outfielder Tris Speaker and pitcher Cy Young to the Cooperstown shrine. The trio will be honored at the Hall's first induction ceremony in 1939.”

  • 1972: Sandy Koufax, Yogi Berra, and Early Wynn are elected to the Hall of Fame. “The Baseball Writers Association of America elects Sandy Koufax (344 votes), Yogi Berra (339), and Early Wynn (301) to the Hall of Fame. One year earlier, the writers had failed to elect anyone to the Hall. Koufax makes it in his first try and, at 36 years of age, is the youngest honoree in history.”

  • 1977: Ernie Banks is elected to the Hall of Fame. “The BBWAA elects Ernie Banks to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. In a 19-season career, Banks hit 512 home runs, had 11 All-Star selections, and won back-to-back National League MVP Awards.”

  • 1978: Eddie Mathews is elected to the Hall of Fame. “Eddie Mathews is elected to the Hall of Fame by the BBWAA. The former third baseman is named on 301 of 379 ballots. Stan Musial died in 2013”

  • 1983: Ozzie Smith signs a new contract with the Cardinals. “Ozzie Smith becomes the first $1-million shortstop in major league baseball, signing a three-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals.”

  • 1997: Ivan Rodríguez signs richest one-year deal to-date. “Ivan Rodriguez signs the richest one-year deal in major league history. Avoiding salary arbitration, the All-Star catcher agrees to a contract worth $6.65 million to play with the Texas Rangers.”

  • 2013: Hall of Famers Earl Weaver and Stan Musial both pass away. “Two all-time greats pass away today, as long-time Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver dies at 82 and St. Louis Cardinals slugger Stan Musial is a victim of Alzheimer's disease at 92 later in the day. Both were members of the Hall of Fame.”

🎂 Today’s Birthday Boys 🎉

Jon Matlack, Chris Sabo, Phil Nevin, Byung-Hyun Kim

Jon Matlack (1950)

  • First-round draft pick (4th overall) in 1967 by the Mets

  • 13-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1971-1983, with the Mets and Rangers

  • NL Rookie of the year in 1972 after posting a 15-10 record and a 2.32 ERA

  • Three-time All-Star

  • Won 13-17 games six times

  • Did well in the 1973 postseason, with a 1.40 ERA over 25.2 IP including three starts in the World Series

  • Overall had a 125-126 record, a 3.18 ERA, and a 114 ERA+

Chris Sabo (1962)

  • 9-year major league career, spanning from 1988-1996, mostly with the Reds

  • Was an All-Star and won the NL Rookie of the Year Award in 1988 after batting .271 with 11 HR, 40 doubles, and 46 SB

  • Was an All-Star two more times: in 1990 when he had 25 HR and 25 SB, and in 1991 when he hit .301 with 26 HR, 19 SB, and 88 RBI

  • Overall had 116 HR, 120 SB, a .268/.326/.445 slash line, and a 109 OPS+

Phil Nevin (1971)

  • First overall draft pick in 1992, taken by the Astros

  • 12-year major league career, spanning from 1995-2006, including seven seasons for the Padres and the remainder spread across six other clubs

  • Hit 20+ HR five times and had 100+ RBI three times

  • Was an All-Star in 2001 when he hit .306 with career highs of 41 HR, 126 RBI, and 97 runs

  • Was versatile in the field, playing a mix of 3B, 1B, OF, and even catching 109 games as well

  • Overall had 208 HR, a .270/.343/.472 slash line, and a 114 OPS+

Byung-Hyun Kim (1979)

  • 9-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1999-2007, with the Diamondbacks, Red Sox, Rockies, and Marlins

  • Had 19 saves, a 2.94 ERA, and 113 K in 98 IP in 2001, and then was an All-Star in 2002 when he posted 36 saves, a 2.04 ERA, and 92 K in 84 IP

  • He switched to being mostly a starter but struggled 2004-07 with a cumulative 5.50 ERA, left the game for a few years, and then pitched in Japan and South Korea from 2011-2015

  • Overall he had a 54-60 record, 86 saves, a 4.42 ERA, and a 107 ERA+

  • See also the recent article by Michael Clair at MLB: “From World Series winner to sausage meister: A visit to Byung-hyun Kim's German restaurant”

Currently active players who were born on January 19 include MIN Travis Adams and NYM Nick Burdi.

Baseball Quote of the Day

As noted above, on this date in 2013 Hall of Famer Earl Weaver passed away. Here are some great quotes from Weaver, selected from those at The Baseball Almanac:

"The job of arguing with the umpire belongs to the manager, because it won't hurt the team if he gets thrown out of the game."

"A manager's job is simple. For one hundred sixty-two games you try not to screw up all that smart stuff your organization did last December."

"A manager should stay as far away as possible from his players. I don't know if I said ten words to Frank Robinson while he played for me."

"Bad ballplayers make good managers, not the other way around. All I can do is help them be as good as they are."

"Don't worry, the fans don't start booing until July."

"I never got many questions about my managing. I tried to get twenty-five guys who didn't ask questions."

"I think there should be bad blood between all clubs."

"It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."

"Nobody likes to hear it, because it's dull, but the reason you win or lose is darn near always the same - pitching."

"On my tombstone just write, 'The sorest loser that ever lived.'"

"The key step for an infielder is the first one, to the left or right, but before the ball is hit."

"The key to winning baseball games is pitching, fundamentals, and three run homers."

"We're so bad right now that for us back-to-back home runs means one today and another one tomorrow."

"You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all."

"This ain't a football game, we do this every day."

⚾ I hope you enjoyed the newsletter today! ⚾

Today’s Trivia Answer

Clayton Kershaw. Here are the top-five in sacrifice bunts over the past 20 years:

  • 110 - Clayton Kershaw (SP)

  • 104 - Elvis Andrus (SS)

  • 101 - Juan Pierre (OF)

  • 90 - Johnny Cueto (SP)

  • 87 - Alcides Escobar (SS)

Good Reads

Here I am providing one or more links to baseball articles I’ve enjoyed recently, whether by writers at MLB.com or elsewhere.

See recent issues of The Baseball Buffet for more recent good reads!

Did you know? I wrote a 600+ page book with the same title as this newsletter/blog? Now Taking the Field: Baseball’s All-Time Dream Teams for All 30 Franchises was published in early 2019, by ACTA Sports. It is available at Amazon and most other major booksellers.

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