November 26

Hugh Duffy (1866)

Fred Tenney (1871)

Bob Johnson (1905)

Lefty Gomez (1908)

Howard Easterling (1911)

Eddie Miller (1916)

Bob Elliott (1916)

Jeff Torborg (1941)

Larry Gura (1947)

Richie Hebner (1947)

Jorge Orta (1950)

Jay Howell (1955)

Bob Walk (1956)

Mike Moore (1959)

Harold Reynolds (1960)

Chuck Finley (1962)

Brian Schneider (1976)

Matt Garza (1983)

Infielder Howard Easterling was a star in the Negro Leagues in the 1930s and 1940s.

Right-hander Matthew Scott Garza appeared in 26 games for the Twins in 2006-2007.  He was born in Selma, California, went to high school in Washington Union, California, went to Cal State-Fresno, and was drafted by Minnesota in the first round in 2005.  He played at every level in the Twins’ minor league system, but did not stay anywhere very long, as he was promoted rapidly.  He reached the majors in mid-August of 2006 and went 3-6, 5.76, numbers which are made to look much worse by a terrible first outing (his ERA drops by a run if you throw it out).  He started 2007 back in AAA, but was in the Twins’ rotation by mid-season and did okay.  As a Twin, he was 8-13, 4.47, although with a 1.60 WHIP.  It appeared that he might be in the Twins’ rotation for some time, but instead he was traded to Tampa Bay with Eduardo Morlan and Jason Bartlett for Brendan Harris, Jason Pridie, and Delmon Young.  Garza was immediately installed into the Rays’ rotation and was a solid starter for three seasons, posting ERAs in the high threes and WHIPs around 1.25.  After the 2010 season, he was traded again, this time to the Cubs.  He again had a solid season as a member of their starting rotation in 2011, and was doing so in 2012 until he suffered an elbow injury in late July that forced him to miss the rest of the season.  He came back in 2013 and was pitching well for the Cubs when he was traded to Texas in late July, for whom he pitched not quite as well but still decently.  For his career, Matt Garza is 67-67, 3.84, 1.28 WHIP, and other than the one injury has been pretty durable.  He is currently a free agent.  He may never be a star, but at age thirty, he should be a valuable member of a major league rotation for a few years to come.