Frank Selee (1859)
Kid Gleason (1866)
Lee Tannehill (1880)
Dick Hoblitzel (1888)
Tommy Griffith (1889)
Snuffy Stirnweiss (1918)
Bud Byerly (1920)
Toby Harrah (1948)
Mike Hargrove (1949)
Steve Rogers (1949)
Dave Coleman (1950)
Harry Chappas (1957)
Gil Heredia (1965)
Mark Sweeney (1969)
Francisco Liriano (1983)
Kid Gleason (1866)
Lee Tannehill (1880)
Dick Hoblitzel (1888)
Tommy Griffith (1889)
Snuffy Stirnweiss (1918)
Bud Byerly (1920)
Toby Harrah (1948)
Mike Hargrove (1949)
Steve Rogers (1949)
Dave Coleman (1950)
Harry Chappas (1957)
Gil Heredia (1965)
Mark Sweeney (1969)
Francisco Liriano (1983)
Frank Selee was the manager of the Boston Beaneaters from
1890-1901, winning the National League pennant five times. He also
managed the Cubs from 1902-1905 until his health forced him to retire.
Outfielder David Lee
Coleman did not play for the Twins, but was in their minor league system in
1979. Born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, he signed with Boston as a free agent in
1970. He was in Class A for three years, then began to advance up the minor
league system. His numbers weren’t awful, but were not terribly impressive, either.
He reached AAA for the first time in 1974, arriving to stay in 1975. He began
1977 in Boston as a reserve outfielder and stayed through the end of May, but
appeared in only eleven games and started only two of them. He was used four
times as a pinch-hitter, twice as a pinch runner, and three times as a
defensive replacement. He went 0-for-12, drawing a walk and scoring once, then
was sent back to AAA. His best AAA season came in 1978, when he hit .270 with
24 homers for AAA Pawtucket. By then, however, he was 27 and was no longer
considered a prospect. In February of 1979 the Red Sox traded Coleman to
Minnesota for Larry Wolfe. He spent the year in Toledo, cracking 20 home runs
but hitting only .237. He moved on to the Yankees’ organization after the season,
playing in AAA Columbus for two years. His playing career came to an end after
the 1981 season; his 0-for-12 in 1977 would be his major league career record.
It appears that Dave Coleman returned to the Dayton area after his playing
career ended. His son, Chris, played baseball at Wright State University
before starting a career in dentistry.
Left-hander Francisco Casillas Liriano played for the Twins from
2005-2012. Born and raised in San Cristobal in the Dominican Republic, he was
signed by the San Francisco Giants in 2000. His early minor-league numbers
don't seem that impressive until you realize that he was still a teenager
posting ERAs in the threes in Class A. He was apparently injured in 2003, as he
pitched in only five games. In November of 2003, Liriano was traded, along with
Boof Bonser and Joe Nathan, to Minnesota for A. J. Pierzynski and cash, a trade
some observers believe worked out well for Minnesota. The Twins moved him up
slowly, but after a half-season in Rochester in which he went 9-2 with a 1.78
ERA and a 0.88 WHIP in 2005 he received a September call-up. He started 2006 in
the bullpen, but was moved to the starting rotation in mid-May. He had a
tremendous season, going 12-3 with a 2.16 ERA and a WHIP of 1.00, but then blew
out his elbow. Liriano missed all of the 2007 season. He tried to start 2008 in
Minnesota, but was ineffective and went back to Rochester. After three solid
months there, he was back with the Twins in August and pitched fairly well,
although not like his 2006 season. His 2009 season was not good, but he came
back to throw the ever-living fire out of the ball in the Winter League that
off-season. He came back strong in 2010, going 14-10, 3.62 with a WHIP of 1.26
and leading the league in fewest home runs per nine innings. He won the
Comeback Player of the Year award in 2010. Unfortunately, in 2011 he put
himself in position to win that award again, as he stumbled to a 9-10, 5.09
campaign before being shut down toward the end of the season, although he did
throw a no-hitter. Twins fans were hoping for a resurgence in 2012, but
it was not to be, and in late July Liriano was traded to the White Sox for
Eduardo Escobar and Pedro Hernandez. A free agent after the season, he
signed with Pittsburgh and had his best season since 2010 and arguably his best
season since 2006. He continued to pitch well for them through 2015, but
was having a poor year in 2016 when he was traded to Toronto. on August 1.
He pitched well for the Blue Jays the rest of the season. He turns thirty-three
today and he's had a lot of ups and downs in his career. He may be one
bad year from ending his career, but he also may pitch for several more
seasons.
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