John Roseboro, an four-time All-Star catcher for the Dodgers, Twins, and Senators who was gained an extra degree of fame for putting his head in the way of Juan Marichal’s bat during an argument, was born this day in 1933 (died 2002).
Roseboro published his memoirs, Glory Days with the Dodgers, and Other Days with Others, with Bill Libby in 1978.
Also born on May 13:
- Leon “Daddy Wags” Wagner, a power-hitting outfielder for several teams in the 1960s. he Hit 211 home runs over 12 seasons, only eight of which consisted of 100 or more games. Wagner, who was born in 1934, appeared on screen as a member of The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings
. He died in 2004.
- Bobby Valentine, who turned a promising but injury-ruined playing career into one of a genius manager, was featured in a 1988 production, Introduction to Baseball Card Collecting
. He was also the subject of The Zen of Bobby V, a 2008 documentary focusing on his successful career as a manager in Japan. that was screened at the Tribecca Film Festival. He turns 61 on this Friday the 13th.
- Barry Zito, who was once a promising (if iconoclastic) pitcher for the A’s and is now more of a cautionary tale, turns 33. Is that all? Seems like we’ve been reading about him for a long time. Pat Jordan did a profile onhim for The New York Times Sunday Magazine in 2008. He was also one of the subjects in Mycheal Urban’s 2006 release, Aces: The Last Season on the Mound with the Oakland A’s Big Three — Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder, and Barry Zito
.

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