Rickey Eugene Reuschel, nicknamed “Big Daddy,” was born May 16, 1949 in Quincy, Illinois. Rick Reuschel didn’t look like a major league pitcher, but he parlayed his mastery of a nasty sinker and the split-finger pitch into a 19-year career and 214 wins.
Morris “Moe” Berg was born March 2, 1902 in New York, New York. Although he spent 15 seasons in Major League Baseball, Berg was never more than an average player. Among the most scholarly professional athletes ever, Berg was an alumnus of three universities, lawyer, mathematician, linguist, and poor hitter, eliciting the comment: “He can speak 12 languages but can’t hit in any of them.”
William Hendrick “Willie” Foster was born June 12, 1904, in Calvert, Texas. A half brother of the famous Rube Foster, Willie Foster was a pitching star for the Chicago American Giants for over a decade. With near-perfect control and a wide assortment of pitches, all delivered with the same motion, the tall left-hander was at his best when the stakes were highest.
Jerome Martin “Jerry” Koosman was born December 23, 1942 in Appleton, Minnesota. Known for his control throughout his career, Koosman led the International League in strikeouts in 1967, and in 1968 emerged as the Mets’ lefthanded ace.
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