Dwight Siebler is one of four players featured in the 1965 Topps set that had the good taste and sense to be born on August 5, my birthday. The others are Tommie Aaron, Bill Pleis, and Nelson Briles. Good on them.
Fun facts about Dwight Siebler:
-Born in Columbus, NE, Dwight played collegiately at the University of Nebraska before signing with the Phillies in 1958.
-He pitched in the minors for five years before the Twins purchased his contract from Philly in late August of 1963. Two days later, he made his major league debut in relief at age 25.
-Siebler was tabbed to start three days after that initial relief appearance and fashioned a complete-game victory, besting the Senators 10-1. He allowed only three hits.
-Had the only two hits of his career in his second and third games. Both were RBI singles.
-Dwight received only five starts in 1963, but pitched into the eighth inning in four of them, including two complete game wins (the other CG was a four-hit, one-run effort against the Tigers on September 17).
-Despite his early successes, the Twins called on him only 16 times total in 1964 and 1965, with all but one appearance coming in relief.
-Finally avoided the minor leagues for a full season in 1966 and compiled a 3.42 ERA in 23 games, again primarily out of the bullpen.
-Saw action in just two major-league games the following year, bringing his MLB career to a close. He was 4-3 with a 3.45 ERA in parts of five seasons.
-According to this poorly-written Wikipedia biography, he worked with children in Nebraska for several decades after retiring and is an avid bowler with a perfect 300 game to his credit.
There seemed to be a lot of ballplayers who were fans of bowling back in the '60s and '70s. You never see that now. Damn video games (*old man shakes his fist*)
ReplyDeletenight owl - Shake harder! I'll be shaking my fist at Orioles PBP announcer Jim Hunter, who pointed out last night that Shelley Duncan is the only member of Cleveland's current active roster who was born before 1982 (my year of birth). Argh.
ReplyDeleteDwight Siebler or "Father"as we called him was one hell of a pitcher. I remember one game in spring training he fanned 8 batters in a row, came into the dugout, ate half a pot roast dinner and fanned 8 more. One of the greatest athletes to ever walk this earth.
ReplyDeleteWhen he play for the Twins, Dwight Siebler lived in Minneapolis across the alley from me (for at least one year), at 51st St. and 40th. Ave, in a house whose owners rented it out each year to Minnesota Twins players. (Don Mincher had also lived there one year.) My dad had taken me to a Twins game, and I saw Dwight pitch a game. He had a daughter named Laurie Ann who kept on coming over to my back door asking me to come out and play. Finally I was invited to his home by her, and met Dwight and his wife. I recall he was rather tall and very pleasant looking. I was rather awed to meet this big league pitcher whom I had just seen pitch a game at Met Stadium.
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