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Showing posts from February, 2023

Michael Conforto: Former Mets 2015 NL Champion Out Fielder (2015 - 2021)

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Michael Thomas Conforto was born on March 1st, 1993, in Woodinville, Washington. He comes from a family full of athletes. His mother, Tracy Ruiz Conforto was a two-time, Olympic Gold Medalist (1984 / 1988) in synchronized swimming. His father was a football, linebacker at Penn. State University & his sister, Jacqueline was a college soccer player. In 2004 he played in the Little League World Series for the Northwest Region. In high school the honor roll student played short stop on the baseball team & was a standout safety in football. He was recruited by several Ivy League schools for football & was also sought after for baseball. He chose to stick with baseball & play at Oregon State.  College Baseball: In his first year he was voted Freshman Hitter of the Year batting .349 with 13 HRs & setting a school record with 76 RBIs.  In his sophomore year, he was named All American, leading his Oregon Beavers to the College World Series, where he went 7-14, getting n

Frank Malzone: Former Bronx Born Italian / American All Star (1955 - 1966)

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Frank James Malzone was born on February 28, 1930 in the Bronx, New York. His father Frank was born in Salerno Italy & his mother Pauline was born in America. The two met while Pauline was on an extended visit to Italy. Frank Jr. was one of four Malzone children. In the 1940's, Malzone attended Samuel Gompers High School on Southern Blvd. just off 149th St. Malzone planned to be an electrician if his baseball career didn't work out. After trying out for the New York Giants & being told he was too short to for the big leagues, he didn't give up. In 1947, the five foot ten, third baseman was spotted by a Boston Red Sox bird dog. He was signed, for $150 a month salary by the Sox.  In 1949, Frank married his wife Amy, while playing in the minor leagues at Oneonta, NY. They remained married for 57 years, until her death in 2006. Military Service: Before getting to the major leagues in the early 1950's, Malzone served two years of Military service, during the Ko

Kevin Plawecki: 2015 NL Champion Mets Reserve Catcher (2015 - 2018)

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Kevin Jeffrey Plawecki was born February 26th 1991 in Carmel, Indiana where his father coached his youth baseball teams.  The six foot two right hand hitter can play both catcher & at first base. After attending Westfield High School he went to Perdue University where he was a star baseball player. He set a freshman school RBI record there getting named Freshman All American. He got better through the years, getting named Big Ten Player of the Year & second team All American batting .359 with 20 doubles in 59 games. He was also voted Most Outstanding Player in the 2012 Big Ten Tournament.  Plawecki was the New York Mets first round draft pick (35th overall) in the 2012 amateur draft. His pick along with Gavin Cecchini were compensation for losing Jose Reyes to free agency. He spent 2012 with the Brooklyn Cyclones batting .250. In 2013 he was with the A ball Savannah Sand Gnats & then a promotion to A ball plus St. Lucie where he hit .294.  He was gaining a lot of