Mike Jorgensen
Michael Jorgensen is an American former professional baseball first baseman and outfielder who currently works in the St. Louis Cardinals' front office. The New York Mets drafted him in the fourth round of the 1966 Major League Baseball draft. In a 17-year Major League Baseball playing career spanning from 1968 to 1985, he played primarily with the Mets and Montreal Expos and had brief stints with the Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers and Oakland Athletics. He also has served as a manager for the Cardinals. Jorgensen is the only major league baseball player to have been born the day Babe Ruth died.
Playing career
Jorgensen was raised in Bayside, Queens, in New York City. He attended Francis Lewis High School. The New York Mets signed a contract with him in 1966.File:Mike Jorgensen .jpg|thumb|left|Jorgensen with the New York Mets during spring training
Jorgensen made his major league debut with the New York Mets as a September call-up in. He played the entire season in the minors. On April 5,, he was traded with Tim Foli and Ken Singleton to the Montreal Expos for Rusty Staub.
It was in Montreal where Jorgensen enjoyed his greatest success. In, he earned his only Gold Glove Award as a first baseman, the only time between 1967 and 1977 that a Los Angeles Dodger first baseman did not win the Gold Glove Award: Jorgensen broke Wes Parker's six-year run from 1967-72, and preceded Steve Garvey, who won the award from 1974-77. In, he broke the Expos' single season record for on-base percentage with.444, on the way to setting career highs in batting average, slugging percentage and adjusted OPS. The next year, he set more career highs with the bat—clubbing 18 home runs, and driving in 67 runs.
Jorgensen became expendable when the Expos acquired first baseman Tony Pérez and was traded to the Oakland Athletics at the start of the 1977 season. Following one season with the A's, he signed as a free agent with the Texas Rangers.
Beanball incident
On May 28,, Jorgensen was hit in the head by a pitch from Boston Red Sox pitcher Andy Hassler. Dave Roberts entered the game to pinch run for Jorgensen, and Pat Putnam took over as the Rangers' regular first baseman for the next month. Excluding one pinch-hitting appearance on May 31, he did not play again until July 1. After suffering headaches, it was discovered he had a small blood clot inside his head, which apparently caused a seizure, and could have resulted in death. Following the season, he was traded back to the Mets to complete a mid-season deal in which the Mets had sent Willie Montañez to the Rangers for two players to be named later.On July 4,, Montreal Expos rookie Bill Gullickson sailed a pitch over Jorgensen's head in the second game of a doubleheader. Jorgensen motioned towards Gullickson in disapproval. Mets catcher John Stearns then charged out of the dugout and slammed Gullickson to the ground.