Happy Baseball Birthday. ..Kurt Bevacqua

Today's Happy Baseball Birthday is former big leaguer Kurt Bevacqua.

Kurt Anthony Bevacqua was born on January 23, 1947, in Miami Beach, Florida, attended North MiamI-Dade High School,  and Miami-Dade College.


Kurt was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 4th round of the 1967 Amateur Baseball Draft.



Kurt played big league baseball for 15 years, making his big league debut on June 22, 1971, for the Cleveland Indians.



Kurt collected 490 hits, including 90 doubles,  27 home runs,  and 275 RBI playing for the Tribe, Royals, Rangers, Pirates, Brewers, and Padres, between 1971-1985.



Kurt was an important part of the 1984 San Diego Padres National League Championship team.



Kurt homered of Detroit Tigers pitcher Dan Petry in Game 2 of the '84 World Series, helping the Padres to their only win of the Series.



Besides that Fall Classic home run, I'll always remember Kurt Bevacqua as the one, and only winner of the  Joe Garagiola Bazooka Bubble Gum Blowing Championship.





The event was so awesome that Bevacqua appeared on Topps Baseball Card #564 in the 1976 set, showing Kurt, then playing for the Brewers, blowing the winning bubble.



Its one of my favorite baseball cards ever.

Kurt played his final big league ballgame on October 6, 1985, at the age of 38.



Happy Baseball Birthday Kurt Bevacqua!!


PLAY BALL!