#14 Jose Baez, 2nd Base

If you were an 18 year old kid in the Dominican Republic in 1972, what would you do if the Los Angeles Dodgers offered you a chance? Like anyone you would jump at the opportunity. That's exactly what came Jose's way. It would take some work, but Jose would work his way up to AAA with the Dodgers but hardly any hope of cracking the roster with Dave Lopes entrenched at second base in a top notch infield. Jose would be sold to the new expansion Seattle Mariners with a chance to play everyday. Jose would make the most of his chance taking the majority of time at second. Jose does hold the distinction of collecting the first hit in Mariners history. As the #2 hitter in the bottom of the first inning, Jose would collect a single to right field off Frank Tanana. After having a very slow start to the 1978 season, the Mariners would trade Jose to the St. Louis Cardinals for a player to be named later. Mr. Baez would never make it to the Cardinals, and would be released before the 1979 season. After spending two seasons between the Dominican and Mexico, Jose would hang it up as a player. Jose would do some time as a hitting coach in Fort Wayne in the 90's and also worked in the Nationals Dominican developmental system. Jose would eventually be fired by Washington in a messy situation involving players lying about their ages.

 

#2 Julio Cruz, 2nd Base

1. After coming up in the California Angels system, the Mariners took a chance on Julio in the expansion draft after the 1976 season. While playing on loan to the AAA Hawaii Islanders, Julio was Called up and made his debut with Seattle on July 4th during the 1977 season in the Kingdome against the Chicago White Sox. Julio would bat lead off and go 2 for 3 on that first day. One of the first bigger stars in Seattle would become a staple in the Mariners infield until in June of 1983 when Julio was ironically traded to the White Sox for a slightly younger Tony Bernazard who was thought to be a better 2nd baseman. Tony made it through 1983 and was shipped to Cleveland for another 2nd baseman in Jack Perconte along with DH Gorman Thomas. Julio Retired as a player after the 1986 season on the South Side. He has been doing the Spanish play by play for the Mariners since the early 1990's and is still active in the community in the Seattle area.

#10 Larry Haney, Catcher/ #10 John Donaldson, 2B

There were two #10's for the Pilots in 1969. Cather Larry Haney started the season with the Pilots. He was famous for his 1969 Topps card being a reverse negative of his 1968 card

 

courtesy of seattlepilots.com

courtesy of baseball-almanac.com

Larry would be traded to the Athletics during the season for second baseman John Donaldson.

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courtesy of baseball-almanac.com

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Two men that were traded for each other would wear the same number for the one year team in Seattle.