On This Day in Baseball

January 2

25 notable birthdays · 20 in memoriam

Born on January 2

Most accomplished baseball figures with this birthday, ranked by career impact.

01

Edgar Martinez ⭐ HOF b. 1963

.312 avg, 309 HR 1987–2004 New York, USA
02

José Méndez ⭐ HOF b. 1885

57-18, 2.80 ERA 1912–1926 Cardenas, Cuba
03

David Cone b. 1963

194-126, 3.46 ERA 1986–2003 Kansas City, USA
04

Greg Swindell b. 1965

123-122, 3.86 ERA 1986–2002 Fort Worth, USA
05

Fernando Tatis b. 1999

.279 avg, 177 HR 2019– San Pedro de Macoris, D.R.
06

Pinky Whitney b. 1905

.295 avg, 93 HR 1928–1939 San Antonio, USA
07

Red Kress b. 1905

.286 avg, 89 HR 1927–1946 Columbia, USA
08

Ted Strong b. 1917

.321 avg, 27 HR South Bend, USA
09

Kyle Stowers b. 1998

.248 avg, 52 HR 2022– El Cajon, USA
10

Ryan Garko b. 1981

.275 avg, 55 HR 2005–2010 Pittsburgh, USA
11

Reed Garrett b. 1993

MLB player 2019– Henrico, USA
12

Aaron Barrett b. 1988

MLB player 2014–2020 Evansville, USA
13

Spencer Arrighetti b. 2000

17-27, 4.79 ERA 2024– Albuquerque, USA
14

Jim Essian b. 1951

.244 avg, 33 HR 1973–1984 Detroit, USA
15

George Jackson b. 1882

.285 avg, 4 HR 1911–1913 Springfield, USA
16

Alonzo Mitchell b. 1905

4-8, 5.75 ERA Jacksonville, USA
17

Ed Keas b. 1863

3-3, 2.29 ERA 1888–1888 Dubuque, USA
18

Merlin Kopp b. 1892

.232 avg, 1 HR 1915–1919 Toledo, USA
19

Cliff Dapper b. 1920

.471 avg, 1 HR 1942–1942 Los Angeles, USA
20

Felix Jorge b. 1994

MLB player 2017–2017 Santiago, D.R.
21

Jesse Altenburg b. 1893

.290 avg, 0 HR 1916–1917 Ashley, USA
22

Eric Fornataro b. 1988

MLB player 2014–2014 Houston, USA
23

Royle Stillman b. 1951

.213 avg, 3 HR 1975–1977 Santa Monica, USA
24

Rick Greene b. 1971

.000 avg, 0 HR 1999–1999 Fort Knox, USA
25

Mike Metcalfe b. 1973

.077 avg, 0 HR 1998–2000 Quantico, USA

Remembered on January 2

Baseball figures lost on this date.

01

Bill Veeck ⭐ HOF 1914–1986

MLB player
02

Denny Lyons 1866–1929

.310 avg, 62 HR 1885–1897
03

Gerry Staley 1920–2008

134-111, 3.70 ERA 1947–1961
04

Daryl Spencer 1928–2017

.244 avg, 105 HR 1952–1963
05

Kid Gleason 1865–1933

138-131, 3.79 ERA 1888–1912
06

Larry Biittner 1946–2022

.273 avg, 29 HR 1970–1983
07

Bud Metheny 1915–2003

.247 avg, 31 HR 1943–1946
08

Jim Poole 1895–1975

.288 avg, 13 HR 1925–1927
09

Glenn Crawford 1913–1972

.291 avg, 2 HR 1945–1946
10

Don Elston 1929–1995

49-54, 3.69 ERA 1953–1964
11

Ken Gables 1919–1960

13-11, 4.69 ERA 1945–1947
12

George Lees 1895–1980

.214 avg, 0 HR 1921–1921
13

Joe Borden 1902–1973

.385 avg, 0 HR
14

Russ Dedeaux 1913–1956

.125 avg, 0 HR
15

Bert James 1886–1959

.286 avg, 0 HR 1909–1909
16

Bill Upton 1929–1987

MLB player 1954–1954
17

Hunkey Hines 1867–1928

.250 avg, 0 HR 1895–1895
18

Kenny Hogan 1902–1980

.000 avg, 0 HR 1921–1924
19

Harry Atkinson 1874–1953

.400 avg, 0 HR 1895–1895
20

Josef Koukalik 1880–1947

.000 avg, 0 HR 1904–1904

January 2 in the record

25 baseball figures born on January 2 are listed, led by Edgar Martinez. Hall of Famers among them: Edgar Martinez and José Méndez. From Ed Keas in 1863 to Spencer Arrighetti in 2000, the births cover a long stretch of the game. Next on the January 2 birthday list are José Méndez (b. 1885, 57-18, 2.80 ERA) and David Cone (b. 1963, 194-126, 3.46 ERA). Not every January 2 birthday is American-born: the list also covers Cuba and D.R. For January 2, the best-placed batter is Edgar Martinez at .312 avg, 309 HR; the best-placed pitcher, José Méndez, shows 57-18, 2.80 ERA. Fernando Tatis, Kyle Stowers, and Reed Garrett have no final season listed yet. 20 baseball figures died on January 2; Bill Veeck is listed first. Among those remembered, Bill Veeck was a Hall of Famer. Also remembered on January 2: Denny Lyons (1866–1929) and Gerry Staley (1920–2008). The deaths span 1928, Hunkey Hines, to 2022, Larry Biittner. Ranking on the January 2 page follows career impact, with Hall of Fame membership weighted heavily.