On This Day in Baseball

May 15

25 notable birthdays · 19 in memoriam

Born on May 15

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

01

John Smoltz ⭐ HOF b. 1967

213-155, 3.33 ERA 1988–2009 Detroit, USA
02

George Brett ⭐ HOF b. 1953

.305 avg, 317 HR 1973–1993 Glen Dale, USA
03

Josh Beckett b. 1980

138-106, 3.88 ERA 2001–2014 Spring, USA
04

Justin Morneau b. 1981

.281 avg, 247 HR 2003–2016 New Westminster, CAN
05

Tip O'Neill b. 1860

16-16, 3.39 ERA 1883–1892 Springfield, CAN
06

Michael Brantley b. 1987

.298 avg, 129 HR 2009–2023 Bellevue, USA
07

Brian Dozier b. 1987

.244 avg, 192 HR 2012–2020 Tupelo, USA
08

Al McBean b. 1938

67-50, 3.13 ERA 1961–1970 Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands
09

Alex Verdugo b. 1996

.270 avg, 70 HR 2017– Tucson, USA
10

Rafael Perez b. 1982

.000 avg, 0 HR 2006–2012 Santo Domingo, D.R.
11

Steve Woodard b. 1975

32-36, 4.94 ERA 1997–2003 Hartselle, USA
12

Harry Salisbury b. 1855

24-24, 2.55 ERA 1879–1882 Providence, USA
13

Bill North b. 1948

.261 avg, 20 HR 1971–1981 Seattle, USA
14

Eddie Dixon b. 1916

8-8, 3.82 ERA Bonifay, USA
15

Jimmy Wasdell b. 1914

.273 avg, 29 HR 1937–1947 Cleveland, USA
16

Kody Clemens b. 1996

.220 avg, 60 HR 2022– Houston, USA
17

Trevor Richards b. 1993

24-29, 4.43 ERA 2018– Aviston, USA
18

Steve Yerkes b. 1888

.268 avg, 6 HR 1909–1916 Hatboro, USA
19

Tyler Walker b. 1976

.000 avg, 0 HR 2002–2010 San Francisco, USA
20

Isidro Fabré b. 1895

26-29, 4.42 ERA Havana, Cuba
21

Joe Evans b. 1895

.259 avg, 3 HR 1915–1925 Meridian, USA
22

Rafael Ortega b. 1991

.245 avg, 22 HR 2012– El Tigre, Venezuela
23

Julius Osley b. 1915

.286 avg, 0 HR Acmar, USA
24

Luther O'Neal b. 1889

.203 avg, 0 HR Lincoln County, USA
25

Graham Koonce b. 1975

.125 avg, 0 HR 2003–2003 El Cajon, USA

Remembered on May 15

Baseball figures lost on this date.

01

Goose Goslin ⭐ HOF 1900–1971

.316 avg, 248 HR 1921–1938
02

Ed Swartwood 1859–1924

.300 avg, 14 HR 1881–1892
03

Bob Kuzava 1923–2017

49-44, 4.05 ERA 1946–1957
04

George Fisher 1899–1994

.335 avg, 8 HR 1923–1932
05

Jake Hewitt 1870–1959

.167 avg, 0 HR 1895–1895
06

John Taff 1890–1961

.200 avg, 0 HR 1913–1913
07

Johnny Gooch 1897–1975

.280 avg, 7 HR 1921–1933
08

Ken Jones 1903–1991

.200 avg, 0 HR 1924–1930
09

Andy Jackson 1865–1900

.246 avg, 1 HR
10

Packy Rogers 1913–1998

.189 avg, 0 HR 1938–1938
11

Ed Gerner 1897–1970

.167 avg, 0 HR 1919–1919
12

Shag Shaughnessy 1883–1969

.281 avg, 0 HR 1905–1908
13

Ken Ramos 1967–2016

.000 avg, 0 HR 1997–1997
14

Nick Goulish 1916–1984

.250 avg, 0 HR 1944–1945
15

Dixie Parker 1895–1972

.200 avg, 0 HR 1923–1923
16

Fred Johnston 1899–1959

.250 avg, 0 HR 1924–1924
17

Larry Milton 1879–1942

.500 avg, 0 HR 1903–1903
18

William Lackey 1870–1941

.000 avg, 0 HR 1890–1890
19

John Traffley 1862–1900

.500 avg, 0 HR 1889–1889

May 15 in the record

The birthday list for May 15 has 25 names, headed by John Smoltz. The HOF tag marks John Smoltz and George Brett. From Harry Salisbury in 1855 to Alex Verdugo in 1996, the births cover a long stretch of the game. The May 15 list continues with George Brett (b. 1953, .305 avg, 317 HR) and Josh Beckett (b. 1980, 138-106, 3.88 ERA). CAN, U.S. Virgin Islands, D.R., and Cuba are also represented among the May 15 births. Career lines shown range from George Brett's .305 avg, 317 HR to John Smoltz's 213-155, 3.33 ERA on the mound. Alex Verdugo, Kody Clemens, and Trevor Richards have no final season listed yet. 19 baseball figures died on May 15; Goose Goslin is listed first. The HOF tag on the May 15 memorial list goes to Goose Goslin. Also remembered on May 15: Ed Swartwood (1859–1924) and Bob Kuzava (1923–2017). Andy Jackson (1900) and Bob Kuzava (2017) bracket the memorial list. The May 15 order reflects the site's career-impact ranking, and every name opens the player's profile.