Wood vs. Wood #304

Last time it was another easy win for 1987, 8-2. Will this be closer?

Dick "Turk" Farrell is shown in his Dodgers uniform but is listed with the expansion Houston Colts (aka Colt 45s), who drafted him before the '62 season. Farrell came up with the Phillies in '56 and quickly became one of the better relievers in the National League. After a rough start to the 1961 season he was traded to the Dodgers, and after the season LA let him get drafted by Houston. The Colt 45's turned him into a starter and he pitched very well in '62, becoming the first All Star for the team. In 43 games (29 starts) he had a 3.02 ERA and 203 strikeouts, though the team was so bad he went only 10-20. He had several more good years for Houston, before being sold to Philly in 1967. He spent the last three years of his career where it started, in the Phillies' bullpen. Overall in 590 games (134 starts) he went 106-111 with 83 saves and a 3.45 ERA. After his career, he worked in the oil industry, a job that took him to England, where he was killed in a car accident in June of 1977. While with the Phillies in 1958, Farrell got a woman pregnant, who raised the child thinking a different man was his father. That boy grew up to be a major leaguer himself. Former Yankee Richard Dotson discovered that he was Richard Farrell's son in 2020 via DNA testing.

By the time 1987 rolled around the Colts had long since grown up to be Astros. Team fan-favorite Phil Garner, in a somewhat unusual shaved look, takes a ground ball in fielding practice.  A three-time All-Star, Phil Garner was a good defensive second baseman with speed and a little power. He played in 16 games for five teams, mostly the A's, Pirates and Astros. In 1,860 games he hit .260 with 109 HR, 738 RBI and 225 SB. He had a long career as a manager as well, for 15 seasons with the Brewers, Tigers and Astros, going 985-1,054, winning a pennant with the Astros in 2005. In February of 2024 Garner was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer but has stayed active, throwing out the first pitch on his birthday at a game in Houston in May.