MLB Opening Day Countdown: #78

Four MLB players from four different franchises have worn today’s number 78 as we continue our countdown to opening day with a look at each of those players as well as the ’78 World Series.

In keeping with our longstanding tradition (two posts now!) of starting with the most recognizable name on the list, we’ll take a look at Los Angeles Dodgers southpaw Julio Urias, who started last season in every major publication’s top six in their prospect rankings. After making his MLB debut in Queens on May 27, Urias made another 17 appearances, finishing the year with 15 starts and entered three times out of the bullpen for a 3.39 ERA. The start against the Mets would be the only one in which Urias would wear the number 78, switching to number 7 in time for his second start against the Cubs.

Considering the fact that Urias was just 19 when he debuted and will be playing in his age 20 season in 2017, there is a lot for Dodgers fans to be excited about here.

Sometimes it’s hard to figure out why a player changes numbers so often. Blaine Boyer has worn eight different numbers across seven organizations. It all began with the number 48 for Boyer back in 2005 with the Atlanta Braves. In 2006 Boyer returned, wearing the number 78 and pitched a total of 2/3 of an inning before his season ended due to surgery. He returned to the number 48 the year after.

Boyer has played for the Cardinals, Diamondbacks, Mets, Padres, Twins and Brewers since his Atlanta days, and has had a different number at each stop outside of his stint in Milwaukee, where he returned to his original number 48 and threw more innings than in any other season besides his 2008 campaign.

After a short stint with the San Francisco Giants in 2007 wearing the number 39, Guillermo Rodriguez reappeared two years later in Baltimore for seven plate appearances and a new number. He went 0-for-7 with two walks, a run scored and a run batted in. Rodriguez was on the same team, albeit for a short stint, as Aubrey Huff, who would join the Giants in 2010 as a free agent and finish 7th in the MVP voting. Rich Hill was also on this Oriole club, but after 13 starts and a 7.80 ERA he was off the 25-man roster a couple of months before Rodriguez arrived. Hill’s departure was not due to ineffectiveness, however, but instead due to left shoulder inflammation that ended his season in July. The two also missed each other in Triple-A Norfolk.

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Finally, the last player to have donned the number 78 in MLB history was Justin Thomas back in 2012 with the Boston Red Sox. Thomas made seven appearances out of the bullpen for Boston in April of that year and earned a 7.71 ERA across 4 2/3 innings. He was claimed by the Yankees off waivers in May of that year and made four appearances out of their bullpen in September. That was the last time Thomas pitched in the big leagues. He signed with the A’s and Angels the next two seasons but was relegated to pitching in Triple-A for each club where he transitioned from the bullpen back to starter. At the end of each season Thomas was playing in Japan with both the Nippon Ham Fighters (’13) and Kia Tigers (’14).

The 1978 World Series was won in a throwback series of sorts. After facing off nine times in the past, and after having crowned Reggie Jackson “Mr. October” the previous year when these teams met up, this was a chance for the Dodgers to get their revenge. Well, they didn’t, losing to the Yankees by the same series score as in ’77, 4-2.

Next: Rangers Sign Ross

Of course before the events of the World Series, there was another player who earned a new nickname on the Yankees–Bucky *bleeping* Dent. Bucky Dent finished his career with 40 home runs in 12 seasons, never hitting more than eight in a given year. But it was Dent that made sure the Bronx Bombers were even in the playoffs after his 3-run, soul-crushing homer against the Sox in game 163 set up a date between New York and Kansas City in the ALCS. Dent would also take home World Series MVP honors after going 10-for-24 (.417) with seven RBI. Mr. October would be right there with him, driving home eight and batting .391, while Thurman Munson also drove in seven while batting .320.

Munson would pass away in a plane crash less than a year later. His number 15 was retired by the Yankees in 1979.