This monster cold/virus/whatphlegmyever is wreaking havoc with my blogging schedule. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. With any luck, I'll be breathing normally some time before November. I was actually willing and able to post to both blogs today, and the latest
1993 Topps subject is Mr. John Habyan. In researching that entry, I discovered that Habyan's first big league win came under unusual circumstances. The date was
October 3, 1985, and the O's were hosting the nightcap of a doubleheader with Boston. Despite an early two-run homer from Larry Sheets, the Birds had fallen into a 6-4 hole when the rookie righthander was called upon with the bases loaded and nobody out. (Thank the bullpen dream team of Nate Snell and Brad Havens, who made that mess!) Red Sox batter Marty Barrett greeted Habyan with a run-scoring single to make it 7-4, but the youngster was able to retire the next three hitters to strand three runners. Errors by Tom O'Malley and Cal Ripken in the eighth inning saddled Habyan with an unearned run, giving Boston a four-run edge.
Just when things looked bleak, the Boston bullpen intervened. In the bottom of the eighth, a Floyd Rayford pinch single and a Rick Dempsey two-run homer cut the margin to 8-7 and helped chase Tim Lollar from the mound. Steve Crawford fared no better for the BoSox, loading the bases with an assist from backup third baseman Ed Jurak, who had just come in to give Wade Boggs a breather. Eddie Murray did the rest, clubbing a two-run double to give the O's a 9-8 lead. Don Aase nailed down the save with a perfect ninth, and young John Habyan had his first-ever MLB win. All it took was a five-run rally. Piece of cake.
