Ryan Minor, 2001 Fleer Triple Crown #179

Can you believe that it's Ryan Minor's 40th birthday already? Don't worry; I didn't get him anything either. Here's some enlightening facts about the busted Oriole prospect-turned-minor league manager:

-He never hit a major league homer with a runner on base. He only hit five round-trippers total: three solo shots with the O's in 1999 and a pair of solo blasts with the Expos in 2001.

-Ryan hit the first home run in Lancaster Barnstormers history on May 17, 2005.

-His brother Damon, a first baseman who played parts of four seasons with the Giants, was born on the same date: January 5, 1974. What are the odds? ;-)

Ryan Minor, 1999 Topps #293

There's something incredibly eerie and lonely about this photo. Ryan Minor is just readying himself for a line drive down the first base line, but because of the zoom and the angle, it looks like he's the only man left standing on the diamond. There's nothing but arid infield dirt, dull outfield grass, and a man's own shadow. He remains vigilant against an opponent that may never come.

Ryan Minor, 1999 Pacific Private Stock #116

Hey kids, Happy Ryan Minor Day!

Ryan Minor, 2000 Fleer Autographics #NNO

I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date, so please enjoy this autographed card of former Orioles bust and current Delmarva Shorebirds hitting coach Ryan Minor with no commentary attached.

Ryan Minor, 1999 Upper Deck MVP #29

This card creates the only situation in which you'll ever see "Ryan Minor" and "MVP" mentioned in the same breath. But I sort of feel for the guy. He was clearly the victim of the hype of others. If you look at his minor league stats, there's nothing there to justify the hopes and dreams that the Orioles held for him. As a 23-year-old in 1997, he had a .918 OPS with 24 home runs at low Single-A. As has often been the case, everyone got all hot and bothered over him and skipped him past Frederick the next year. So he posts a .295 on-base percentage at Bowie in 1998, strikes out more than he hits (152 K, 130 H), and...gets a September call-up to Baltimore? Ooookay.

Any remaining chance that Minor had of developing into a hitter may have been dashed against the rocks on September 20, 1998. One week after the guy makes his major league debut, he has the thankless job of replacing Cal Ripken, Jr. on the first day that #8 takes a break in sixteen years. No pressure or anything, fella. Ten years later, his brief career has been reduced to a trivia tidbit. At least Babe Dahlgren had a decent career and played in a World Series after he relieved Lou Gehrig in 1939.

Speaking of trivia, the O's traded Minor to the Expos in December 2000 for a flamethrowing pitcher named Jorge Julio. In the end, that's probably the most legitimate reason for Birds fans to associate Ryan Minor with suffering and anguish.