Were there ever players you knew about as a kid that you sort of assumed were big stars and were shocked to find out they weren’t? For us, Ozzie Virgil Sr. fit that bill.
We’d seen him on the 1985 Topps father/son card with Ozzie Jr., who at the time wasn’t a half bad power hitting catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies and later the Atlanta Braves who ultimately would make 2 All-Star appearances.
As a 9 year old, we assumed that his dad Ozzie Sr. had to be even better to warrant commemoration on a father/son card. But it turns out Virgil the elder was a stronger coach than he was a player, and he spent 19 seasons coaching with the Giants, Padres, Expos and Mariners.
Nevertheless, he was so well thought of in his native Dominican Republic that an airport, Osvaldo Virgil National Airport in Monte Cristi Province, was named in his honor.
Today is Ozzie Sr.’s 92nd birthday, and he’ll forever be a superstar in our books. Who is your favorite “I thought he was a big star” who actually was more average than you thought?
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