Happy Birthday 11/17

Happy Birthday to ~

OF/1B Jon Kemmer (24)
Drafted by the Astros in the 21st round in 2013 out of Brewton-Parker College in Mount Vernon, Georgia, Kemmer split his 2014 season between Quad Cities and Lancaster. In 91 games between the two venues, he hit .291/.345/.523 with 25 doubles, two triples, sixteen home runs and 50 RBI. An injury (broken fibula) in late August ended his season early.

Several former Astros mark the day as well ~

OF Trevor Crowe (31)
Originally drafted by Cleveland in the first round in 2005, Crowe came to Houston as a free agent in November 2012. In 60 games for Houston in 2013, he hit .218/.287/.291. He last played in the Detroit minor league system, but was released by that team in July 2014.

LHP Mitch "Wild Thing" Williams (50)
An eighth round pick by San Diego in 1982, Williams came to Houston in a December 1993 trade with the Phillies. He pitched in 25 games for Houston in 1994 with a 7.65 ERA and a 2.250 WHIP. His best season was his All-Star season with Chicago in 1989 when he had a 2.76 ERA in 76 appearances for the Cubbies. Here's a "video" with still photos showing his eccentric buried head wind-up and his fall-off-the-mound delivery.  About 45 seconds in, you can see him in all his full mulleted glory wearing Astros gear.

RHP Bruce Von Hoff (died September 11, 2012 at 68)
Von Hoff was drafted from the Giants in 1964 and pitched in 13 games for Houston in 1965 and 1967 with a 5.06 ERA and a 1.594 WHIP.

RHP Dan Osinski (died September 13, 2013 at 79)
Purchased from the White Sox in December 1969, Osinski pitched in only three games for Houston at the end of his career in 1970 with a 9.82 ERA and a 1.909 WHIP. In eight seasons for six different teams, he had a 3.34 ERA and a 1.391 WHIP in 324 appearances.

RHP Jim Mann (40)
Mann signed with Houston as a free agent in January of 2001 and pitched in 21 games for the Astros in 2001 and 2002 with a 3.95 ERA and a 1.207 WHIP.

IF Scott Moore (31)
Drafted out of a Long Beach, California high school in the first round by Detroit in 2002, Moore signed with Houston as a free agent in November 2011. In 72 games for the Astros in 2012, he hit .259/.330/.448 with 11 doubles and nine home runs. He played in the Cardinals minor league system
in 2014.

Also, a Very Happy Birthday to friend of WTHB and sometimes blogger, none other than the extremely brilliant, highly excitable, ever passionate and over-the-top humorous Houston Sports Counterplot, aka Andy (aka the guy that brought you Jeff Luhnow in a Lady Gaga meat dress).