It Was Christmas' Time in the City

Come children and gather 'round so that I might tell you the real, true story about Christmas... Steve Christmas.

Though his name sound likes a jumping off point for a terrible holiday cash-in type movie like Fred Claus, I assure you that it is not.

Jolly old Steve played got three separate and very brief call-ups for the Reds, White Sox and Cubs in 1983-84 and 1986.  All told, the festive back up catcher played in a total of 24 games and batted a whopping 1.62 in 37 AB's.

Christmas did save the day once with his own moment in the sun. While with the White Sox, he hit his only big league home run. Of course, because baseball, it was a tie-breaking, pinch-hit, three-run big fly against the hated Twins in September of 1984. A true Christmas miracle!

The man of the day as part of the White Sox org

Scan borrowed from the Trading Card Database

Meanwhile, his stint with the team on the other side of town came as his sunset, playing in three April games as an injury replacement, going 1 for 9 in the process.  I don't know what ended his brief tenure, but I do believe I once read that he was then injured himself and never made it back up.  There just isn't really a lot of information floating around about third string catchers on fifth place teams from 30 years ago, believe it or not.

That quick cuppacoffee (or was it hot cocoa?) was enough to get his likeness into the team-issued set, sponsored by Gatorade, given away by the Cubs that year.  Therefore, I can now spread the joy of (Steve) Christmas on my blog three decades later.

Anyway, here's wishing whoever is taking the time to read this rambling a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, good tidings to all and all of that.... why are you reading this?  Go be with your family!

I'll close with my favorite Christmas song, sans Steve.  It's a little too dark to be carol-ready; but, being the cynical guy I am, that's why I like it.