On this date in Giants history—Jan. 21

Happy birthday to former San Francisco Giants pitcher and current broadcaster Mike Krukow, pictured left. The Polish Prince turns the big 6-0 today.

Candle-blowing wishes and high fives to shortstop Brandon Crawford and minor league outfielder Roger Kieschnick, too, who both turn 25 today.

There are just 29 days remaining until pitchers and catchers report to spring training.

On this date in Giants history…

1933: Future Hall of Fame pitcher Waite Hoyt is signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates after being waived by the New York Giants.

1947: A rule change that allows voting only for players who were active after 1921 produces four new Hall of Fame members: catcher Mickey Cochrane, second baseman Frankie Frisch, and pitchers Lefty Grove and Carl Hubbell, all former Most Valuable Players and World Series winners. Hubbell, who played for the Giants from 1928-’43 (his entire career), was forbidden by Ty Cobb to throw his screwball in Detroit’s farm system, but used it to win 253 games for the New York Giants.

1987: Free agent pitcher Vida Blue (who played for the Giants from 1978–’81, 1985–’86) comes to terms with his original team, the Oakland A’s, but will surprise them the following month by announcing his retirement.

2009: Jeff Kent (who played for the Giants from 1997–2002) retires. He hit 351 home runs as a second baseman in the majors, claiming the record for the position by 74 over his nearest competitor, Ryne Sandberg. A five-time All-Star and the 2000 National League MVP, Kent (pictured, right) clubbed 377 homers overall (175 as a Giant) and batted .290 in a 17-year career.

(Entries courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com)