Birthday Bash - Baseball Edition

Now for a special edition of Birthday Bash - baseball.  For the sake of keeping order in the post, I will start with the oldest and work my way to the youngest.

A true pioneer in every sense of the word and a man who changed the game forever, Jackie Robinson would have turned 92 today.  If you don't know his story, you need to seriously reconsider your existence.

(courtesy of MLB)

Here's a few factoids for you less-educated baseball people out there, by the numbers style: 
1st:  Black player in MLB history (1947)
42:  His number, retired by the MLB for all players except Mariano Rivera
6: World Series appearances
1: World Series championship (1955)
6: Consecutive All-Star Game appearances (1949-1954)
.311: Career batting average in 10 MLB seasons

Happy Birthday Mr. Jackie Robinson, may you rest in peace.  You've a legend.

"Mr. Cub" Ernie Banks turns 80 today.  This 14-time All-Star has his #14 retired by the Chicago Cubs (on a flag flown at all games at Wrigley Field) and is a proud member of the MLB Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.  You think Ernie Banks and you think of the Chicago Cubs.  He had himself a stellar playing career:  2x NL MVP (1958, 1959), 1960 Gold Glove Award winner, 512 career HR's, 2,583 career hits, and 1,636 career RBI's.  Happy Birthday Mr. Cub.

"The Ryan Express" turns 64 today.  And based on some of the first pitches he's thrown out in recent games, he can probably still get some guys out.  This guy has staggering numbers from his playing career, including one royal ass-kicking of a young, brash Robin Ventura back in August of 1993.  Straight headlock to punching bag.

He definitely deserves a by the numbers look:
8: All-Star Game selections
5,714: Strikeouts (leads Randy Johnson by almost 1,000 for the all-time mark)
3: # of teams who retired his number (Texas Rangers #34, Houston Astros #34, Los Angeles Angels #30)
7: Career No-Hitters - this number will never be broken (Sandy Koufax is 2nd with 4)
3.19: Career ERA in 5,386 innings
27: Seasons played

Happy Birthday Nolan Ryan.  You gave hitters the business.

Hope you learned a little more about baseball today.  Go to the bar tonight and flaunt your new found knowledge of America's PastTime. 

And here's a few other notable folks who share their birthday with baseball greatness:  Musician and actor who brought sexy back Justin Timberlake (30); The voice of Jane in Disney's Tarzan, actress Minnie Driver (40); Miss USA 1997 and former Barker's Beauty Brandi Sherwood (40); former Sex Pistols rocker Johnny "Rotten" Lydon (55); and rock guitarist Phil Manzanera of Roxy Music fame (60).

Good day to you and yours.