Al Rosen
(1924-2015)
“The Hebrew Hammer” played 10 seasons for the Cleveland Indians, hitting 192 home runs and wining the 1953 AL MVP award. He also served as CEO of the Yankees and Astros and was GM of the Giants during the 1989 World Series run.
Pepper Martin
(1904-1965)
Martin played 13 years for the Cardinals and was a four-time All-Star.
Terrence Long
(1976-)
Long played in the majors for eight seasons and was runner up to Kazuhiro Sasaki for the 2000 AL Rookie of the Year award.
Stefan Crichton
(1992-)
The righthanded Diamondbacks pitcher will celebrate his 28th birthday in spring training. He went 1-0 with a 3.56 ERA over 30.1 innings for Arizona last season.
Henri Richard
(1936- )
The best athlete ever born on February 29, Richard won a record 11 Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens. The brother of Maurice Richard, Henri was nicknamed the “Pocket Rocket” because he stands 5-foot-7. He was named one of the NHL’s 100 greatest players in 2017.
Simon Gagne
(1980-)
Gagne was a four-time All-Star and played 14 seasons in the NHL. He played with the Flyers his first 10 seasons and won the Stanley Cup with the Kings in 2012.
Cam Ward
(1984-)
Ward burst into the NHL as a 21-year-old rookie, leading the Carolina Hurricanes to a Stanley Cup championship and winning the Conn Smythe trophy. After 13 seasons in Carolina, Ward played one year with the Blackhawks and then retired.
Chucky Brown
(1968-)
Brown was the ultimate NBA journeyman, playing for 12 teams over 13 seasons. He won a NBA title with the Houston Rockets in 1995
Dick Wood
(1936-2015)
Wood was a quarterback for five different AFL teams during the ’60s and was the first quarterback in Miami Dolphins history. After his playing days, he embarked on an assistant coaching career that spanned four decades.
Bryce Paup
(1968-)
Paup was an outside linebacker for 11 NFL seasons and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1995 after recording 17.5 sacks with the Bills. Paup is currently the defensive line coach at Northern Iowa, his alma mater.
Eric Kendricks
(1992-)
Kendricks has been a linebacker for Vikings for five years and is coming off his first All-Pro season. He turns 28 on Leap Day.
Taylor Twellman
(1980-)
It’s a big birthday for the former MLS All-Star and current soccer commentator. He turns 40 this year — or is it 10?
Cullen Jones
(1984-)
Jones won two gold and two silver medals while competing for the U.S. swim team at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. He was part of the famed 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay team kept Michael Phelps’ hopes alive for eight medals in Beijing.
Monte Kiffin
(1940-)
A longtime coach in the NFL, Kiffin is best known for being the defensive coordinator of the Super Bowl-winning Buccaneers team. He is the father of Ole Miss coach, Lane Kiffin.