Sports Birthdays for December 14 — Craig Biggio and More
Here are some of the people in the sports world celebrating birthdays on December 14:
Charley Trippi
Age: 90
Profession: Retired NFL Player
Best Known For: A versatile halfback, quarterback and defender, Charley Trippi played for the Chicago Cardinals from 1947 to 1955. A two-time All-American at Georgia, Trippi was the subject of a bidding war between the AAFC's New York Giants and the NFL's Cardinals. He was a three-time All-Pro and a member of the Cardinals' team that won the NFL Championship in 1947. Trippi was named to the NFL 1940s All-Decade Team and inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968.
Stan Smith
Age: 66
Profession: Retired Tennis Player
Best Known For: A former world-ranked tennis player, Stan Smith won 36 singles titles from 1970 to 1985. Smith won the U.S. Open in 1971 and Wimbledon in 1972. Smith and partner Bob Lutz won five Grand Slam doubles titles. Adidas named a basic, white tennis shoe after Smith that is still popular decades after his retirement. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987.
Bill Buckner
Age: 63
Profession: Retired MLB Player
Best Known For: An All-Star first baseman, Bill Buckner played with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, California Angels and Kansas City Royals from 1969 to 1990. Buckner's error at first base for the Red Sox in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series allowed the winning run to score for the Mets, tying the series at three games apiece. Buckner was the National League batting champ in 1980 while with the Cubs.
Craig Biggio
Age: 47
Profession: Retired MLB Player
Best Known For: A seven-time All-Star, Craig Biggio played catcher, second base and outfield for the Houston Astros from 1988 to 2007. Biggio won four Gold Glove Awards for his defense and five Silver Slugger Awards as the best offensive player in the league at his position. He finished his career with more than 3,000 hits and holds the modern record for most times hit by a pitch in a career with 285.
Shaun Marcum
Age: 31
Profession: MLB Player
Best Known For: Shaun Marcum is a starting pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers. He previously played with the Toronto Blue Jays from 2005 to 2010.