Sports Birthdays for August 17 — Dustin Pedroia and More
Here are some of the people in the sports world celebrating birthdays on August 17:
Boog Powell
Age: 71
Profession: Retired MLB Player
Best Known For: A four-time All-Star, Boog Powell was a slugging first-baseman for the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Dodgers from 1961 to 1977. Powell was on the Orioles’ World Series-winning teams in 1966 and 1970. After hitting 35 home runs and driving in 114 runs in 1970, Powell was selected the American League’s Most Valuable Player. After retiring as a player, Powell was featured in a series of Miller Lite beer commercials with umpire Jim Honochick, who pretended to have eyesight so poor that he only recognized Powell after getting very close.
Nelson Piquet
Age: 60
Profession: Retired Formula One Driver
Best Known For: A winner of three Formula One racing championships, Nelson Piquet won 23 races on the circuit from 1978 to 1991 while driving for Ensign, McLaren, Brabham, Williams, Lotus and Benetton.
Dottie Pepper
Age: 47
Profession: LPGA Golfer / Broadcaster
Best Known For: A winner of 17 LPGA Tour events from 1988 to 2004, Dottie Pepper, then competing as Dottie Mochrie, won two major championships: the 1992 and 1999 Nabisco Dinah Shores, where her 19-under-par finish is lowest ever in a major championship on the women’s tour. Pepper finished in the top 10 in 10 of the 11 seasons between 1991 and 2001. She currently does commentary for NBC and The Golf Channel.
Christian Laettner
Age: 43
Profession: Retired NBA Player
Best Known For: One of the most successful college players of all-time, Christian Laettner was a star on the Duke teams that won consecutive NCAA basketball titles in 1991 and 1992. Laettner hit a famous game-winning shot to beat Kentucky in the East Regional final of the 1992 tournament. As the 1992 National Player of the Year, Laettner was the only collegiate player selected for the 1992 US Olympic basketball ‘Dream Team.’ After being selected by Minnesota with the third-overall pick of the 1992 NBA Draft, Laettner played with the Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks, Washington Wizards and Miami Heat from 1992 to 2005. Laettner was selected to the NBA All-Rookie Team in 1993 and was an NBA All-Star in 1997. He was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.
Jim Courier
Age: 42
Profession: Retired Tennis Player
Best Known For: The youngest man to reach the finals of all four Grand Slam singles tournaments, Jim Courier was the world No.1-ranked tennis player in 1992. From 1988 to 2000, Courier won 23 tournaments, including four men’s Grand Slam singles titles. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2005.
Jorge Posada
Age: 41
Profession: Retired MLB Player
Best Known For: A five-time All-Star catcher, Jorge Posada played with the New York Yankees from 1995 to 2011. Posada was a key member of the Yankees’ World Series-winning teams from 1998-2000 and 2009. From 2000 to 2011, Posada had more home runs and runs batted in than any other catcher in baseball.
Dustin Pedroia
Age: 29
Profession: MLB Player
Best Known For: A three-time All-Star second-baseman, Dustin Pedroia has played for the Boston Red Sox since 2006. Pedroia won the American League Rookie of the Year in 2007 while helping the Red Sox to a World Series victory over the Colorado Rockies. He was named the American League’s Most Valuable Player in 2008, while winning both the AL Silver Slugger and Gold Glove Award at second base.
Rudy Gay
Age: 26
Profession: NBA Player
Best Known For: Rudy Gay plays small forward for the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA. After a successful college career at Connecticut, Gay was selected by the Houston Rockets with the eighth-overall pick of the 2006 NBA Draft. After being traded to Memphis during the draft, Gay has excelled. He was named to the 2007 NBA All-Rookie Team.
Tyrus Thomas
Age: 26
Profession: NBA Player
Best Known For: Tyrus Thomas is a power forward for the Charlotte Bobcats of the NBA. Thomas has been in the NBA since 2006, previously playing with the Chicago Bulls. Thomas played college basketball at LSU, where he was named the Most Valuable Player of the Atlanta Regional during his school’s Final Four run.