Sports Birthdays for August 7 — Sidney Crosby and More
Here are some of the people in the sports world celebrating birthdays on August 7:
Don Larsen
Age: 83
Profession: Retired MLB Player
Best Known For: The Most Valuable Player of the 1956 World Series while playing for the New York Yankees, Don Larsen pitched the only perfect game in Major League Baseball postseason and World Series history in Game 5 against the Brooklyn Dodgers. A journeyman starter for seven MLB teams from 1953 to 1967, Larsen finished his career with a record of 81-91.
Alan Page
Age: 67
Profession: Retired NFL Player
Best Known For: A nine-time Pro Bowl selection, Alan Page was a dominant defensive tackle with the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears from 1967 to 1981. Page was the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1971 and the NFC Defensive Player of the Year in 1970 and 1971. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988. Page is currently an associate justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court.
Alberto Salazar
Age: 54
Profession: Retired Marathon Runner
Best Known For: A Cuban immigrant to the United States, Alberto Salazar won three consecutive New York City Marathons from 1980 to 1982 and the Boston Marathon in 1982. Salazar also set American track records in the 5,000- and 10,000-meters in 1982.
Edgar Renteria
Age: 37
Profession: Retired MLB Player
Best Known For: A five-time All-Star shortstop, Edgar Renteria played for the Florida Marlins, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers, San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds from 1996 to 2011. A three-time SIlver Slugger Award winner as the best offensive player at his position, Renteria also won two Gold Glove Awards for his defense. Renteria was a member of World Series championship teams with the Marlins in 1997, when he drove in the winning run in Game 7, and the Giants in 2010, when he was selected the Most Valuable Player of the World Series.
Shane Lechler
Age: 36
Profession: NFL Player
Best Known For: A nine-time All-Pro selection, Shane Lechler is the NFL’s all-time leader in career punting average. Lechler has played for the Oakland Raiders since being selected in the fifth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He was selected to the NFL’s 2000s All-Decade Team.
Sidney Crosby
Age: 25
Profession: NHL Player
Best Known For: A four-time All-Star center, Sidney Crosby is one of the best hockey players in the world. Having spent his entire professional career with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Crosby was selected to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 2006. In 2007, Crosby won the Art Ross Trophy as the league’s leading scorer, the Lester B. Pearson Award as the peer-voted best player and the Hart Trophy as the NHL MVP. Crosby was a member of the Penguins’ team that won the Stanley Cup in 2009. Crosby also led the Canadian Olympic hockey team to the gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, scoring the game-winning goal against the USA in overtime of the championship game.
Beanie Wells
Age: 24
Profession: NFL Player
Best Known For: Beanie Wells is a running back for the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL. Selected in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft, Wells has rushed for 2,237 yards and scored 19 touchdowns for the Cardinals.
Mike Trout
Age: 21
Profession: MLB Player
Best Known For: Outfielder Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels is one of the best young players in Major League Baseball. Selected to the 2012 American League All-Star team as a rookie, Trout currently leads the American League in both hitting and stolen bases.