Happy Birthday to Sir Charles Barkley who changed his number from # 34 to # 32 for the ‘91-’92 season to honor his buddy Magic Johnson who would retire before the season after contracting HIV. It would be Chuck’s last year in Philly before heading west to Phoenix. The # 32 had previously been retired by the Sixers for a dude nicknamed ‘The Kangaroo Kid.’ Can you name that Philly Legend?
Rickey Jackson Played With His Jaw Wired Shut
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Happy Birthday to the ‘City Champ’ of Pahokee, FL Rickey Jackson. Rickey fractured his cheekbone in a car accident on Nov. 17th, 1989. He would only miss two games. (the only 2 missed games of his 15 year career) The leader of the ‘Dome Patrol’ would play the rest of the season with his jaw wired shut while wearing this special helmet. So Cool !!!
On This Day - 1st Homer in Olympic Stadium
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April 15th, 1977 - Ellis Valentine of the Montreal Expos hits the 1st Home Run in the new Olympic Stadium. Ellis batted in the only two runs in a 7-2 Expos loss that day. The third inning solo shot off the Phillies Steve Carlton & an eighth inning two out rbi single. He teamed up with CF Andre Dawson & LF Warren Cromartie to form one of the coolest OF Trio’s of All Time.
1996 NBA All-Star MVP Michael Jordan
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1996 NBA All-Star Game
February 11, 1996 - San Antonio, Texas
In his first All-Star Game back from retirement Michael Jordan poured in 20 points along with 4 rebounds during an Eastern Conference 129-118 victory. The performance would earn him MVP honors, although many fans thought East teammate Shaquille O’Neal should have been named MVP for his 25 pts & 10 rebounds.
Danny Jackson's Immaculate Inning
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Did you know that Danny Jackson is the only pitcher to have ever pitched an ‘Immaculate Inning’ in a World Series Game? That’s right in the 7th Inning of Game 5 during the 1985 World Series, Danny struck out the Cardinals Side with just 9 pitches.
Nickname Games - 'The Marathon By The Lake' - January 3rd, 1987
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Today we’re remembering the AFC Divisional Round Cleveland Browns Overtime Victory over the New York Jets, most commonly referred to as ‘The Marathon By The Lake.’ Browns Quarterback Bernie Kosar threw for 489 yards in the 4 hour plus contest, a playoff passing yardage record he held until 2017. Who broke Bernie’s Record?
The Browns last Playoff Home game just happened to be another famous Nickname Game in Cleveland history:
The infamous ‘Red Right 88’ game played six years earlier against the Oakland Raiders back on 1-4-1981.
With the Marathon victory over NY, perhaps an even more popular Nickname game came to be the following week. Any guesses on that one?? Hint: 98 yards
Milwaukee Bucks Trivia
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R.I.P Eric Turner
Safety Eric Turner was the 2nd overall pick of the 1991 draft by the Cleveland Browns. The UCLA Bruin is the highest selected Defensive Back in Draft history. Turner earned the first of his two Pro Bowl selections in 1994 when he tied for the league lead with 9 Interceptions, including a huge pick in the ‘94 AFC Wildcard game against New England where Cleveland pulled out their last playoff win, 20-13. Sadly E-Rock passed away in 2000 at age 31 from cancer. Happy Birthday! R.I.P.
Hey, Man, That's My Heisman!
Did you know that Bo Jackson’s Heisman Victory in 1985 was by the 2nd closest margin in Heisman history? Can you name the Hawkeye hurler who he topped by just 45 votes? For a bonus point. Which winner won by the closest margin?
Bummer Bake!
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Bake McBride stepped up to the plate 3,853 times and got 1,153 hits over his 10 year career for a .299 average. If Bake had just gotten one more hit, just one more measly hit, he would be able to put a .300 average on his resume instead of .299. Bummer Bake.
Did You Know? - Johnnie 'Boo' LeMaster
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Hey Dudes! Did you know that former San Francisco Giants shortstop Johnnie LeMaster is one of only two players in MLB history to hit an Inside the Park Homer in their 1st at-bat?
The Dodgers 30 Homer Club
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Happy Birthday Dusty Baker. In the last game of the 1977 regular season, Dusty hit his 30th Homer of the year off Houston Astros pitcher J.R. Richard. It marked the first time that 4 teammates (Baker,Cey,Smith & Garvey) all hit 30 or more home runs in a season. It also became such an iconic moment because after he touched home plate, Baker was greeted by teammate Glenn Burke with his arm high in the air. Dusty reached up and slapped it, thus commemorating the 1st High Five in baseball history. Did you know that Glenn was up next and he too hit a home run? Dusty was there to greet him with the 2nd High Five.
Happy Birthday Ronnie Lott !!
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Happy Birthday Ronnie Lott!! In his Rookie Season of 1981, Ronnie became just the second rookie to return 3 INT’s for Touchdowns. He had 7 picks that year and was voted 1st Team All-Pro while helping the 49ers win Super Bowl XVI. He placed 2nd in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting behind Lawrence Taylor.
'Middle Infield's' - Trammell & Whitaker
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Elliott Perry
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Elliot ‘Socks’ Perry. Another high socks legend of my childhood. Elliot was the 37th pick in the 1991 Draft by the L.A. Clippers. He would only appear in 10 games for the Clippers before he was traded to the Hornets. After spending a couple of years in the CBA, Perry scrapped his way back into the NBA in 1993. With the Phoenix Suns in 1994-95 he was runner up in the voting for the NBA’s Most-Improved Player.
George Bell
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April 4th 1988 (11) George Bell becomes the first player in MLB History to hit 3 homers on opening day. He walloped all three round trippers off Royals all star Brett Saberhagen.
1st Quadruple Double - Nate 'The Great' Thurmond
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Nate ‘The Great’ Thurmond has his # 42 retired by two NBA Franchises. His jersey hangs from the rafters of both the Golden State Warriors & Cleveland Cavaliers. Though, it’s in his very first game with another team, the Chicago Bulls, that Nate became the first player in NBA History to record a Quadruple-Double. (Block Shots were not recorded prior to 1973-74 season) Nate’s stat line that October night in 1974 went a little like this : 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists and 12 blocked shots.
Valentine's Day 1990- aka The Game Michael Jordan Wore the Number 12
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The always superstitious Michael Jordan is forced to wear the number 12 for the Bulls during a road game in Orlando. His customary 23 was stolen from the Chicago locker room before the game. They even searched the crowd for any fan wearing a Jordan jersey that might fit the 6'6" guard. Despite the random no name jersey, MJ still scored a game high 49 points. The expansion Magic would pull off a double digit comeback in the 2nd half forcing OT, where they would eventually prevail 135-129 over the Bulls.
The 23 jersey would be found a few days later stashed up in the ceiling tiles of the visitors locker room.
Randy Moss & His Cat In The Hat Socks
Who remembers Randy Moss rocking the ‘Cat in the Hat’ Socks back in 1996? That day Randy hauled in 8 passes for 288 yards and 3 touchdowns in a Marshall University 59-14 victory over Delaware in the Division I-AA Playoffs. Happy Birthday Randy!
Blaze Birthday Crew!
In your face this week are # 6 of your favorite early 90’s NCAA Basketball stars with Birthdays in February.
Shawn Respert - February 6th, 1972
Juwan Howard - February 7th, 1973
Steve Nash - February 7th, 1974
John Wallace - February 9th, 1974
Scot Pollard - February 12th, 1975
Tyus Edney - February 14th, 1975