Hitting the Big 3-0


It's the 30th birthday of Mets 3rd baseman David Wright (#5). His future assured with a new and lucrative long-term contract, he'll enter 2013 with 204 career homers and a .301 batting average. With five or six productive seasons ahead, he'll likely own all the Mets offensive records. But will that make him the best player ever born on December 20th? He's got some tough competition for that honor: Hall of Famer Gabby Hartnett and '70s sluggers Cecil Cooper and Oscar Gamble share his birthday. And he'd have a tough time claiming to be the most important baseball figure born on this date. That would have to go to Branch Rickey, the onetime backup catcher, who as a baseball executive invented the concept of the farm system and, in 1947, as Dodgers GM, brought Jackie Robinson to the major leagues. Use this link to see our "12/20 crew."  Then, comment as to your choice for the best player born on this date.

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