If Your Birthday is January 5th...


You share it with a member of the reigning American League champs. Nori Aoki (seen here last September against the Yankee) spent 2014 with Kansas City, and contributed another season in the upper .280s with a near-.350 on base percentage. He shares the day with Rangers catcher JP Arecibia, Angels outfielder CJ Cron, former big league reliever (and current Red Sox pitching coach) Juan Nieves, 1980s players Bob Dernier, Milt Thompson, Jim Gantner, Ron Kittle and Danny Jackson, ageless knuckleballer Charlie Hough and a guy whose name should have guaranteed stardom, but didn't. Remember Sandy Vance? Sharing the first name of a legendary Dodger lefty and the surname of a beloved hurler from their Brooklyn days -- both Baseball Hall of Famers -- he lasted just a season-and-a-half (1970-'71) without leaving much of a mark. But you have to admit, it's one cool name.
Do you share your birthday with a player? Maybe one of your favorite players -- or maybe someone you took special interest in once you realized you had such a connection? Leave a comment if you'd like to talk about your own baseball birthday buddy.

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