If Your Birthday is January 29th...

 
...you share it with the White Sox 1st baseman Jose Abreu. The Cuban-born slugger and 2020 American League MVP has been a model of consistency since coming to Chicago -- averaging 30 homers, 102 RBI and a batting average in the .290s. Notably, his 198 career homers are already the most for any player born on this date!

Turning 34 today, Abreu is the seasoned veteran leading a group of budding stars that went 35-25 in the 60-game season -- and returned to the post-season for the first time since 2008.

Also on today's cake and candles list:

  • Hank Conger had a seven-year run as a backup catcher with the Angels, Astros and Rays. As with many who played behind the plate, he's gone into coaching and will spend 2020 coaching in Korea, the country from where his parents emigrated.
  • Mike Aldrete spent 10 years in the majors, bookended by the '86 Giants and '96 Yankees. His second San Francisco season was his best, when he batted .325. But he never again posted numbers that impressive.
  • Steve Sax was part of that long line of Dodgers named NL Rookie of the Year. A five time all-star, Sax joined the Yankees as a 1989 free agent, and enjoyed two productive seasons out his three in the Bronx. And among the 45 players born on January 29th, he's played the most big league games.
  • Lance Niekro has a famous dad and even more famous uncle. But unlike Joe and Phil Niekro, he was a 1st baseman, who played parts of four seasons with the Giants during the 2000s.
And while we're talking Giants, let's remember Bill Rigney, the longtime New York Giants infielder who managed the club during its final New York seasons and first few in San Francisco. A protege of Leo Durocher, "Rig" managed for 18 years in the majors (nine with the Angels and three in Minnesota) but never made the post-season as a skipper.

With no Hall of Famers born on this date, it's increasingly clear that Abreu is the greatest player with January 29th on his drivers license. Feel free to leave a comment by clicking the button below.

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