If Your Birthday is October 21st...

...you share it with a couple of New York natives who made their mark in the Bronx.
John Flaherty lived his boyhood dream: growing up in suburban Rockland County, he capped a 14 year major league career as the Yankees backup catcher in 2003, '04 and '05. He moved smoothly into the broadcast booth and is now in his 16th season as an analyst on YES Network telecasts.

"Flash" shares his birthday with the greatest starting pitcher in Yankees history.  Whitey Ford authored 236 victories, worked 156 complete games and once held the record for most consecutive shutout innings in World Series competition.

The 1961 Cy Young Award winner starred alongside Mickey, Yogi, Roger Maris and Elston Howard, earning the nickname "The Chairman of the Board," for his knack of coming up big in the biggest games. 

A future Hall of Famer gets his cake and candles on Saturday:

Ichiro Suzuki was Japan's most feared hitter before coming the U.S. in 2001 -- and put together as productive a ten-year run as any player we've seen.  10 straight years of hitting over .300 for the Mariners with at least 206 hits -- including a regular season record 262 in 2004.  His combined 4367 hits between Japan and the United States is the most of any player ever!  He could easily become the second unanimous Hall of Fame inductee when he becomes eligible in 2025.


 

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