If Your Birthday is December 20th...



...you share it with Mets captain David Wright. The best 3rd baseman in Flushing history was enjoying a seemingly charmed career until injuries began piling up in 2014. First, a shoulder problem, then a hamstring, spinal stenosis and 2016 surgery for a herniated disc have turned the seven-time All Star into a shell of himself. He's played in just 75 games over the past two seasons -- and his future appears very much in doubt.
Still from 2004 - 2013, you'd be hard pressed to find a better overall 3rd baseman -- and person. His power, fielding, ability to hit for average and overall niceness earned him "The Face of MLB" in an online poll. Now, there are serious questions about whether he'll ever be productive again as he reaches his 34th birthday.
David shares his birthday with:
Eric Goeddel: the Mets reliever and older brother of Phillies outfielder Tyler Goeddel.
James Shields: a 133-games winner over 11 seasons with the Rays -- where he earned the nickname "Big Game James," before moving on to Royals, Padres and White Sox.
David De Jesus: the Brooklyn, New York product enjoyed a 13-year career, most notably with the Royals.
Oscar Gamble: recogized for the outsized Afro hairstyle he sported during the 1970s, this lefty pull hitter was seemingly born to play at Yankee Stadium. He belted 87 of his 200 career homers as a Yankee.
And Branch Rickey: the 120 games he played with the Yankees and Browns didn't make him memorable. His innovation and integrity as general manager of the Cardinals and Dodgers did -- and then some! Originating the concept of the farm system, his concepts in player development are still followed to this day. And his courage and ethics in fostering Jackie Robinson's breaking the color barrier changed not only baseball history but the direction of our country. It's fair to call him the most important executive in baseball history. He was born on this date in 1881.

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