If Your Birthday is February 28th...

...you share it with Aroldis Chapman. Starting his second tour of duty with the Yankees this spring, the flamethrowing lefty who regularly breaks 100 miles an hour was signed by the Reds after defecting from Cuba. How hard is it to follow his fastball? Chapman averages 1-2/3 strikeouts an inning. He's seen in a Cincinnati uniform during this 2013 game against the Mets at Citi Field.

Also getting cake and candles on this final day of February:

  • Jeff Niemann, who had three effective seasons pitching for the Rays (2009-'11), before injuries sidetracked his career.
  • Brian Bannister, who pitched for the Mets and Royals during his fie big league seasons.
  • Jim Wolhford, a 15-year major leaguer who split his career between the Royals, Brewers, Giants and Expos.
And we remember the late Frank Malzone, the Bronx, New York native who found fame as a hard-hitting Red Sox 3rd baseman of the late '50s and early '60s. Malzone was born on this date in 1930.

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