Both Saquon Barkley and Cooper DeJean of the Philadelphia Eagles will be celebrating birthdays during this Sunday’s Super Bowl.
This made us think about MLB players who have won a World Series on their birthdays. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, here are five players who made history by winning a championship on their special day (Note: These are players who appeared in at least one postseason game for the champion team, and whose birthday was the date of the clinching game).
2015 World Series Game 5: Paulo Orlando, Royals (30th birthday)
Orlando was brought into the game in the seventh inning through a double switch and got three plate appearances as the game went into extra innings. He reached base on an error in the 12th inning, eventually scoring the fifth run in the Royals’ 7-2 win. Though the game ended after midnight, officially, it counted as part of Orlando’s birthday. He became the first Brazilian-born World Series champion.
1993 World Series Game 6: Al Leiter, Blue Jays (28th birthday)
Before the game, newspaper previews highlighted Leiter’s birthday, noting that Johnny Podres, the first pitcher to win a World Series game on his birthday in 1955, had been the Phillies’ current pitching coach. Leiter entered in the seventh inning with the bases loaded, and after a sacrifice fly, the Phillies took the lead. Leiter pitched a scoreless eighth, and when Joe Carter hit his iconic homer in the ninth, Leiter became a champ on his birthday.
1987 World Series Game 7: Roy Smalley, Twins (35th birthday)
In his final game, Smalley pinch-hit in the sixth inning and walked. The Twins went on to win, and he ended his career as a birthday champ. “There’s nothing this good — nothing. … What a present,” Smalley said after the game. He even sang “Happy birthday to me” during the celebration. A local story described Smalley as the happiest player, with one fan commenting, “I think the happiest was Roy Smalley. He won it on his birthday.”
1982 World Series Game 7: Keith Hernandez, Cardinals (29th birthday)
Hernandez contributed two hits, including a game-tying two-run single, and two walks, helping his team clinch the World Series. “Even if it wasn’t my birthday, I couldn’t be happier,” Hernandez said postgame. “How’s this for a birthday present?” he shouted as his team celebrated. It was even more special since he hit off his high school rival and former junior college classmate, Bob McClure.
1970 World Series Game 5: Jim Palmer, Orioles (25th birthday)
Palmer didn’t pitch in the clinching game but won his second of three World Series titles on his 25th birthday. He had an outstanding postseason, including a 12-strikeout complete game in the ALCS and 8 2/3 innings in the World Series Game 1 win.
