Blow Out the Candles March 20

Hall of Fame pitcher "Iron Man" Joe McGinnity was born in Henry County, Illinois on this date back in 1871.

According to Lee Allen in The National League Story (1961), a reporter asked Joe, then a minor-league pitcher, what he did in between seasons. "I'm an iron man," he answered. "I work in a foundry."

In 1903 Joe started both games of a doubleheader three times and won all six games.

Joe Kelly and Joe McGinnity, 1929

Career highlights and awards

World Series champion: 1905
National League pennant: 1900, 1904
National League ERA champion: 1904
National League wins champion: 1899, 1900, 1903, 1904, 1906
4-time league innings pitched leader (3 NL, 1 AL)
2-time league complete game leader (1 AL, 1 NL)
8 20-win seasons
2 30-win seasons

Joe McGinnity was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1946.

Legendary Boston Bruin, Bobby Orr is celebrating his 63rd birthday today.

 1971-72 Topps #100

Bobby as a teen

May 4, 1970

December 21, 1970

Everyone's neighbor Fred Rogers was born in Latrobe, PA on this date in 1928.

Fred visiting another neighborhood

Actor and director Ted Bessell was born in Flushing, NY on this date in 1935.

Bessel is best known as Marlo Thomas's boyfriend, Donald Hollinger on the sitcom, That Girl.