Blow Out the Candles April 23

Chicago Blackhawks legend Tony Esposito is celebrating his 69th birthday today.

 1971-72 Topps #110

Phil can't beat Tony with Keith Magnuson helping out.

Tony and Phil

"God, we're old!"

Tony with some "friends" at the Charleyhorse Restaurant in Indiana

Tony with fellow Hall of Famers Bobby Hull and John Wroblewski aka Johngy.  I think Bobby's smiling because John said he'd buy him a nice bottle of wine.  I guess it would have taken scotch to get him to stand.

Tony's awards and accomplishments:

Stanley Cup Champion (1969).
Calder Memorial Trophy (1970).
NHL First All-Star Team Goalie (1970, 1972, 1980).
NHL Second All-Star Team Goalie (1973, 1974).
Vezina Trophy (1970, 1972, 1974)
NHL All-Star Game Goalie (1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1980).
Member of Canada men's national ice hockey team at 1972 Summit Series and 1977 Ice Hockey World Championship tournament.
Played for US national men's hockey team in the 1981 Canada Cup.
His #35 was retired by the Chicago Blackhawks on November 20, 1998.
In 1998, he was ranked number 79 on The Hockey News' list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.

One of the All-time greats, Braves pitcher Warren Spahn was born in Buffalo, NY on this date in 1921.

 1958 Topps #494

Spahn's 364 wins rank him 6th all-time but at the top for left-handers.

1942 Boston Braves

Spahn with teammate Johnny Sain

First we'll use Spahn

then we'll use Sain

Then an off day

followed by rain

Back will come Spahn

followed by Sain

And followed

we hope

by two days of rain.

June 25, 1956

"He was something like zero for twenty-one the first time I saw him. His first major league hit was a home run off me and I'll never forgive myself. We might have gotten rid of Willie (Mays) forever if I'd only struck him out."

"Hitting is timing. Pitching is upsetting timing."

1958

 Statue of Spahn outside of Turner Field

"I don't think (Warren) Spahn will ever get into the Hall of Fame. He'll never stop pitching." - Stan Musial

1928 NL MVP Jim Bottomley was born in Oglesby, Illinois on this date in 1900.

Five time All-Star and hall of Famer Gail Goodrich is celebrating his 69th birthday today,

Singer/songwriter Roy Orbison was born in Vernon, Texas on this date in 1936.