Five Baseball Hall of Fame Players Born on Christmas Day
On December 25, while many people were celebrating Christmas, they also celebrated the birthday of three Hall of Fame baseball players. Below are the top five Hall of Fame players with birthdays on December 25.
Topping the list is Rickey Henderson, born in 1958. Henderson, known as the “Man of Steal,” was the stolen-base champion, 10-time All-Star, and the 1990 AL MVP with the A’s.
Following Henderson is Nellie Fox, born in 1927. Fox was a crucial piece of the “Go-Go” White Sox of the 1950s and was the 1959 AL MVP, a 15-time All-Star, and a three-time Gold Glover.
Pud Galvin, born in 1856, earned the third spot. His pair of nicknames – Gentle Jeems and The Little Steam Engine – and his incredible look were Hall of Fame-worthy. Galvin was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Veteran’s Committee in 1965.
Manny Trillo, born in 1950, was known as a slick-fielding second baseman. Trillo captured three Gold Glove Awards and was a stalwart in the middle infield for the 1980 Phillies, who won the franchise’s first World Series title.
Finally, Hideki Okajima, born in 1975, signed with the Red Sox as a 31-year-old in 2007 and became an important part of their bullpen as a setup man to Jonathan Papelbon.
Other notable baseball players born on December 25 include Nabil Crismatt, whose big-league career started in 2020, and Willy Taveras, the runner-up to Ryan Howard in the 2005 NL Rookie of the Year vote and the National League stolen base leader in 2008.
This unique coincidence gives baseball fans extra reasons to celebrate the holiday season, as they enjoy the legacy of these legendary players.
