November 7, Sports Birthdays – 2009 Edition

Stephen Alexander
Born: November 7, 1975, Chickasha, Oklahoma
NFL football player (Tight end)
Pro career: (1998-2007)
College: University of Oklahoma
Teams: Washington Redskins, San Diego Chargers, Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos
Honors: 2000 Pro Bowl selection

Elisabeth “Wiz” Bachman
Born: November 7, 1978, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Carrer: (2001-2004)
World/Olympic volleyball player
Honors: 2003 Pan-American Cup “Best Blocker”
2004 Pan-American Cup “Best Blocker”
2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, Team 5th place

Shannon Bahrke
Born: November 7, 1980, Reno, Nevada
World/Olympic skiier (USA)
Honors: silver medal in freestyle skiing, 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics

Kris James Benson
Born: November 7, 1974, Superior, Wisconsin
MLB Baseball player (Pitcher)
College: Clemson University
Pro career: (1999-2009)
Teams: Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Mets, Baltimore Orioles and Texas Rangers

LeCharles Bentley
Born: November 7, 1979, Cleveland, Ohio
Pro career: (2002-2007)
NFL football player (center)
College: Ohio State University
Teams: New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns
Honors: 2000-2001) All-Big Ten
(2001) First-team All-American
(2001) Dave Rimington Trophy
(2002) PFW All-Rookie Team
(2002, 2005) Pro Bowl selection

Juan Brito
Born: November 7, 1977, Santiago, Dominican Republic
MLB baseball player (catcher)
Pro career: (2002-2004)
Teams: Kansas City Royals and Arizona Diamondbacks

Michael “Mike” Commodore
Born: November 7, 1979, Fort Saskatchewan, AB, CA
NHL hockey player (Defense)
Pro career: (2000 – present)
College: University of North Dakota
Teams: Columbus Blue Jackets, Ottawa Senators, Carolina Hurricanes, Calgary Flames and New Jersey Devils

Samuel “Rusty” Crawford
Born: November 7, 1885
Died: December 19, 1971
Pro career: (1917 – 1930)
NHL hockey player (center)
Teams: Ottawa Senators and Toronto Arenas
Honors: Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1962

Fred Cusick
Born: November 7, 1918
Death: September 15, 2009
NHL ice hockey announcer
(1971-1997) He was the play-by-play TV broadcaster on WSBK-TV
(1984-1993) the New England Sports Network
Including radio broadcasts, he was a Bruins announcer for 45 years
2009 – inducted into the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame

William Henry Demps, Jr.
Born: November 7, 1979, Charleston, South Carolina
NFL football player (Safety)
College: San Diego State University
Teams: Baltimore Ravens (2002-2005), New York Giants (2006) and Houston Texans (2007-2008)
Honors: (2000-2001) First-team All-MWC
(2007) Pro Bowl alternate

Sean DePaula
Born: November 7, 1973, Newton, Massachusetts
MLB baseball player (pitcher)
Pro career: (1999-2002)
College: Wake Forest University
Teams: Cleveland Indians

Greg Dreiling
Born: November 7, 1963, Wichita, Kansas
NBA basketball player (center)
Pro career: (1986-1997)
College: University of Kansas
Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers and Dallas Mavericks

Larry Foster
Born: November 7, 1976, Harvey, Louisiana
NFL football player (wide receiver)
Pro career: (2000-2003)
College: Louisiana State University
Teams: Detroit Lions and Arizona Cardinals

Billy Clyde Gillispie
Born: November 7, 1959, Abilene, Texas
Nickname: “BCG”
Position: mens basketball coach
College career: 1982-2009
Colleges: Baylor (asst.), Tulsa (asst.), Illinois (asst.), UTEP, Texas A&M, Kentucky

Andre Hastings
Born: November 7, 1970, Atlanta, Georgia
Nickname “fumble punts”
NFL football player (wide receiver)
College: University of Georgia
Pro career: (1993-2000)
Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Andy Houston
Born: November 7, 1970, Hickory, North Carolina
NASCAR driver (1997-2005)
Winston Cup Series, Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series

James Lee “Jim” Kaat
Born: November 7, 1938, Zeeland, Michigan
Nickname: “Kitty”
College: Hope College
Pro career: 1959 – 1983
MLB baseball player (Pitcher)
Teams: Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins (1959-1973), Chicago White Sox (1973-1975), Philadelphia Phillies (1976-1979), New York Yankees (1979-1980), and St. Louis Cardinals (1980-1983).
Honors: 3 time All Star selection (1962, 1966, 1975)
World Series champion (1982)
16 time Gold Glove Award winner (1962-1977)
1966 AL The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year

Dave Krynzel
Born: November 7, 1981, Dayton, Ohio
MLB baseball player (right field)
Teams: Milwaukee Brewers (2004-2005)

Pascal Leclaire
Born: November 7, 1982, Repentigny, QC, CA
Pro career: (2002 – present)
NHL hockey player (Goaltender)
Teams: Ottawa Senators and Columbus Blue Jackets

Jonathan Linton
Born: November 7, 1974, Allentown, Pennsylvania
NFL football player (running back)
College: University of North Carolina
Teams: Buffalo Bills (1998-2000)

Joseph Franklin “Joe” Niekro,
Born: November 7, 1944, Martins Ferry, Ohio
Died: October 27, 2006
MLB baseball player (Pitcher)
Pro career: 1967 – 1988
Teams: Chicago Cubs (1967-1969), San Diego Padres (1969), Detroit Tigers (1970-1972), Atlanta Braves (1973-1974), Houston Astros (1975-1985), New York Yankees (1985-1987) and Minnesota Twins (1987-1988)
Honors: 1979 All-Star selection
1987 World Series champion
1979 NL TSN Pitcher of the Year

Edward “The Only” Nolan
Born: November 7, 1857 in Paterson, New Jersey
Died: May 18, 1913
MLB baseball player (pitcher)
Pro career: 1878-1885
Teams: Indianapolis Blues (1878), Cleveland Blues (1881), Pittsburg Alleghenys (1883), Wilmington Quicksteps (1884) and Philadelphia Quakers (1885)

Mark Philippoussis
Born: November 7, 1976, Melbourne, Australia
Professional tennis player
Career record: 313-201

Michel Picard
Born: November 7, 1969, Beauport, PQ, CA
NHL hockey player (left wing)
Pro career: (1990 – 2001)
Teams: Hartford Whalers, San Jose Sharks, Ottawa Senators, St Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers and Philadelphia Flyers

Ryan Ready
Born: November 7, 1978, Peterborough, Ontario
NHL hockey player (left wing)
Pro career: 1999 – present)
Teams: Philadelphia Flyers
Honors: 1998-99: First All-Star Team (OHL)
1998-99: Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy Overage Player of the Year (OHL)
1998-99: Second All-Star Team (CHL)
2004-05: Calder Cup Philadelphia Phantoms
Ray Renfro
Born: November 7, 1929, Whitesboro, Texas
Died: August 4, 1997
NFL football player (wide receiver)
Pro career: (1952-1963)
Teams: Cleveland Browns
Coach: Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins and Detroit Lions

Todd Ritchie
Born: November 7, 1971, Portsmouth, Virginia
MLB baseball player (pitcher)
Pro career: (1997-2004)
Teams: Minnesota Twins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Glendon Rusch
Born: November 7, 1974, Seattle, Washington
MLB baseball player (pitcher)
Pro career: (1997-present)
Teams: Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres, Kansas City Royals, New York Mets, Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs

Juan Salas
Born: November 17, 1978, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Pro career: (2006-2008)
MLB baseball player (pitcher)
Teams: Tampa Bay Devils Rays/Tampa Bay Rays

Maria Sanchez Lorenzo
Born: November 7, 1977, Salamanca, Spain
Professional tennis player
Pro career: (1994-2006)

Russ Springer
Born: November 7, 1968, Alexandria, Louisiana
MLB baseball player (pitcher)
Pro career: (1992-present)
College: Louisiana State University
Teams: New York Yankees, California Angels, Philadelphia Phillies, Houston Astros, Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, Oakland Athletics and St Louis Cardinals

Edward S. “Ed” Steitz
Born: November 7, 1920, Brooklyn, New York
Death: May 21, 1990
College basketball coach and contributor
Honors: Enshrined as a contributor in the FIBA Hall of Fame

Anthony Thomas
Born: November 7, 1977, Winnfield, Louisiana
NFL football player (running back)
Pro career: (2001-2007)
College: University of Michigan
Teams: Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints and Buffalo Bills
Honors: (1999, 2001) 2x Citrus Bowl MVP
(2001) AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year

Patrick Thoresen
Born: November 7, 1983, Oslo, Norway
NHL hockey player (left wing)
Pro career: (2003 – present)
Teams: Philadelphia Flyers and Edmonton Oilers

Dave Wainhouse
Born: November 7, 1967, Toronto, Ontario, CA
MLB baseball player (pitcher)
Pro career: (1991-2000)
College: Washington State University
Teams: Montreal Expos, Seattle Mariners, Pittsburgh Pirates, Colorado Rockies and St Louis Cardinals

Leslie “Les” Walrond
Born: November 7, 1976, Muskogee, Oklahoma
MLB baseball player (pitcher)
Pro career: (2003-2008)
Teams: Kansas City Royals, Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies

Coy Wire
Born: 1978-11-07
NFL football player (linebacker) He attended Stanford University and has played for the Atlanta Falcons and Buffalo Bills