This Day in History – 1891 – James Naismith introduces the first version of basketball, with thirteen rules, a peach basket nailed to either end of his school’s gymnasium, and two teams of nine players.

Football

Carlton Bailey
Born: December 15, 1964, Baltimore, Maryland
Height: 6′ 3″ – Weight: 242 lbs
College: University of North Carolina
NFL football Linebacker
Pro-career: 1988-1997
Teams: Buffalo Bills(1988-1992); New York Giants(1993-1994); Carolina Panthers(1995-1997)

Jerry Ball *Pro Bowl*
Born: December 15, 1964 in Beaumont, Texas
Height: 6′ 1″ – Weight: 330 lbs
College: Southern Methodist University
NFL football Defensive Tackle
Pro-career: 1987-1999
Career Stats: Sacks 32.5; Games 191; Interceptions 1 for 66 yd TD
Teams: Detroit Lions (1987-1992); Cleveland Browns (1993); Los Angeles / Oakland Raiders (1994-1996); Minnesota Vikings (1997-1998)(1999)
Honors: (1989, 1990, 1991) *Pro Bowl*

Nick Buoniconti *Hall of Fame*
Born: December 15, 1940, Springfield, Massachusetts
Height: 5′ 11″ – Weight: 220 lbs
College: University of Notre Dame
NFL football Middle Linebacker
Pro-career: 1962-1976
Teams: AFL Boston Patriots (1962-1968), AFL Miami Dolphins (1969), NFL Miami Dolphins (1970-1976)
Honors: ( 1963-1967, 1969) AFL All-Star
(1972, 1973) Pro Bowl selection
Boston Patriots 1960s All-Decade Team
AFL All-Time Team
Dolphins Silver Anniversary Team
2001 Pro Football Hall of Fame

Carl Hairston
Born: December 15, 1952, Martinsville, Virginia
Height: 6′ 3″ – Weight: 260 lbs
College: University of Maryland Eastern Shore
NFL football Defensive End
Pro-career: 1976-1990
Teams: Philadelphia Eagles(1976-1983); Cleveland Browns(1984-1989); Phoenix Cardinals(1990)
Honors: Super Bowl XV

Rodney Harrison *Pro Bowl*
Born: December 15, 1972 in Markham, Illinois
Height: 6′ 1″ – Weight: 220 lbs
College: Western Illinois University
NFL football Safety
Pro-career: 1994-2008
Career Stats: Tackles 1,205; Sacks 30.5; INTs 34
Teams: San Diego Chargers (1994-2002); New England Patriots (2003-2008)
Honors: (1998, 2001) *Pro Bowl* selection
(1998, 2003) First-team All-Pro selection
(2004) AP Second-team All-Pro
2 Super Bowl champions (XXXVIII, XXXIX)

Baseball

Stan Bahnsen
Born: December 15, 1944, Council Bluffs, Iowa
Height: 6′ 2″ – Weight: 203 lbs
College: University of Nebraska
MLB baseball Pitcher (RH)
Pro-career: 1966-1982
Career Stats: Pitching record 146-149; ERA 3.60; Strikeouts 1359
Teams: New York Yankees (1966, 1968-1971); Chicago White Sox (1972-1975); Oakland Athletics (1975-1977); Montreal Expos (1977-1981); California Angels (1982); Philadelphia Phillies (1982)
Honors: 1968 AL Rookie of the Year

Samuel Esposito
Born: December 15, 1931, Chicago, Illinois
Height: 5′ 9″ – Weight: 165 lbs
College: Indiana University
MLB baseball Third Baseman / Shortstop
Pro-career: 1952-1963
Teams: Chicago White Sox (1952-1963)
Honors: 1959 White Sox win the American League Pennant

Andy González
Born: December 15, 1981, Río Piedras, Puerto Rico
Height: 6-9 – Weight: 225 lbs
MLB baseball Utility Player
Pro-career: 2007-2009
Teams: Chicago White Sox (2007); Cleveland Indians (2008); Florida Marlins (2009)

Ray Herbert *All-Star*
Born: December 15, 1929, in Detroit, Michigan
Height: 5′ 11″ – Weight: 185 lbs
MLB baseball Pitcher (RH)
Pro-career: 1950-1966
Teams: Detroit Tigers (1950-1954); Philadelphia Athletics (1955, 1958-1961); Chicago White Sox (1961-1964); Philadelphia Phillies (1965-1966)
Honors: 1962 *All-Star*
1963 Led AL with 7 shutouts

Arthur “Art” Howe Jr.
Born: December 15, 1946, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Height: 6′ 2″ – Weight: 190 lbs
College: University of Wyoming
MLB baseball Infielder
Pro-career: 1974-1985
Career Stats: Batting avg .260; Home runs 43; RBI’s 293
Teams: Pittsburgh Pirates (1974-1975), Houston Astros (1976-1982), St. Louis Cardinals (1984-1985)
Later career: Manager of Houston Astros (1989-1993); Oakland Athletics (1996-2002); New York Mets (2003-2004)

Aaron Miles
Born: December 15, 1976, Antioch, California
Height: 5′ 8″ – Weight: 170 lbs
MLB baseball Second Baseman
Pro-career: 2003-present
Career Stats: Batting avg .282; Hits 629; Home runs 16, RBIs 175
Teams: Chicago White Sox (2003); Colorado Rockies (2004-2005), St. Louis Cardinals (2006-2008); Chicago Cubs (2009); Oakland Athletics (2010-present)
Honors: 2006- World Series champion (St. Louis)

Eddie Robinson *All-Star*
Born: December 15, 1920, Paris, Texas
MLB baseball First Baseman
Pro-career: 1942-1957
Career Stats: Batting avg .268; Home runs 172; RBI 723
Teams: Cleveland Indians (1942, 1946-1948, 1957); Washington Senators (1949-1950); Chicago White Sox (1950-1952); Philadelphia Athletics (1953); New York Yankees (1954-1956); Kansas City Athletics (1956); Detroit Tigers (1957); Baltimore Orioles (1957)
Honors: 1949-1953 *All-Star*

Michael Wuertz
Born: December 15, 1978, in Austin, Minnesota
Height: 6′ 3″ – Weight: 205 lbs
MLB baseball Relief Pitcher (RH)
Pro-career: 2004-present
Career Stats: Win-Loss 19-8; ERA 3.55; Strikeouts 339
Teams: Chicago Cubs (2004-2008); Oakland Athletics (2009-present)

Basketball

Keith Askins
Born: December 15 1967, Athens, Alabama
Height: 6′ 7″ – Weight: 197 lbs
College: University of Alabama
NBA basketball Guard / Forward
Pro-career: 1990-1999
Teams: Miami Heat

Mitchell Butler
Born: December 15, 1970, Los Angeles, California
Height: 6′ 5″ – Weight: 210 lbs
College: University of California, Los Angeles
NBA basketball Shooting Guard
Pro-career: 1993-2004
Teams: Washington Bullets, Portland Trail Blazers, Washington Wizards

Lawrence Funderburke
Born: December 15, 1970, Columbus, Ohio
Height: 6′ 9″ – Weight: 230 lbs
College: Ohio State University
NBA bsketball Power Forward.
Pro-career: 1997-2005
Teams: Sacramento Kings (1997-2003); Chicago Bulls (2005)

Charles “Charlie” Scott *All-Star*
Born: December 15, 1948, New York City, New York
Height: 6′ 5″ – Weight: 175 lbs
College: University of North Carolina
NBA basketball Shooting Guard
Pro-career: 1970-1980
Teams: Virginia Squires (ABA) (1970-72), Phoenix Suns 1972-74, Boston Celtics (1975-1978), Los Angeles Lakers (1978), Denver Nuggets (1979-1980)
Honors: 1970-71 ABA Rookie of the Year
(1971-1975) NBA All Star
1975-76 NBA Champion & Olympic Gold medal – USA Men’s Basketball – 1968 Mexico City

David Wingate Jr.
Born: December 15, 1963 in Baltimore, Maryland
Height: 6′ 5″ – Weight: 185 lbs
College: Georgetown University
NBA bsketball Guard / Forward
Pro-career: 1986-2001
Teams: Philadelphia 76ers (1986-1989); San Antonio Spurs (1989-1991); Washington Bullets (1991-1992); Charlotte Hornets (1992-1995); Seattle Supersonics (1995-1998), (2001); New York Knicks (1999-2000)

NHL Hockey

Arthur “Art” Jackson
Born: December 15, 1915, Toronto, Ontario , Canada
Died: May 15, 1971, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Height: 5′ 8″ – Weight: 165 lbs
NHL ice hockey Center
Pro-career: 1931-1945
Teams: Toronto Marlboros (1931-1933); St. Michael’s Majors(1933-1934); Toronto CCM(1933-1934); Toronto Maple Leafs(1934-1937) (1944-1945); Syracuse Stars(1934-1935)(1936-1937); Boston Bruins(1937-1938)(1940-1945); New York Americans(19381939)
Honors: 2 Stanley Cups – Boston 1941, and Toronto 1945

Mario Marois
Born: December 15, 1957, L’Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec, Canada
Height: 5′ 11″ – Weight: 190 lbs
NHL ice hockey Defenceman
Pro-career: 1977-1993
Teams: New York Rangers; Vancouver Canucks; Quebec Nordiques; Winnipeg Jets;
St. Louis Blues
Honors:

Ric Seiling
Born: December 15, 1957 in Elmira, Ontario, Canada
Height: 6′ 1″ – Weight: 180 lbs
NHL ice hockey Right Wing / Center
Pro-career: 1977-1987
Teams: Buffalo Sabres; Detroit Red Wings