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Check out these fascinating baseball players born on December 23!
1. Jerry Koosman (1942)
Koosman had an impressive 19-year career with the Mets, Twins, White Sox, and Phillies. In 1968, he set two Modern Era NL rookie records and finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year vote. Not to mention his stellar performance in the 1969 World Series. He’s definitely a player worth remembering!
2. Sam Leever (1871)
This turn-of-the-20th-century right-hander had an outstanding career, becoming a four-time 20-game winner. Did you know he earned the nickname “The Goshen Schoolmaster” because he taught for seven years before starting his big league career?
3. Hanley Ramirez (1983)
Ramirez won the 2006 NL Rookie of the Year Award and followed it up with three top-11 MVP seasons. His journey from being a switch-hitter to focusing on his right-handed batting is a remarkable part of his baseball story.
4. Victor Martinez (1978)
Martinez, a switch-hitting catcher-turned-DH, made five All-Star teams and won two Silver Slugger Awards in his impressive 16-year career.