Sports Fact of the Day 1/7/07

1/7/1971:

Speedster Bobby Tolan of the Cincinnati Reds suffers a torn Achilles tendon while playing a charity basketball game with a group of his teammates in Frankfort, Kentucky. He’ll miss the entire 1971 season but rebound next year with a .283 batting average and 42 steals to earn the Comeback Player of the Year award. Sadly, with the advent of huge salaries and contract bans on risky physical activities, charity appearances will become rareties on the sports landscape.

Birthdays:

Alvin Dark b. 1922

Eddie LeBaron b. 1930

Tony Conigliaro b. 1945

Eric Gagne b. 1976

Alfonso Soriano b. 1976