February 29, also known as Leap Day, is a quirky calendar occurrence that has been utilized for more than 2,000 years.
The people born on this day are only able to celebrate their actual birthday every four years, when an extra day is added to keep the calendar synchronized with the astronomical year, which is approximately 365 1/4 days long.
Folks with a Leap Day birthdate are part of a small and select group bound together by a curious astronomical quirk, and many members of the sports world are privy to the party.
Here’s a list of notable professional athletes born on Feb. 29.
Famous MLB Players Born on February 29
Terrence Long
Long batted .269 with 69 home runs and 376 RBIs over an eight-year MLB career, but the former Oakland Athletics player may be remembered most for being the batter when the New York Yankees’ Derek Jeter nailed Jeremy Giambi with “the flip” in the 2001 AL division series. Long also was featured in Moneyball.
Pepper Martin
The former St. Louis Cardinals outfielder and four-time All-Star won three World Series titles, one of which was a shocking upset of the then-dominant Philadelphia A’s in 1931. Martin slashed .298/.358/.443 with an OPS of .801 in his 13-year career.
Al Rosen
Rosen, who once graced the cover of Sports Illustrated, is the only person in MLB history to win MVP (with Cleveland) and Executive of the Year (with the San Francisco Giants). The venerable slugger won one World Series title, earned four All-Star selections and received one AL MVP award, when he recorded 43 homers and 145 RBIs in 1953.
Famous NFL Players Born on February 29
Eric Kendricks
Kendricks, a second-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in 2015, was a first-team All-Pro selection as a middle linebacker in ’19. After eight seasons with the Vikings, Kendricks signed with the Los Angeles Chargers for the 2023 season.
John Niland
The former Dallas Cowboys guard won Super Bowl VI to cap the 1971 season. Niland is one of six offensive lineman in Cowboys history with at least six Pro Bowl selections.
Bryce Paup
Paup played for the Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Minnesota Vikings across a decade-plus career studded with four Pro Bowl nods and one All-Pro selection. The linebacker finished with 75 career sacks, 17.5 of which came with the Bills in 1995 when he was named Defensive Player of the Year.
Famous NHL Players Born on February 29
Cameron Ward
In 2006, the Carolina Hurricanes standout became the first starting goalie to win the Stanley Cup as a rookie since Patrick Roy in 1986. Ward played 13 seasons for the Hurricanes and was inducted into the team’s hall of fame in 2023.
Henri Richard
Nicknamed “Pocket Rocket,” this Canadian hockey legend is considered one of the greatest NHL players in history with a record 11 Stanley Cup wins and 688 career goals. After a storied career that spanned two decades with the Montreal Canadiens, he represented Les Habs as a team ambassador.
Other Famous Sports Figures Born on Feb. 29
Tyrese Haliburton
The Indiana Pacers guard was born in 2000, which makes him the youngest member of this list. However, Haliburton is already making his mark on the NBA with All-Rookie honors and one All-Star appearance. In two-plus seasons since being acquired from the Sacramento Kings, he’s averaged 20.8 points, 10.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game for the Pacers.
The former ESPN soccer analyst made 30 appearances for the U.S. men’s national team and scored 101 goals while playing for the New England Revolution. Twellman is widely lauded as one of the greatest players in MLS history.
