On This Day in Baseball

February 17

25 notable birthdays · 25 in memoriam

Born on February 17

Most accomplished baseball figures with this birthday, ranked by career impact.

  1. 01
    Josh Willingham b. 1979
    .253 avg, 195 HR 2004–2014 Florence, USA
  2. 02
    Wally Pipp b. 1893
    .281 avg, 90 HR 1913–1928 Chicago, USA
  3. 03
    Steve Evans b. 1885
    .287 avg, 32 HR 1908–1915 Cleveland, USA
  4. 04
    Scott Williamson b. 1976
    28-28, 3.36 ERA 1999–2007 Fort Polk, USA
  5. 05
    Willie Kirkland b. 1934
    .240 avg, 148 HR 1958–1966 Siluria, USA
  6. 06
    Danny Patterson b. 1971
    .000 avg, 0 HR 1996–2004 San Gabriel, USA
  7. 07
    Ike Boone b. 1897
    .321 avg, 26 HR 1922–1932 Samantha, USA
  8. 08
    Nemo Leibold b. 1892
    .266 avg, 3 HR 1913–1925 Butler, USA
  9. 09
    Ed Brandt b. 1905
    121-146, 3.86 ERA 1928–1938 Spokane, USA
  10. 10
    Danny Farquhar b. 1987
    MLB player 2011–2018 Pembroke Pines, USA
  11. 11
    Jhony Brito b. 1998
    10-9, 4.15 ERA 2023– Puerto Plata, D.R.
  12. 12
    Andrew Brown b. 1981
    MLB player 2006–2008 Chardon, USA
  13. 13
    Jorge Barrosa b. 2001
    .176 avg, 3 HR 2024– Puerto Cabello, Venezuela
  14. 14
    Cody Ransom b. 1976
    .213 avg, 30 HR 2001–2013 Mesa, USA
  15. 15
    Zac Grotz b. 1993
    MLB player 2019–2020 San Mateo, USA
  16. 16
    Henry Merchant b. 1918
    .237 avg, 1 HR Birmingham, USA
  17. 17
    Kevin Cron b. 1993
    .170 avg, 6 HR 2019–2020 Placentia, USA
  18. 18
    Dave Roberts b. 1951
    .239 avg, 49 HR 1972–1982 Lebanon, USA
  19. 19
    Esteban Quiroz b. 1992
    .275 avg, 0 HR 2022–2022 Ciudad Obregon, México
  20. 20
    Deivy Grullon b. 1996
    .167 avg, 0 HR 2019–2020 Bonao, D.R.
  21. 21
    Jim Bowie b. 1965
    .214 avg, 0 HR 1994–1994 Tokyo, Japan
  22. 22
    Lonnie Maclin b. 1967
    .077 avg, 0 HR 1993–1993 St. Louis, USA
  23. 23
    Mike Macha b. 1954
    .095 avg, 0 HR 1979–1980 Victoria, USA
  24. 24
    Dave Wissman b. 1941
    .148 avg, 0 HR 1964–1964 Greenfield, USA
  25. 25
    Charlie Jamison b. 1903
    .250 avg, 0 HR Jasper, USA

Remembered on February 17

Baseball figures lost on this date.

  1. 01
    Red Ruffing ⭐ HOF 1905–1986
    273-225, 3.80 ERA 1924–1947
  2. 02
    Lefty Gomez ⭐ HOF 1908–1989
    189-102, 3.34 ERA 1930–1943
  3. 03
    Nestor Chylak ⭐ HOF 1922–1982
    MLB player
  4. 04
    Kip Selbach 1872–1956
    .293 avg, 44 HR 1894–1906
  5. 05
    Tony Phillips 1959–2016
    .266 avg, 160 HR 1982–1999
  6. 06
    Tom York 1850–1936
    .273 avg, 14 HR 1871–1885
  7. 07
    George Meakim 1865–1923
    15-13, 4.03 ERA 1890–1895
  8. 08
    Jack Dalton 1885–1950
    .286 avg, 4 HR 1910–1916
  9. 09
    Doc Johnston 1887–1961
    .263 avg, 14 HR 1909–1922
  10. 10
    Eddie Fisher 1936–2025
    85-70, 3.41 ERA 1959–1973
  11. 11
    Jim Burns
    .305 avg, 5 HR 1888–1891
  12. 12
    Howie Nunn 1935–2012
    .200 avg, 0 HR 1959–1962
  13. 13
    Lee Thompson 1898–1963
    .286 avg, 0 HR 1921–1921
  14. 14
    Ray Boyd 1887–1920
    2-4, 3.09 ERA 1910–1911
  15. 15
    Larry Gilbert 1891–1965
    .230 avg, 5 HR 1914–1915
  16. 16
    George Washington 1907–1985
    .268 avg, 9 HR 1935–1936
  17. 17
    Phil Williams 1906–1957
    .302 avg, 0 HR
  18. 18
    Brock Pemberton 1953–2016
    .167 avg, 0 HR 1974–1975
  19. 19
    Steve Bechler 1979–2003
    MLB player 2002–2002
  20. 20
    Cecil Tyson 1914–2000
    .000 avg, 0 HR 1944–1944
  21. 21
    Otto Bolden 1879–1930
    .091 avg, 0 HR
  22. 22
    Ramón Couto 1906–1977
    MLB player
  23. 23
    Happy Iott 1876–1941
    .200 avg, 0 HR 1903–1903
  24. 24
    James Graham 1865–1935
    .167 avg, 0 HR 1889–1889
  25. 25
    Harry Little 1850–1927
    .133 avg, 0 HR 1877–1877

February 17 in the record

25 baseball figures born on February 17 are listed, led by Josh Willingham. From Steve Evans in 1885 to Jorge Barrosa in 2001, the births cover a long stretch of the game. The February 17 list continues with Wally Pipp (b. 1893, .281 avg, 90 HR) and Steve Evans (b. 1885, .287 avg, 32 HR). D.R., Venezuela, México, and Japan are also represented among the February 17 births. The highest-ranked hitter born on February 17, Josh Willingham, carries a .253 avg, 195 HR line, and the highest-ranked pitcher, Scott Williamson, went 28-28, 3.36 ERA. The span for Jhony Brito and Jorge Barrosa ends in a dash, meaning no last game is recorded. The February 17 memorial list names 25 figures, beginning with Red Ruffing. Red Ruffing, Lefty Gomez, and Nestor Chylak are marked as Hall of Fame members. The memorial list continues with Lefty Gomez (1908–1989) and Nestor Chylak (1922–1982). Ray Boyd (1920) and Eddie Fisher (2025) bracket the memorial list. Ranking on the February 17 page follows career impact, with Hall of Fame membership weighted heavily.