Leap Year (Happy Birthday Bill Long)

While my www.chuckblogerstrom.com mission statement is to post new content once every 3-to-4 days, sometimes life gets in the way. Not mine … I’m talking about life events for others.
 
That said, if you missed yesterday’s blog about Ron Santo and a fake press release created by yours truly (#pat-yourself-on-the-back), here’s a subtle reminder to read that post. I know you’ll find Ronnie stories as enjoyable as I do.
 
But today isn’t yesterday. I’m back because it’s February 29 – and I was one of the few privileged baseball media relations staffers lucky enough to work with a Leap Year Baby.
 
Back in 1990, at the tail end of April, the Cubs acquired Bill Long from the White Sox for minor league pitcher Frank Campos. It was one of the rare Cubs/Sox trades – and an even rarer in-season crosstown deal.
 
When he joined the Cubs, Long became the first – and still only – Leap Year Baby in Cubs history, having joined the world on February 29, 1960. The Cubs have been in existence since 1876, so an “only” over 140 seasons is pretty cool. Meanwhile, according to the great folks at baseball-reference.com (click here for proof: www.baseball-reference.com/friv/birthdays.cgi?date=02-29), Long is one of just 12 players in major league history born on February 29.
 
With today’s birthday, he is now 14 in Long years and 56 in government years. And to top it off, he’s now in a much more noble position than pitching – as he’s a middle school teacher!
                       
I hope his 12-year-old sixth grade middle school social studies students remember to wish Mr. Long a Happy 14th Birthday!

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