Athletes and Sports Stars Born in 1955

Curtis Strange (69 years old)

Jan 30 American golfer (US Open 1988-89), born in Norfolk, Virginia

Virginia Ruzici (69 years old)

Jan 31 Romanian tennis star (1978 French Open champion), born in Campia Turzii, Romania

Feb 1 Virginia Leng, British equestrian rider (World C'ship individual 1986; Olympic silver x 2, bronze x 2 1984, 88), born in Malta
Feb 5 Mike Heath, American baseball player, born in Tampa, Florida
Feb 6 Eric Money, American NBA player, born in Detroit, Michigan
Feb 7 Charlie Puleo, American MLB pitcher (NY Mets, Atlanta Braves), born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey
Feb 7 Kathy Flores, American rugby union coach (United States women's team 2002-11; Brown University), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2021)
Feb 10 Chris Adams, British pro wrestler and judoka (d. 2001)

Greg Norman (69 years old)

Feb 10 Australian golfer (British Open 1986, 93), born in Mount Isa, Queensland

Feb 10 Lusia Harris, American Basketball HOF center (AIAW C'ship & MVP 1975–77, Delta State University; Olympic silver 1976), born in Minter City, Mississippi (d. 2022)
Feb 12 Chet Lemon [Chester Earl Lemon], American baseball player, born in Jackson, Mississippi
Feb 12 Daniele Masala, Italian pentathlete (Olympics 1976), born in Rome, Italy
Feb 18 Tim Hankinson, American soccer coach (Alabama A&M, Syracuse University; Tampa Bay Mutiny, Colorado Rapids), born in Manhattan, New York (d. 2022)
Feb 20 Néstor Montelongo, Uruguayan soccer utility (36 caps; Montevideo Wanderers, Peñarol, Nacional, Racing), born in Montevideo, Uruguay (d. 2021)
Feb 22 Tim Young, Canadian ice hockey player (Minnesota North Stars), born in Scarborough, Ontario

Alain Prost (69 years old)

Feb 24 French Formula One racing driver (Championships: 85, 86, 89, 93), born in Lorette, France

Feb 26 Rupert Keegan, English Formula One racing car driver, born in Essex, England
Feb 28 Adrian Dantley, NBA forward (Olympic gold 1976, Utah Jazz), born in Washington, D.C.
Mar 7 Tommy Kramer, American College Football HOF quarterback (Rice University; NFL Comeback Player of the Year & Pro Bowl 1986 Minnesota Vikings), born in San Antonio, Texas
Mar 8 Don Ashby, Canadian ice hockey player (d. 1981)
Mar 9 Teo Fabi, Italian Formula-1 Indy-car racer (rookie of year-1983), born in Milan, Italy
Mar 10 Toshio Suzuki, Japanese racing driver
Mar 13 Bruno Conti, Italian footballer and manager, born in Nettuno, Rome
Mar 13 Olga Rukavishnikova, Soviet pentathlete (Olympic silver 1980), born in Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk
Mar 15 Mohsin Khan, Pakistani cricketer (Pakistani opening batsman late 70s early 80s), born in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Mar 16 Jiro Watanabe, Japanese boxer
Mar 21 Barbel Wockel-Eckert, German DR, sprinter (Olympic-4 gold-1976, 80)
Mar 23 Cindy Olavarri, Pleasant Hills California, cyclist (7-Eleven team)

Moses Malone (1955-2015)

Mar 23 Basketball Hall of Fame center (NBA MVP 1979, 82-83; NBA Finals MVP 1983; 12 x NBA All Star; Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers), born in Petersburg, Virginia,

Mar 24 Doug Jarvis, Canadian ice hockey forward (record for most consecutive NHL games 964; Stanley Cup 1976-79 Montreal Canadiens), born in Brantford, Ontario
Mar 25 Lee Mazzilli, American baseball utility (MLB All Star 1979, NY Mets; World Series 1986, Pittsburgh Pirates), manager (Baltimore Orioles) and coach (World Series 2000, NY Yankees), born in Brooklyn, New York
Mar 29 Earl Campbell, American College-Pro Football HOF running back (Heisman Trophy 1977, Uni of Texas; Pro Bowl 1978, 79, 80, 81, 83, Houston Oilers), born in Tyler, Texas
Mar 31 Robert Vance, New Zealand cricket wicket-keeper (4 Tests @ 29.57), born in Wellington, NZ
Apr 1 Dan Pohl, American golfer (US Masters 1982 runner-up; 2 PGA Tour titles), born in Mt Pleasant, Michigan
Apr 1 Ockie Oosthuizen, South African rugby union front rower (9 caps; Transvaal), born in Johannesburg, South Africa (d. 2019)
Apr 8 Gerrie Coetzee, South African boxer (WBA heavyweight title 1983-84), born in Boksburg, South Africa (d. 2023)
Apr 8 John Campbell, Canadian harness racing driver (6 x Hambletonian Stakes; 3 x Yonkers Trot; 8 x Kentucky Futurity), born in Ailsa Craig, Ontario
Apr 8 Ricky Bell, American College Football HOF running back (USC; #1 Overall Selection 1977 NFL Draft TB Buccaneers; San Diego Chargers), born in Houston, Texas (d. 1984)
Apr 13 Lupe Pintor, Mexican boxer, born in Cuajimalpa, Mexico City
Apr 15 Enith Salle Brigitha, Dutch 100m/200m swimmer (Olympic bronze 1976), born in Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles
Apr 16 Bruce Bochy, American baseball player and manager (San Francisco Giants), born in Landes de Boussac, Bussac-Forêt, France
Apr 23 Tony Miles, English chess player (first Englishman to earn the Grandmaster title), born in Birmingham, England (d. 2001)
Apr 25 Américo Gallego, Argentine soccer midfielder (73 caps; Newell's Old Boys, River Plate) and manager (River Plate, Independiente, Newell's Old Boys), born in Morteros, Argentina
Apr 25 Buster Mottram, English tennis player, born in Kingston upon Thames
Apr 25 John Nunn, English chess grandmaster, born in London
Apr 26 Mike Scott, American baseball pitcher (NL Cy Young Award & NLCS MVP 1986, NL wins leader 1989; 3 × MLB All-Star Houston Astros), born in Santa Monica, California
May 1 András Törőcsik, Hungarian soccer forward (45 caps; Újpest Dozsa FC, Montpellier), born in Budapest, Hungary (d. 2022)
May 1 Julien Wiener, Australian cricket batsman (6 Tests, top score 93; 7 ODIs), born in Melbourne, Australia
May 2 Ian Callen, Australian cricketer (one Test Australia v India 1978, six wickets), born in Alexandra, Victoria, Australia
May 3 David Hookes, Australian cricketer and coach, born in Mile End, Adelaide, Australia (d. 2004)
May 6 Ron Fawcett, British rock climber, born in Embsay, North Riding of Yorkshire, England
May 9 Myra Blackwelder, American golfer (LPGA Rookie of the Year 1980), born in Lexington, Kemtucky
May 10 Chris Berman, sportscaster (ESPN)
May 14 Jan Sørensen, Danish soccer striker (11 caps; Club Brugge, FC Twente, Feyenoord, Ajax) and manager (Portimonense, Walsall FC), born in Glostrup, Denmark (d. 2024)
May 14 Peter Kirsten, South African cricket batsman and coach (12 Tests, top score 104; 40 ODIs), born in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa

Dennis Martínez (68 years old)

May 14 Nicaraguan baseball pitcher (Orioles, Expos, Indians), born in Granada, Nicaragua

Jack Morris (68 years old)

May 16 Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher (5 x MLB All Star; World Series 1984 Detroit Tigers, 1991 [MVP] Minnesota Twins, 1992-93 Toronto Blue Jays), born in Saint Paul, Minnesota

Olga Korbut (68 years old)

May 16 Soviet-Belarusian gymnast (4 x Olympic gold 1972, 76), born in Grodno, Belarus, Soviet Union

May 19 Ed Whitson, pitcher (NY Yankees, San Diego Padres)
May 21 Liaqat Ali, Pakistani cricket pace bowler (Pakistan for six Tests 1975-79), born in Karachi, Pakistan
May 21 Paul Barber, British field hockey player
May 24 Thad Ackel, American racehorse trainer
May 26 Wesley Walker, American football wide receiver (Pro Bowl 1978, 82; First-team All-Pro 1978; New York Jets 1977–89), born in San Bernardino, California
May 27 Abdelmalek Ali Messaoud, Algerian soccer defender (38 caps; USM Alger, USM Annaba), born in Annaba, Algeria (d. 2022)
May 27 Graham "Jock" Edwards, New Zealand cricket batsman (8 Tests, 3 x 50; Central Districts), born in Nelson, New Zealand (d. 2020)
May 28 Mark Howe, American ice hockey player
May 29 Ken Schrader, American auto racer, promoter (Daytona 500 1988, 89, 90), born in Fenton, Missouri
May 30 Jake "The Snake" Roberts, American pro wrestler (WWE Hall of Fame), born in Gainesville, Texas
May 31 Laura Baugh, American golfer, writer, broadcaster (LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year 1973), born in Gainesville, Florida
Jun 1 Chiyonofuji Mitsugu, Japanese sumo wrestler (31 tournament c'ships; Kyushu Tournament 1981-88), born in Fukushima, Japan (d. 2016)
Jun 1 Lorraine Moller, New Zealand athlete (Olympic bronze marathon 1996; Boston Marathon 1984; Osaka Ladies Marathon 1986, 87, 89), born in Putaruru, New Zealand
Jun 5 Edino, Brazilian soccer defender (45 caps; Fluminense, Udinese) and manager (Fluminense, Boavista), born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Jun 6 Theuns Stofberg, South African rugby union flanker (21 caps, captain 1980, 81, 84; Orange FS, Northern Transvaal, Western Province), born in Villiers, South Africa (d. 2023)
Jun 11 Yuriy Sedykh, Russian athlete (Olympic gold hammer throw 1976, 80 Soviet Union; WR 86.74m), born in Novocherkassk, Russia (d. 2021)
Jun 13 Alan Hansen, Scottish soccer defender (26 caps; Liverpool 434 games) and broadcaster (BBC Match of the Day), born in Sauchie, Scotland
Jun 14 Vince Evans, American football quarterback (USC; MVP Rose Bowl 1977; NFL: Chicago Bears, LA / Oakland Raiders), born in Greensboro, North Carolina
Jun 16 Tree Rollins, American NBA center (Cleveland Cavaliers), born in Winter Haven, Florida
Jun 21 Juan Carlos Orellana, Chilean soccer left winger (11 caps; Deportes Temuco, CSD Colo-Colo, O'Higgins FC), born in Santiago, Chile (d. 2022)

Michel Platini (68 years old)

Jun 21 French footballer, born in Jœuf, France

Jun 23 Jean Tigana, French footballer
Jun 24 Loren Roberts, American golfer (British Senior Open 2006, 09; US Open 1994 runner-up), born in San Luis Obispo, California
Jun 26 Philippe Streiff, French auto racer (55 x F1 Grand Prix; 24 Hours of Le Mans 1981 runner-up; French Formula 3 C'ship 1981), born in La Tronche, France (d. 2022)
Jun 27 Isabelle Adjani, French actress (Story of Adele H, Driver, Ishtar), born in Paris, France
Jun 28 Eric Gates, English football player, born in Ferryhill, County Durham, England

Nikolay Zimyatov (68 years old)

Jun 28 Soviet-Russian cross-country skier (5 Olympic golds 1980 & 84), born in Moscow, Soviet Union

Jul 1 Mike Rossman, American boxer (world light-heavyweight champion 1978-79), born in Turnersville, New Jersey
Jul 3 Matt Keough, American baseball pitcher (MLB All Star 1978; AL Comeback Player of the Year 1980; Oakland A's), born in Pomona, California (d. 2020)
Jul 5 Peter McNamara, Australian tennis player (Australian Open doubles 1979, Wimbledon doubles 1980, 82), born in Melbourne, Victoria (d. 2019)
Jul 7 Len Barker, American baseball player, born in Fort Knox, Kentucky
Jul 9 Willie Wilson, American baseball player, born in Montgomery, Alabama
Jul 11 Sergey Babinov, USSR, ice hockey star (Olympic gold 1972)
Jul 14 Sándor Puhl, Hungarian soccer referee (1994 FIFA World Cup Final; 1997 UEFA Champions League Final; IFFHS World's Best Referee 1994-97), born in Miskolc, Hungary (d. 2021)
Jul 19 Roger Binny, Indian cricket medium-pace all-rounder (early 80's), born in Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Jul 24 Lubov Odinokova, Soviet handball player (Olympic gold 1976, 80)

Allan Border (68 years old)

Jul 27 Australian cricket batsman (156 Tests [93 as captain]; 11,174 runs @ 50.56; 27 x 100s; TS 205; 273 ODIs), born in Sydney, Australia

Aug 1 Arun Lal, Indian cricketer (Indian batsman mid-80's), born in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh
Aug 6 Gordon J. Brand, English golfer (British Open 1986 runner-up), born in Cambridge, England (d. 2020)
Aug 8 Herbert Prohaska, Austrian footballer
Aug 9 Doug Williams, American NFL quarterback (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins), born in Zachary, Louisiana

Betsy King (68 years old)

Aug 13 American golfer (6-time major winner; US Open 1989-90), born in Reading, Pennsylvania

Aug 13 Hideo Fukuyama, Japanese racing driver (first Japanese to compete in NASCAR's top series), born in Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture, Japan
Aug 13 Keith Ahlers, British racing driver, born in Cambridge, England
Aug 15 Kenneth Carr, American basketball forward (Olympic gold 1976; LA Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Portland TBs), born in Clearwater, Florida
Aug 19 (Edgar) "Ned" Yost, American MLB baseball catcher, 1980-85 and manager, 2003-2019 (Minnesota Twins; Kansas City Royals - World Series win, 2015), born in Eureka, California
Aug 20 Ned Overend, American mountain bike racer (World C'ship gold cross-country 1990, bronze 1991), born in Taipei, Taiwan
Aug 27 Rod Davis, New Zealand sailor (Olympic gold USA soling class 1994; silver NZ star class 1992), born in Key West, Florida
Aug 29 Frank Hoste, Belgian cyclist (Tour de France, 1984), born in Ghent, Belgium
Aug 30 Butch [Richard] Johnson, American archer (Olympic gold 1992, 96), born in Worcester, Massachusetts
Aug 30 Marvin Powell Jr., American College Football HOF offensive tackle (USC; First-team All-Pro 1979, 82; 5 x Pro Bowl; NY Jets, TB Buccaneers), born in Fort Bragg, North Carolina (d. 2022)
Aug 31 Edwin Moses, American 400m hurdler (2 Olympic golds), born in Dayton, Ohio
Sep 1 Gerhard Strack, German soccer defender (10 caps; 1. FC Köln, FC Basel, Fortuna Düsseldorf), born in Kerpen, Germany (d. 2020)
Sep 6 Anne Henning, American 500m speed skater (Olympic gold 1972), born in Raleigh, North Carolina
Sep 10 Marja-Liisa Hämäläinen, Finnish cross country skier (3 Olympic gold 1984), born in Simpele, Finland

Abdul Qadir (1955-2019)

Sep 15 Pakistani cricket spin bowler (67 Tests; 236 wickets; best 9/56 1987), born in Lahore, Punjab

Sep 16 Robin Yount, American Baseball HOF shortstop/center fielder (AL MVP 1982, 89; 3 x MLB All Star; Milwaukee Brewers; 3,142 hits), born in Danville, Illinois
Sep 17 Scott Simpson, American golfer (US Open 1987; 7 PGA Tour titles), born in San Diego, California
Sep 18 Billy Sims, American College Football Hall of Fame running back (Heisman Trophy 1978, U of Oklahoma; Pro Bowl 1980–82, Detroit Lions), born in St. Louis, Missouri
Sep 22 Jeffrey Leonard, American Major League baseball player, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Sep 25 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, German football player (Bayern Munich), born in Lippstadt, West Germany
Sep 25 Ludo Coeck, Belgian footballer (R.S.C. Anderlecht), born in Berchem, Belgium (d. 1985)
Sep 29 Vicki Fergon, American golfer (first woman to win on all 3 LPGA-affiliated tours), born in Palo Alto, California
Oct 1 Jeff Reardon, American baseball pitcher (4-time MLB All Star; Montreal Expos, Minnesota Twins), born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Oct 4 Carmen Valero, Spanish athlete (IAAF World Cross Country C'ship gold 1976, 77; bronze 1975), born in Castelserás, Spain (d. 2024)
Oct 4 Gerry Ryan, Irish soccer forward (18 caps Republic of Ireland; Bohemians FC, Derby County, Brighton & Hove Albion), born in Dublin, Ireland (d. 2023)
Oct 4 John Rutherford, Scottish rugby union fly-half (42 caps; British & Irish Lions 1983), born in Selkirk, Scotland
Oct 4 Jorge Valdano, Argentine soccer forward and manager (23 caps; Real Madrid), born in Las Parejas, Argentina
Oct 5 Adair Ferguson, Australian rower (World C'ship gold single sculls 1985), born in Brisbane, Australia
Oct 6 Tony Dungy, American football coach

Bill Elliott (68 years old)

Oct 8 American auto racer (Winston Cup 1988), born in Dawsonville, Georgia

Oct 9 Steve Ovett, British athlete (Olympics gold 800m, bronze 1500m 1980), born in Brighton, England
Oct 15 Kulbir Bhaura, British field hockey player (Olympic gold 1988), born in Jalandhar, Punjab, India

Victor Pecci (68 years old)

Oct 15 Paraguayan tennis star, born in Asuncion, Paraguay

Oct 18 Denis Watson, South African golfer (US Open 1985 runner-up; Senior PGA C'ship 2007), born in Harare, Zimbabwe
Oct 19 Lonnie Shelton, NBA forward (NY Knick, Seattle Supersonics)
Oct 20 Aaron Pryor, American welterweight boxing champion, born in Cincinnati, Ohio (d. 2016)
Oct 24 Ghulam Parkar, Indian cricketer (Indian batsman v England 1982), born in Kaluste, Maharashtra, India
Oct 25 Danny Darwin, American baseball pitcher (Pittsburgh Pirates), born in Bonham, Texas
Oct 25 Tim Rosaforte, American golf writer (Sports Illustrated, Golf Digest) and broadcaster (USA Network, Golf Channel), born in Mount Kisco, New York (d. 2022)
Nov 2 Mark Reynolds, American yachtsman who won Olympic gold, Star class 1992, 2000, born in San Diego, California
Nov 3 Phil Simms, American NFL quarterback (Super Bowl 1986 [MVP], 90; NY Giants) and broadcaster (ESPN, NBC CBS), born in Springfield, Kentucky
Nov 7 Detlef Ultsch, German judoka (Olympic bronze 1980), born in Sonneberg, Bezirk Suhl, East Germany
Nov 10 Jack Clark, American baseball utility (MLB All-Star 1978, 79, 85, 87; Silver Slugger Award 1985, 87; SF Giants, St. Louis Cardinals), born in New Brighton, Pennsylvania
Nov 12 Tito Lupini, Italian rugby union prop (11 Tests; Rovigo) and coach (Rovigo), born in Johannesburg, South Africa (d. 2021)
Nov 14 Jack Sikma, NBA center (Seattle Supersonics, Milwaukee Bucks), born in Kankalee, Illinois
Nov 17 Bill McCreary, Ontario, NHL referee
Nov 17 Dennis Maruk, Canadian hockey player
Nov 21 Cedric Maxwell, American basketball small forward (NBA C'ship 1981 [MVP], 84 Boston Celtics; LA Clippers, Houston Rockets), born in Kinston, North Carolina
Nov 22 James Edwards, American basketball center (NBA C'ship 1989, 90 Detroit Pistons, 1996 Chicago Bulls), born in Seattle, Washington
Nov 22 Sue Novara-Reber, American cyclist (1975 World sprint champ), born in Flint, Michigan

Ian Botham (68 years old)

Nov 24 England cricket captain, all-rounder (102 Tests, 5,200 runs, 383 wickets), born in Heswall, England

Nov 24 Jerry Holland, Irish rugby union lock (3 Tests; Munster RUFC) and coach (Munster RUFC 1994-97), born in Cork, Ireland (d. 2022)
Nov 24 Scott Hoch, American golfer (US Masters 1989 runner-up, Ryder Cup 1997, 2002), born in Raleigh, North Carolina
Nov 26 Bob Walk, American baseball player, born in Van Nuys, California
Nov 26 Jay Howell, American baseball pitcher (NY Yankees, Oakland A's), born in Miami, Florida
Nov 27 Pierre Mondou, Canadian ice hockey player, born in Sorel, Quebec
Nov 28 Alessandro Altobelli, Italian soccer striker (61 caps; Internazionale 317 games), born in Sonnino, Italy
Nov 30 Andy Gray, English soccer player
Dec 1 Uwe Benter, German rowing coxswain (Olympic gold coxed four 1972), born in Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Dec 2 Paul Holmgren, American NHL right wing, 1975-85 (Philadelphia Flyers, Minnesota North Stars), coach, 1988-96 (Philadelphia, Hartford Whalers), and executive (Philadelphia Flyers), born in Saint Paul, Minnesota
Dec 3 Alberto Tarantini, Argentine soccer defender (61 caps; FIFA World Cup 1978; Boca Juniors, River Plate, Toulouse), born in Ezeiza, Argentina
Dec 4 Dave Taylor, Canadian ice hockey right wing and executive (NHL All-Star 1981-82, 86, 94; LA Kings; St. Louis Blues), born in Levack, Ontario
Dec 6 Malcolm Jarvis, Zimbabwean cricket fast bowler (5 Tests including Zimbabwe's 1st Test side, 11 wickets), born in Fort Victoria, Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
Dec 8 Ian Greig, cricketer (brother of Tony Two Tests for England 1982)
Dec 9 Janusz Kupcewicz, Polish soccer midfielder (20 caps; KS Arka Gdynia, ASSE Saint-Étienne), born in Gdańsk, Poland (d. 2022)
Dec 11 Stu Jackson, American NBA coach (NY Knicks (1989-90), born in Reading, Pennsylvania
Dec 12 Eddy Schepers, Belgian professional cyclist, born in Tienen, Belgium
Dec 12 Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, Greek businesswoman and president of the bidding and organizing committee for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, born in Heraklion, Greece
Dec 13 Glenn Roeder, English soccer defender (QPR, Newcastle United), and manager (Watford, West Ham, Newcastle, Norwich), born in Woodford, England (d. 2021)
Dec 14 Jane Crafter, Australian-American golfer (1987 JC Penney Mixed Teams), born in Perth, Australia
Dec 16 Graham Stevenson, English cricket medium pace bowler (2 Tests, 5 wickets; 4 ODIs; Yorkshire CCC, Northamptonshire CCC), born in Ackworth, England
Dec 19 Susil Fernando, Sri Lankan cricket batsman (5 Tests, HS 46; SL Air Force Sports Club), born in Colombo, Sri Lanka
Dec 22 Lonnie Smith, American MLB baseball outfielder, 1978-94; (Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, and 3 other teams), WS wins with 3 different teams, born in Chicago, Illinois
Dec 24 Anwar Khan, Pakistani cricketer (bowled four overs for Pakistan 1979), born in Karachi, Pakistan
Dec 27 Brad Murphey, Australian racing driver