Sports Birthdays for August 15 — Carl Edwards and More

Here are some of the people in the sports world celebrating birthdays on August 15:

Tom Kelly

Age: 62

Profession: Retired MLB Manager

Best Known For: As the manager of the Minnesota Twins from 1986 to 2001, Tom Kelly guided the team to World Series championships in 1987 and 1991, when he was voted the American League’s Manager of the Year. Kelly’s rebuilding plan set the Twins on the path to three consecutive division titles in the years following his resignation.

Craig MacTavish

Age: 54

Profession: Retired NHL Player / NHL Coach

Best Known For: An NHL All-Star center, Craig MacTavish played for the Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis Blues from 1979 to 1997. MacTavish was a member of the Edmonton teams that won the Stanley Cup in 1987, 1988 and 1990, and the Rangers’ Cup-winning team in 1994. MacTavish signed with the Oilers after he missed the entire 1984-85 season while in prison after being convicted of vehicular homicide in Massachusetts. Having started in the league prior to the regulation requiring protective headgear, MacTavish was the last NHL player allowed to skate without a helmet. After his retirement as a player, MacTavish coached the Edmonton Oilers from 2000 to 2009, leading them to the Stanley Cup finals in 2006.

Gary Kubiak

Age: 51

Profession: Retired NFL Player / NFL Coach

Best Known For: After spending his entire playing career as the backup quarterback to Denver Broncos’ star John Elway, Gary Kubiak has gone on to become a successful NFL coach. Currently the head coach of the Houston Texans, Kubiak also served as offensive coordinator or quarterbacks coach on three Super Bowl-winning teams with San Francisco and Denver.

Yancey Thigpen

Age: 43

Profession: Retired NFL Player

Best Known For: A two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver, Yancey Thigpen played for the San Diego Chargers, Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Oilers/Titans from 1991 to 2000.

Carl Edwards

Age: 33

Profession: NASCAR Driver

Best Known For: Among racing’s most popular drivers, Carl Edwards has finished in the top 10 of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in four of the past five years, including a runner-up finish in 2011. Edwards also won the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series championship. During his nine years of NASCAR racing, Edwards has won 19 Cup Series races. Edwards often does a backflip off of his car in victory lane after he wins a race.