How could I pass up a day to make a cheesy play-on-words with Leap Year? It’s easier than the Seinfeld episode when Jerry meets a detective named Bookman in his overdue library book-case.  For some reason, the first thing that popped in my head this morning was Quantum Leap, not sure why.

On September 25, 1991 this episode aired - Play Ball - August 6, 1961

I probably saw a few episodes of the show, but never got hooked like I did with Lost or Dexter.  After doing some research, I found this episode titled “Play Ball – August 6, 1991.”   Here’s the official description of the episode from IMDB (one of my favorite websites): “Sam is a minor league baseball pitcher who has plenty of female admirers and a porcine team mascot to watch out for.”

Ironically, Scott Bakula, who played Dr. Sam Beckett appeared in one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen – Major League, Return to the Minors.  And to get even more ridiculous with all these name-games, did you notice the last name of Beckett?  Yes, Josh Beckett is a former Sea Dog. I just couldn’t resist.

Now on to Al Leap.  He’s the only professional baseball player on Baseball Reference with the last name of Leap.  Here’s a link to his page http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=leap–001car.  Leap played nine minor league seasons, including a stop with the 1950 Elmira Pioneers of the Eastern League.   The Pioneers were 58-81, the second worst record in the E.L.  Only the Scranton Miners’ fans were complaining more, they had a 54-85 record.  Guess their affiliate?  The Boston Red Sox.

Notable Leap Day Birthdays: Ja Rule (Leap Day Age: 9; Real Age: 36), Tony Robbins (Leap Day Age: 13; Real Age: 52) and Dennis Farina (Leap Day Age: 17; Real Age: 68)

Major Leaguers with  Leap Day Birthdays: Terence Long, Bill Long, Jerry Fry, Al Autry, Steve Mingori, Al Rosen, Pepper Martin,Ralph Miller, Roy Parker, Ed Appleton and Dickey Pearce.

Terence Long celebrates a Leap-Day Birthday. What a leap this was at Fenway Park! (Photo courtesy of AP)