'Sully' among 18 finalists in top mustache contest

[October 07, 2009]  ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Two baseball players and hero pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger are among 18 finalists for the American Mustache Institute's top honors.

 The tongue-in-cheek St. Louis-based institute announced the finalists Monday for the "Robert Goulet Memorial Mustached American of the Year."

The winner will be selected through an online vote and announced at the "'Stache Bash" on Oct. 30. Proceeds from the event benefit Challenger Baseball, a baseball league for those with disabilities.

Sullenberger, who sports a neatly groomed white mustache, gained fame after safely landing a disabled US Airways jetliner in New York's Hudson River in January.

St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Brendan Ryan and Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Clay Zavada are the two ballplayers among the finalists.

[Associated Press]

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