Happy International Left-Handers Day, Gov. Charlie Baker

Photo via Governor’s Office

The never-ending cavalcade of fakakta holidays dreamt up by potato lobbyists and #brand machines has brought us to August 13: International Left-Handers Day. Left-handers count among their ink-smeared ranks President Barack Obama, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Jimi Hendrix, Rocky Balboa, and, presumably, others.

Gov. Charlie Baker is left-handed. Happy International Left-Handers Day, Mr. Baker. It’s also National Filet Mignon Day. Baker’s official schedule for August 13 makes no mention of either International Left-Handers Day or National Filet Mignon Day. Instead, the governor is slated for a 3 p.m. meeting with the Gloucester Fishermen’s Wives Association.

An estimated 10 percent of the world population are left-handed. According to the holiday’s website, August 13 is a time to “tell your family and friends how proud you are of being left-handed, and also raise awareness of the everyday issues that lefties face as we live in a world designed for right-handers.”

Charlie Baker, the early 20th century Warwickshire cricketeer with a legbreak googly bowling style, was also left-handed.