Catch our shows from last week:
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Sunday, May 24, 2026
Growing slowly south of the border
Growing slowly south of the border:
The economic news out of Mexico is a problem for Mexico.
Click to read:
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/05/growing_slowly_south_of_the_border.html
1935: The Babe hit # 714 and then said goodbye
(My new American Thinker post)
Babe Ruth is #3 on the home run list behind Bonds and Aaron. However, 714 is one of those magic numbers for baseball fans like me. 60 (later 61) and 714 were the big baseball numbers that we grew up hearing about. Frankly, I never thought that anyone would catch Ruth's 714. At the same time, I cheered Aaron all the way, especially after he got to 700 and eventually passed Ruth in 1974.
Babe Ruth hit # 714 on this day in 1935. Like everything else, he did it with style and noise. This is how it went down:
Every star player’s illustrious career must come to an end at some point. It only seems fitting that Babe Ruth’s final home run came in a game in which he hit three on May 25, 1935.
Most players’ star power begins to fade over time, and Ruth was no exception to this rule.
Released by the Yankees following the 1934 season, Ruth returned to Boston to play for the Braves.
On May 25, 1935, the Braves and Ruth lost 11-7 to the Pittsburgh Pirates, whose lineup boasted three future Hall of Famers: The Waner brothers Lloyd and Paul playing center and right field, respectively, as well as shortstop Arky Vaughan.
Ruth drove in six of the Braves’ seven runs with his three blasts.
He would play in five more games that season, but did not record another hit.
I am not even sure if he knew that the curtain was closing or his career was over. My only regret is that he did not finish with the Yankees. He died in 1948 from cancer.
By any standard, Ruth was the most consequential player in baseball history. He saved the game and put fans back in the seats. He also created the Yankee mystique that still lives on.
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
1935: Phillies vs Reds and the first night game
Most major league games are now played at night, including the post season. Afternoon baseball is primarily on weekends or opening day.
The first night game was on this day in 1935: The Reds beat the Phillies 2-1 before 25,000 happy home team fans!
Night baseball became a reality in the 1940s.
The first World Series night game was game 4 in 1971 when the Pirates beat the Orioles. A few years later, millions watched the 1975 Boston-Cincinnati series. Last, but not least, the Cubs did not turn on the lights until 1988!
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
Where were you Memorial Day weekend 1977?
(My new American Thinker post. See for links and references)
Let me paraphrase Wolfman Jack and ask you: where were you in '77? More specifically, where were you Memorial Day weekend 1977?
We remember this weekend the 44th anniversary of Star Wars. In my mind, the movie was OK, but the return on the investment was really something else, as we see here:
Inspired by films like the Flash Gordon serials and the samurai films of Akira Kurosawa, as well as such critical works as Joseph Campbell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces and Frank Herbert's Dune books, Lucas began work on Star Wars in 1974.
Ground-breaking in its use of special effects, this is considered to be among the most successful—and most influential—films of all time. Produced with a budget of US$11,000,000 and released on May 25, 1977, the film became one of the most successful of all time, earning $215 million in the United States and $337 million overseas during its original theatrical release, as well as winning several film awards, including 10 Academy Award nominations.
It was re-released several times, sometimes with significant changes; the most notable versions were the 1997 Special Edition and the 2004 DVD, which were modified with CGI effects and recreated scenes. It was re-released in the Blu-ray format in September of 2011.
The film was selected to be preserved by the Library of Congress as part of its National Film Registry. The film was selected in 1989, the program's first year in existence.
It was also a marketing bonanza. Every boy wanted to be Luke Skywalker and every girl for sure Princess Leia. Nobody was talking about "gender roles" back then. Maybe things were simpler or people had more common sense.
By fall, young people were dancing to a disco version of the theme song by Meco! By the way, Meco was Domenico Monardo, who once played in the Cadet Band at West Point. It still sounds cool today.
Who would have believed any of this on that Memorial Day weekend of 1977, when the movie was being promoted? I certainly didn't, and most of you probably didn't, either. On second thought, this is the U.S. and wonderful and amazing things happen here.
May the force be with you!
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
Happy # 85 Bob Dylan
We remember Robert Zimmerman, who was born in Minnesota on this day in 1941. We know him as Bob Dylan.
As far as I know, Dylan has been quiet lately. He seems to be enjoying retirement and having the rest of us listen to his songs. (By the way, May is another anniversary of Dylan’s second album, the one that included “Blowing in the wind.”)
Dylan did win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2016. Eventually, he accepted the award, but his trip to Stockholm was typical Dylan, as I recall reading in The New Yorker:
When he finally showed up in Stockholm, during an April tour stop, to receive the Nobel medal, he looked more like a cat burglar than a laureate, sneaking into the private prize hand-off through a service door, wearing a hoodie, leather jacket, and gloves.
Maybe he should have done a solo rendition of “Boots of Spanish Leather” with that outfit! On second thought, maybe he should have asked Joan Baez to do it.
I never really liked Dylan singing his own songs, although “Mr. Tambourine Man” and “Like a Rolling Stone” are obvious exceptions. Nobody can sing those two songs like Dylan. I love The Byrds’ “Mr. Tambourine Man,” but Dylan is Dylan.
Nevertheless, I was one of those who loved others singing Dylan songs. Nobody did it better than Peter Paul and Mary and Joan Baez.
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
Saturday, May 23, 2026
Maybe Don Lemon should start a lemonade stand
Maybe Don Lemon should start a lemonade stand:
Maybe the WNBA needs a court reporter to remind everyone that the league that no one watches leads in diversity.
Click to read:
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/05/maybe_don_lemon_should_start_a_lemonade_stand.html
We remember Rosemary Clooney (1928-2002)
We remember Rosemary Clooney who was born in Maysville, Kentucky, on this day in 1928. She died in 2002.
She was a hugely popular singer in the 1950's, including recording "Sway" with Perez Prado. She was with Bing Crosby in "White Christmas", the classic holiday movie and song. Another one of her hits was "Mambo italiano".
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
Watching “John Adams”
A few years ago, I purchased the John Adams HBO series and watched the whole thing over a rainy weekend. It’s amazing what you can do during a long “rain delay” theater.
As a naturalized U.S. citizen, I’ve always had a passion for everything about U.S. history.
I think that the U.S. is the greatest nation in history.
It has done more good for mankind than anyone else.
Its sons have liberated millions, an important point to remember this weekend.
The U.S. economy has brought boundless prosperity to more people than anything else.
This great nation opened its arms to our family and gave us a chance at a new life.
It has given me so much. Therefore, I don’t stand quietly when people take “cheap shots” at the U.S.
Let me recommend that you revisit the John Adams series. It will cost you seven hours but the dividends will be tremendous.
The main character is John Adams, our first VP and second president.
The series covers the Declaration of Independence (a great segment), his diplomatic trip to Europe, his service as VP, President, and the retirement years when he reconciled with Thomas Jefferson.
You cannot understand John Adams without understanding his amazing wife, Abigail. During their long and very happy marriage, Abigail and John wrote an amazing number of letters. The “letters” have given historians so much background about the events and passion of that period. They tell the story of a man and a woman living in the early days of a new nation.
Here is a historical gem: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were two of the key players for independence. They died within hours of each other on July 4, 1826, or the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Watch it and reignite your love for the U.S. It may be wise for all of those who want to bring down statues to catch the series, too.
We remember Helen O'Connell (1920-93)
Her career took off in 1939 when she recorded "Green eyes" with Bob Eberly and the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. It was followed by other best sellers like "Tangerine" and "Amapola".
In the 1950's, Helen worked on NBC's "Today Show." She was also the hostess of the Miss Universe Pageant plus the spokeswoman for Polaroid cameras for several years.
She died in 1993.
P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).
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