1936: The first selections to the Baseball Hall of Fame

It started on this day in 1936.  The first class selected to the Baseball Hall of Fame included Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Matthewson and Walter Johnson.   Quite a class to say the least!   

Cobb retired as the all time hits leaders (4,189) and a .366 lifetime batting average.   Pete Rose broke his record in 1985.

Ruth hit 714 HRs, set the single season record with 60 HR in 1927 and retired with a .342 career BA.    Henry Aaron and Barry Bonds passed him in 1974 and 2007 respectively.   Roger Maris hit 61 in 1961.   Barry Bonds hit 71 in 2001!

Wagner had 3,420 hits and a .328 career BA.

Mattewson won 373 games.   

Johnson won 424 games, pitched 110 shutouts and had a lifetime 2.17 ERA.   How did he lose 279 games with an ERA like that?   He also had 3,509 Ks!

Great selections!

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1861: Kansas entered the Union as the 28th state

Kansas became the 28th state on this day in 1861.   It was not easy because the nation was about to fight what we now call The Civil War.  The admittance into the Union increased tensions over slavery.  It turned out that Kansas suffered the highest rate of fatal casualties of any Union state. 

Today, Kansas is a prosperous state and reliably Republican vote.       It has a population of 3 million people and a strong economy.

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1962: Peter Paul & Mary signed their first contract

Did you love Peter, Paul & Mary's voices and their many wonderful songs?

We remember today that Peter Paul & Mary signed their first contract with Warner Bros.

Well....and the rest is musical history.   

I love the music of Peter, Paul & Mary.  I've collected their songs for years and a part of my personal soundtrack.  They remind me of so many moments in my life.

Mary Travers died in 2009.  We posted a couple of times about her death.  

Peter & Paul rarely perform anymore.  However, they left us a musical legacy of beautiful tunes. 

P.S. Their music is now available in a digital format.    And there is this wonderful songbook of guitar chords and lyrics!

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.

1958: Campanella and the accident that ended his career

On this day in 1958, Roy Campanella was involved in a career ending car accident.   And so ended Campy's career.   He never played again.

The injury happened a few months after the Dodgers had played their last game in Brooklyn.

Campy was selected to The Hall of Fame in 1969.   He died in 1993.  Campanella was the catcher & 3-time NL MVP on the 1955 Brooklyn team that won the World Series.

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.

We remember Thomas Paine

We remember  Thomas Paine who was born in the UK on this day in 1737.

In 1774, Paine arrived in Philadelphia and soon came to support American independence.  

"Common sense" should be required reading in high school.   Every American kid should be introduced to Paine's ideas.

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.