August 3, 1923: Calvin Coolidge became President of the US

On August 3, 1923, VP Calvin Coolidge became the 30th president of the US.   It followed the passing of President Harding.    He was sworn in by his father, who was a notary public.   Mr. Coolidge learned of President Harding's death in the middle of the night!

By he way, President Coolidge was born on July 4, 1872.

A few years ago, Amity Shlaes wrote a good book about President Coolidge.

 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.

August 3, 1492: Christopher Columbus set sail

On this day in 1492, Columbus sailed to look for that passage to India.   As we know, he found something totally different and came back a few more times.   

Columbus' life had its ups and downs.  He discovered the New World but died in Valladolid on May 20, 1506, without realizing the great scope of his achievement.  

Well, we're glad that he sailed many years ago.

 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.

1948: Satchel Paige's first major league start

Satchel Paige made it to the major leagues in 1948.     Paige was 6-1 with a 2.48 ERA for the World Champion Cleveland Indians.    

He started his first game on August 3rd and pitched 7 strong innings against the Senators.

Paige was the greatest pitcher of the old Negro Leagues.   He led the Kansas City Monarchs to four consecutive pennants from 1939 to 1942.  It’s not clear how many games he won but it was a lot of them.

Paige was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1971.

 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.

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We remember Tony Bennett (1926-2023)

Anthony Dominick Benedetto was born on this day in 1926 in Astoria, New York, of Italian parents.   He died in 2023.

We know him as Tony Bennett, the voice of so many great songs like "I left my heart in San Francisco".

 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.