Wednesday, October 09, 1974

October 9, 1974: A's beat Orioles in game 4 with only one hit

  
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On this day in 1974, the A's beat the Orioles in the ALCS to return to the World Series.  They went on to beat LA and win their 3rd title in a row.

In game 4,  the A's took advantage of Mike Cuellar's 9 walks and managed to get a run without a hit.    Later, Reggie Jackson hit a double to left field and the A's got their second run.   The O's rallied in the bottom of the 9th but fell short when Rollie Fingers struck out Don Baylor to put the A's in the World Series.

Here is the box score!

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Tuesday, September 24, 1974

1974: Al Kaline got # 3,000






Al Kaline was one of the most consistent hitters of the 20th century.  He was also a superb right fielder.   


On this day in 1974, Al Kaline got # 3,000 in a game against the Orioles in Baltimore.   He retired at the end of the season   Overall, Kaline retired with 3,007 hits, a .297 career average, 399 home runs and 1,582 RBI.

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Tuesday, September 17, 1974

"Young Winston" is a must for anyone who wants to learn more about Winston Churchill


On Friday's show, Barry Jacobsen and I rememberd "Young Winston" with Simon Ward and Anne Bancroft playing his mother.    It is a great movie.   It will introduce to Churchill who was born in 1874.

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Tuesday, September 10, 1974

We remember Cynthia Lennon (1939-2015)


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Sunday, September 08, 1974

Pres. Ford and those current historians

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Pres. Ford's funeral was a big history lesson: Don't bet your farm on current historians because they usually get it wrong.

Pres. Ford is now the great leader who inherited a constitutional crisis, made the difficult but correct decision to pardon Pres. Nixon and had to deal with a tough recession in 1975-76.

Back in '76, cynical Democrats accused Pres. Ford of making a deal with Pres. Nixon on the pardon. In fact, the pardon was not about Pres. Nixon. It was about the US and putting the Watergate scandal behind us.

Maybe he wasn't a Lincoln but he was a very good Ford!


Friday, August 09, 1974

August 1974: Nixon, Ford and the presidency

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It was the first week of August 1974 when the unthinkable happened: President Richard M. Nixon announced that he had resigned the presidency.   We say unthinkable because it was the first and only time that a US president had resigned.  He made his announcement on TV the night before and formally resigned at noon on this day in 1974.
As I recall, I rushed home to watch President Nixon’s departure from the White House and President Gerald Ford’s inauguration.  I kept telling myself that I was a witness to history — a resignation and a new president who was never directly elected by voters.
Later my dad came home with a business friend visiting from Venezuela.  We sat down for dinner and the friend commented that it was impressive to watch a transfer of power without tanks or shots.
After the speech and his departure from Washington, President Nixon went into political exile but made a comeback in the 1980's with some great books, one of  them his memoirs, RN.  He became one of the premier foreign-policy statesmen in the world.  
President Nixon died in 1994 and was given a full presidential funeral.  
PS: This is a great book:

Nixon to Ford 1974: Was it really so many years ago?

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It was the first week of August 1974 when the unthinkable happened: President Richard M. Nixon announced that he had resigned the presidency.   We say unthinkable because it was the first and only time that a US president had resigned.  He made his announcement on TV the night before and formally resigned at noon on this day in 1974.
As I recall, I rushed home to watch President Nixon’s departure from the White House and President Gerald Ford’s inauguration.  I kept telling myself that I was a witness to history — a resignation and a new president who was never directly elected by voters.
Later my dad came home with a business friend visiting from Venezuela.  We sat down for dinner and the friend commented that it was impressive to watch a transfer of power without tanks or shots.
After the speech and his departure from Washington, President Nixon went into political exile but made a comeback in the 1980's with some great books, one of  them his memoirs, RN.  He became one of the premier foreign-policy statesmen in the world.  
President Nixon died in 1994 and was given a full presidential funeral.    
This is a great book.
(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.)

Thursday, August 08, 1974

1974: Nixon resigned the presidency

NIXON RESIGNS! | The Mitchell Archives - Original Historic Newspapers

President Nixon made his resignation announcement on TV on this day in 1974.  VP Ford assumed the presidency the next day.  

After the speech and his departure from Washington, President Nixon went into political exile but made a comeback in the 1980's with some great books, one of  them his memoirs, RN.  He became one of the premier foreign-policy statesmen in the world.  

President Nixon died in 1994 and was given a full presidential funeral.  
This is a great book.
P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.


Tuesday, August 06, 1974

1968 was a great year for The Bee Gees



The Bee Gees recorded music from the mid-1960's until Maurice died in 2003.  They recorded a bunch of 45's and albums and sold millions of them.

According to Billboard, The Bee Gees rank 3rd among groups for Most "Hot 100" number ones in history!

Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb's songs have been recorded by Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, Barbra Streisand, Englebert Humperdink, Dionne Warwick, and many others.

In 1967, they hit the US market.   At the end of '67, they recorded "Massachusetts", their biggest hit up to that moment.   

The album "Idea" was released in the summer of '68 and it featured "I've gotta get a message to you" & "I started a joke", a couple of Top 10 hits in the US and million sellers around the world.

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Wednesday, July 17, 1974

July 1974: George McCrae's "Rock Your Baby" was all over the radio and discoteques



Disco music was known as dancing music.   It became disco later in 1978 with "Saturday Night Fever".    

George McCrae may not have invented disco but he had millions dancing from coast to coast:  "Rock your baby":

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Sunday, July 14, 1974

Remembering President Ford who was born on this day in 1913


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President Ford was born on this day in 1913.  He died in 2006.

The 38th president spent much of his post presidency enjoying a well deserved retirement.  He made a few appearances but generally stayed home and enjoyed his wonderful wife and family. 

President Ford often smoked a pipe in public. He may have been the last president to smoke in public.   

Who remembers this from the day he became president:
"I am acutely aware that you have not elected me as your President by your ballots.   So I ask you to confirm me as your President with your prayers."    
I remember Pres. Ford making that statement. I think that it went over very well with much of the country.

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Tuesday, June 04, 1974

June 4, 1974: "10 cent beer night" was a disaster for the Rangers and Indians




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In 1971, my brother and I attended “10 cent beer night” in Milwaukee.    
It was crazy and we weren’t old enough to buy one!   At one point, the police had to intervene and arrest several fans in the parking lot to stop them from driving home under the influence.  It was a disaster.   

Many years ago or this day in 1974, they tried it in Cleveland and it did not work out again.   It was a disaster in Cleveland and the game forfeited to protect players from drunk fans.     We are happy to report that the idea was never tried again!

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Monday, May 06, 1974

May 1970: The Beatles' last single produced by Phil Spector



It was May 1970 and The Beatles released their last LP called "Let it be".     It included several studio and live tracks recorded the year before.

"The Long and Winding Road" turned out to be the last single released by the group.

There were other singles in the 1970's, such "Got to get you into my life" and "A day in the life".   However, those were old songs reissued for one reason or another.

It was "The long and winding road", with "For you blue" on the B-side, that was the last hit by the legendary band.      It reached # 1 on Billboard in June.


Later, a "Naked version" without Phil Spector's strings and choir, was also released.     Frankly, it was a lot better but we did not hear it until almost 30 years later.


You can get the LP HERE.    The so called "Naked version" HERE.    You can read more about Phil Spector.

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Sunday, May 05, 1974

"Cinco de Mayo" is not Mexico's July 4th!



Today we celebrate “Cinco de Mayo” in Dallas, Los Angeles and elsewhere.   Your favorite Mexican restaurant will be all dressed up and ready to serve a delicious round of nachos, enchiladas and beer.    "It sells a lot  of beer" as my Filipino friend who owns a Mexican restaurant likes to boast.  He doesn't really know anything about "Cinco de Mayo" but the sound of the register makes him happy.  

So what’s the big deal about “Cinco de Mayo”?  Why is everyone so happy and festive?

Allan Wall, who lived in Mexico, wrote a good summary for those of us who are not Mexican or studied Mexican history in school.   

Here it is so read it before your beer & nachos:     

Cinco de Mayo, Spanish for “May the 5th,” is the holiday celebrating the Mexican victory over the French army on May the 5th, 1862, at Puebla, east of Mexico City.

The city of Puebla holds a big annual celebration on the anniversary of the battle. But in most of Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is not really an important holiday. It’s mostly a bank holiday and a day off from school. But this year it’s on a Saturday so my students don’t even get a break for it!

In the United States however, Cinco de Mayo has become, in recent years, the major Mexican – American celebration. Throughout the Southwest, and in other parts of the U.S., there are various Cinco de Mayo celebrations – parades, mariachi music performances, and exhibitions of Mexican dancing, etc.

Washington D.C. has an annual Cinco de Mayo Festival and President Bush is known for Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the White House. Cinco de Mayo is also a big beer-drinking day, with Mexican beer brands doing 5-10% of their U.S. sales for the occasion.

“Cinco de Mayo” means "Fifth of May".

In the U.S., especially in the Southwest, “Cinco de Mayo” has turned into a day of celebrating Mexican heritage.  

Down in Mexico, “Cinco de Mayo” is about a battle around Puebla, or south of Mexico City.  Up here,  it is one big excuse for taking a longer lunch.

So another "Cinco de Mayo" is here.  Up here, we will eat some good Mexican food.  

Down in Mexico, they will ask again:  "Why are those gringos suddenly so crazy about Mexican food"?

Enjoy your Mexican food.  We all need an hour off from inflation, gas prices and leaks.

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Thursday, May 02, 1974

1939: Lou Gehrig stepped down after 2,130 games or 13 years!

Lou Gehrig's playing career ended on this day in 1939 after playing in 2,130 consecutive games.

He never played again and died two years later.  

It may a good weekend to catch that great movie "The pride of the Yankees".


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Friday, April 26, 1974

We remember Bobby Rydell (1942-2022)


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We remember Bobby Rydell who was born in Philadelphia on this day in 1942.   He died April 2022. 

I think that he became famous in "Bye bye Birdie" with a very young Ann Margaret, another teen idol of the early 1960's.    

Bobby had many hits on the radio, including "Forget him" and "Wild one". 


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Monday, April 08, 1974

April 8, 1974: Henry Aaron hits # 715




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Henry Aaron passed Babe Ruth on this day in 1974.  He did it on national TV, at home and against the Dodgers.

I remember watching this moment on TV.  It was great.  Aaron is still #1 in my book.  He was one of the greatest players ever and a real gentleman!
 
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Saturday, April 06, 1974

ABBA's "Waterloo" wins top song at Eurovision 1974


We've posted about ABBA a couple of times before.  

Back in 1974, ABBA won a European prize and it launched the group.

It took a couple of years for ABBA to click in the US.  However, they did in 1976 and the rest is history.

My first exposure to ABBA was listening to the radio in 1976 and hearing a song called "I do, I do, I do".  Again, I was convinced that they were the best two looking girls in Sweden.  

Click here for ABBA's "Waterloo".  It wasn't really about Napoleon & Waterloo but no one was angry with the girls for their view of history: 


Thursday, April 04, 1974

April 4, 1974: Aaron hit # 714 on opening day


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It was a big week for Aaron.

On opening day 1974, Hank Aaron hit # 714 off of Jack Billingham.   He tied Babe Ruth with a 3-run HR.   


A few days later, he hit # 715 in Atlanta in front of a national TV audience.

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Thursday, March 28, 1974

"Stolen Holiday" from 1937

What a riot of a movie.    I started watching it and enjoyed it.     The main characters are Kay Francis, Claude Rains and Ian Hunter.

Here is the story:  A Paris fashion model marries a fortune hunter to protect him from the law.    The rest is for you to figure out!

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Tuesday, March 12, 1974

1974: "Eres tu" by Mocedades became a favorite for people learning Spanish

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"Eres tu" was the best thing that ever happened to Spanish class teachers.  

In other words, what could be better than a pop song in Spanish that every student wanted to learn?

Mocedades from Spain hit US radio this month and the results were a Top 10 hit called "Eres tu".    It was a great pop song.

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Saturday, February 02, 1974

1974: Barbra Streisand's "The way we were" was # 1 this week

"The way we were" was released in 1973.    It quickly became a very popular romantic film starring Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford.   The movie's title theme was # 1 this week in 1974.   

As far as I'm concerned, this is Streisand's finest song.    Alan Bergman and his wife Marilyn wrote the lyrics to this song, and Marvin Hamlisch wrote the music.

Her voice is incredible.

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Saturday, January 26, 1974

Paul Newman and "The Sting"........



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We remember Paul Newman, who was born on this day in 1925.    My favorite Newman movie was "The sting":




Wednesday, January 16, 1974

1974: Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford selected to the Hall of Fame


Two great Yankees were selected to the Hall of Fame on this day in 1974.

Mickey Mantle was one of the great power hitters in history:   .298 career batting average, 536 HR and 1,509 RBI.   He was also a 3-time MVP and played in 12 World Series.   He had a career .421 On Base Average.

Whitey Ford was one of the best lefthanders in major league history:  236 wins, 156 complete games and a 2.75 career ERA.   He played in 11 World Series and won 10 games.

Mantle and Ford were part of the great Yankee teams that dominated baseball from 1949-64.   They were great teammates and it was great to see them go into the Hall of Fame together.

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