We remember "super glove man" Aurelio Rodríguez (1947-2000)

We remember Aurelio Rodriguez.   He was born in Mexico on this day in 1947 and died tragically in 2000.

Aurelio broke with the Angels in 1967.    He hit 19 HRS with 83 RBI in 1970.  

After that, he was better known for his incredible glove at third base.   He finally won the Gold Glove in 1976 after Brooks Robinson of the Orioles won 16 in a row.

Overall, he hit .237, 124 HR & 648 RBI in 2,017 games.   He was a great defensive third baseman and that's why he played such a long career with the Angels, Tigers & Yankees.  

 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.

 

We remember Rod Sterling (1924-1975)

We remember Rod Sterling who was born in Syracuse, NY, on this day in 1924.  He died in 1975.

Most of us grew up watching "The Twilight Zone", one of my all-time favorite TV shows.

P.S.  You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).  If you like our posts, click send drop a dime here.

---

We remember Tim Hardin (1941-80)

We remember Tim Hardin, who was born in Eugene, Oregon, on this day in 1941 and died in 1980.     His life was cut short by some personal problems, specially an addiction to heroin.

His songs include "Reason to believe", recorded by Rod Stewart and The Carpenters,  and "If I were a carpenter", a big hit for Bobby Darin and recorded by many others.

P.S.  You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).  If you like our posts, click send drop a dime here.

1860-64: Christmas and President Lincoln

Over the years, I’ve enjoyed reading presidential Christmas proclamations. Some are more prominent than others.   

President Washington always stands out because he set the table for others to follow.    

Then there is President Roosevelt in 1941 after Pearl Harbor.   

President Truman in 1945 or the first peace time Christmas in a few years.   

More recently, President Bush in 1991 or President GW Bush after 9-11.

They are all significant and a reminder that Christmas is a lot more than a day off or a vacation day for federal employees. There is a religious meaning to the season no matter how much we try to replace it with secular messages. 

We think of Lincoln as the greatest president. How did Lincoln spend Christmas week as president and president-elect? Let’s remember:

“In 1860, as President-elect, Lincoln received callers such as Thurlow Weed in Springfield, Illinois, and dealt with Cabinet issues. He was especially concerned that federal forts had been taken in the South. 

On December 20 he received the stunning news that South Carolina had seceded from the Union. 

In 1861 President Lincoln was deeply involved in Civil War problems such as the Trent affair, but found time on December 22 to attend services at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church.

On Christmas morning he held an important Cabinet meeting, but was able to entertain a large number of dinner guests by evening.

In 1862 President Lincoln again was absorbed with military matters and was preparing the final draft of the Emancipation Proclamation.

On December 23 he wrote to Fanny McCullough, whose father had been killed in action and had been a long-time friend of his. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln visited Washington hospitals on Christmas Day.

In 1863 President Lincoln reassured the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society he had no intention of retracting the Emancipation Proclamation.

On Christmas Day he discussed the constitutionality of the draft with John Hay, one of his private secretaries.

In 1864 President Lincoln received the following dispatch from General Sherman, who had captured Savannah, Georgia:

“I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the city of Savannah with 150 heavy guns & plenty of ammunition & also about 25000 bales of cotton.”

On December 26 Lincoln gave a Christmas reception at the White House.”

Christmas 1860 must have been especially troubling as the President elect could see some very hard times ahead.  

Merry Christmas or Feliz Navidad, as I grew up saying!

P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.

We remember Robin & Maurice Gibb today

Robin and Maurice, Barry's younger twin brothers, were born on this day in 1949.  Unfortunately, Maurice died suddenly in 2003 and Robin from cancer in 2012.

I love their 3-part harmonies and songwriting skills.   

From 'New York Mining Disaster 1941" in the spring of 1967 to "This is where I came in", their last LP in 2001, the Brothers Gibb recorded and wrote some of the best songs of the last 50 years.

 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.

---

1957: Elvis and the draft

(My new American Thinker post)

During the GOP debate a few days ago, some candidates avoided the draft question.  In other words, they want to send troops to the Middle East but continue to do so with a volunteer army.

For the record, my son served as a volunteer in the U.S. Army.  I am very proud of him.  Also, our volunteer army performed admirably in recent wars, from the Gulf War of 1991 to Iraq to Afghanistan.

A lot of people have forgotten that we used to have a draft, or required service in the U.S. armed forces.  The draft ended in 1973.

On this day in 1957, Elvis Presley got his draft notice:

After six months of basic training–including an emergency leave to see his beloved mother, Gladys, before she died in August 1958–Presley sailed to Europe on the USS General Randall. For the next 18 months, he served in Company D, 32nd Tank Battalion, 3rd Armor Corps in Friedberg, Germany, where he attained the rank of sergeant. 

For the rest of his service, he shared an off-base residence with his father, grandmother and some Memphis friends. After working during the day, Presley returned home at night to host frequent parties and impromptu jam sessions. At one of these, an army buddy of Presley’s introduced him to 14-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu, whom Elvis would marry some years later. 

Meanwhile, Presley’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker, continued to release singles recorded before his departure, keeping the money rolling in and his most famous client fresh in the public’s mind. Widely praised for not seeking to avoid the draft or serve domestically, Presley was seen as a model for all young Americans. 

After he got his polio shot from an army doctor on national TV, vaccine rates among the American population shot from 2 percent to 85 percent by the time of his discharge on March 2, 1960.

I remember telling my sons a few years ago about Elvis getting drafted.  They said, What?

The draft should be brought back.  It makes your armed forces more representative of the population.  It will also force some young people to understand that there are unique responsibilities to being a superpower, such as defending our way of life.

 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.

2013 show: Cuban food for the holidays with Marta Darby & Sonia Martinez

Guests:  

Marta Verdes Darby, (My big fat Cuban family)

and Sonia Martinez, author of "Tropical taste".

P.S.  You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).  If you like our posts, click send drop a dime here.

We remember Walt "No neck" Williams (1943-2016)

We remember Walt Williams who was born on this day in 1943.  He died in 2016.

In the early 1970s, it was a treat to watch the Chicago White Sox play the Milwaukee Brewers at the old County Stadium.

During that time, the White Sox had a stocky outfielder (5'6" & 165 lbs) with one of the greatest nicknames in baseball, or "No neck" Williams.   His wife said that he got the nickname in his first year of baseball.   

"No neck" played for several years with Chicago, Cleveland and New York Yankees.   His best season was 1969 when he hit .304 with 133 hits.    Overall, he retired with a very respectable .270 career batting average.

Walt "No neck" Williams.    I loved the nickname and very aggressive style on the field.

 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.

We remember Tony Taylor (1935-2020)

We remember Tony Taylor, who was born in Central Alava, Matanzas, Cuba.   He was born in 1935 and died today in 2020.

Tony broke with the Cubs in 1958 hitting .235 in 140 games.  

He was traded to the Phillies and enjoyed a very good career:   2.007 hits, a .261 average, 234 stolen bases and 1,005 runs scored.    Tony had a couple of seasons with 700-plus plate appearances, a test to his durability. 

Taylor retired in 1976.   Tony is one of a handful of major leaguers who played in the pre-Castro winter league and the majors. 

 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.

We remember Al Kaline (1934-2020)

We remember Al Kaline who was born in Baltimore in 1934 and died in 2020.    

Kaline broke with the Detroit Tigers in 1953.

In 1955, he won the AL batting title, the youngest champion ever at age 20.  

Kaline played right field for the next two decades and finished in the top 3 of AL batting leaders five more times.  He also hit 399 HR and won 10 Gold Gloves.

In 1974, he retired with 3,008 hits and was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1980.

One of my all time favorites.   I saw him play several times.

 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.

---

We remember William Safire (1929-2009)

We remember William Safire, who was born in New York City on this day in 1929 and died in 2009.

Safire was associated with President Nixon, including the famous "Kitchen debate" from 1959.  Later, he wrote several books and a column.  

His books were great.

 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.

---

1773: A little Tea Party history

Once upon a time, colonists threw tea into the water of Boston harbor.     

Our own "tea party" these days is also based on taxation and the sense that the government is out of touch with the governed.

 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.

We remember Patty Duke (1946-2016)

We remember that Patty Duke was born in Queens, New York, on this day in 1946.  She died in 2016.

Patty had a very popular TV star in the 1960's, or the kind of program that millions of girls would watch every week to catch up with her antics.   

She was very talented and worked on many other movies as well.

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 Bill Buckner (1949-2019)

Bill Buckner was born in Vallejo, CA on this day in 1949 and died after a battle with cancer in 2019.  

He hit .289 with 2,715 hits and a .408 on-base average.    Buckner was a tough out, a great competitor and the kind of guy that you wanted on your team.   Indeed, a great major league hitter.

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.

1951: Joe DiMaggio retired from baseball

The great Joe DiMaggio officially ended his baseball career on this day in 1951.   

He began with the Yankees in 1936 when he was 21.   We remember him for the 56-game hitting streak and a .325 career batting average.  

He also played in 10 World Series, including 4 in a row (1936-39) and won the MVP 3 times. (1939, 1941 & 1947).

Was he the best?   Let's say that he was one of the best!    

 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.

We remember John Lennon (1940-80)

It's hard to believe but John Lennon was killed on this day in 1980.   Where did the time go?  

Yes, it was a shocking act, as Howard Cosell said on TV, when he broke the story during the football game.

Most of the country heard the story during the aforementioned game.  I fell asleep during the game and heard the news the morning after.

 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.

World War II right after the attack on Pearl Harbor with Barry Jacobsen

Guest:  Barry Jacobsen, blogger and military historian........

.we will look at World War II right after the attack on Pearl Harbor.........the US declared war and now must organize a military response...........and other stories.......

Click to listen:

 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.

1961: The day that Fidel Castro said: “Yo soy un Marxista Leninista”!

 

For much of the first two years of the so called “revolution,” Fidel Castro denied that he was a communist.  In fact, he did it on “Meet the Press” when he visited the U.S. in 1959.     Nevertheless, there were many people who had serious doubts, from Vice President Richard Nixon to many Cubans in the island.

On this day in 1961 Fidel Castro made it official:    

“”I am a Marxist-Leninist and shall be one until the end of my life.”He went on to state that, “Marxism or scientific socialism has become the revolutionary movement of the working class.”He also noted that communism would be the dominant force in Cuban politics:“There cannot be three or four movements.””   

And that was it!   It happened about seven months after the failed Bay of Pigs invasion and ended any hopes of a multiparty election or restoration of the freedoms that the regime had eliminated by executive decree.  

Last, but not least,  Cubans were thrown in jail or executed in 1959-61 for calling Castro un “comunista.”   None of those people were ever released after Castro confirmed that he was “un communista.”  They stayed in prison, along with thousands of others.  

As my late father used to say, communists lie and then lie so more!  

 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.

1823: The Monroe Doctrine

 

It all started as a message to Congress and became one of the most important foreign policy doctrines in US history.   We know it as The Monroe Doctrine.   

The declaration, drafted by Secretary of State John Quincy Adams intended to keep European powers from colonizing territory in Central and South America.   The US was also looking westward and did not want to compete with Europeans in North America.

"America for Americans" was the message.    Naturally, it had its critics and supporters over the years.   On balance, it worked well and kept European powers out of America, from North to South.

 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.

---

1963: The UK version of "I want to hold your hand" was released by The Beatles

In late November 1963, "I want to hold your hand" was released in the UK.   A few weeks later it was heard in the US.   

By mid-January, the song was # 1 on Billboard and "Beatlemania" was off and running.     The group appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9th and you know the rest of the story.

In the UK, the B-side was "This boy".   In the US, it was "I saw her standing there".    

A few weeks later, "Meet the Beatles", the first Capitol LP was also released.  

 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.

We remember Dick Clark (1929-2012)

We remember Richard Wagstaff Clark who was born in Mt. Vernon, NY, on this day in 1929.   On April 18, 2012, Dick Clark died of a heart attack.  He was 82.

Dick Clark's American Bandstand was on the air until the late 1980s.  He went from one generation to the other, from Elvis to U2.  I guess that he connected so well because he never "aged".  He looked as young in 1987 as he did in 1967 when we used to watch those Saturday shows.

Dick Clark was great and we thank him for all of the memories.  I used to love that "rate the record" segment and the interviews.

 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.

We remember Gato Barbieri (1923-2016)

He was born Leandro Barbieri in Rosario, Argentina, on this day in 1923.  He died in 2016.

Leandro got the nickname "Gato" because he would go from one club to another in Buenos Aires.   

Over time, he recorded over 30 albums and won many awards, including a Latin Grammy lifetime achievement.

Your music was excellent!  By the way, he composed the music for "Last tango in Paris".

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.

---

1980: John Lennon's "Double Fantasy" released in the US

John Lennon released "Double Fantasy" on this day in 1980.  It turned out to be his last LP because John was killed a few weeks later.    I guess that I must be getting old because I remember the new LP and the night he was killed like it was yesterday.

 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.

November 1980: Reagan elected

Many years ago, I was following the 1980 presidential election results on radio and TV. 

The last minute polls were calling for a close race.  It was confusing, to say the least.

Around 7 pm, the Eastern results came in and Carter looked weak.  

By 9 pm, the Southern results started projecting a Reagan victory.  

By 11 pm, the Western results made it a landslide. 

Some things don't get old. Instead, they get better with age. Reagan's 1980 landslide victory is one of those things.

 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.

1980: KC Royals finally beat the Yankees

In the late 1970's Kansas City and New York met 3 times in the ALCS.  The Yankees won in 1976, 1977 and 1978.  

The 1976 and 1977 series saw New York win in the bottom of the 9th (Chris Chambliss walk off HR) and a top of the 9th rally in Kansas City.   They were crushing defeats for the Royals.

The Yankees won the 1978 series in 4 games.

Finally, the Royals won in 1980 sweeping the Yankees.  George Brett's HR off of Goose Gossage clinched it.

And KC finally beat New York!

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.

---

October 1968 and Bob Gibson

Back in October 1968, I ran home with my little transistor radio hoping to catch Game 1 of the World Series on TV.  I knew that my mother would have the game on TV, so my objective was to get home.

I ran faster and faster when I heard that Gibson was pitching a shutout and about to set a post-season record for strikeouts.  Well, I did not make it home, but I did hear strikeout #17 on the radio and caught the post-game interview.

It was arguably the greatest pitching performance of the 20th century because he was facing a Detroit lineup that included Al Kaline, Norm Cash, Willie Horton, Bill Freehan, and Jim Northrup.  The 1968 A.L. champion Tigers were a great team.  It's hard to believe that anyone could strike out 17 against a lineup like that.  He was as dominating as any pitcher in one game. 

The amazing Bob Gibson died this week in 2020.  He was 84 and fighting cancer.

Over the years, Gibson won 251 games with a 2.91 ERA.  He also threw 56 shutouts!  Add 255 complete games plus winning Game 7 in 1964 versus New York and 1967 versus Boston!

In the aforementioned season of 1968, he won 22 games, pitched 28 complete games and 13 shutouts.  His ERA was a super-human 1.12!

I did not make a typing mistake.  It was indeed 1.12 over 304 innings.

Gibson added a no-hitter in 1971 and was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1981.

He was absolutely awesome and died shortly after Lou Brock, his teammate from those Cardinals who won three N.L. pennants in five years, passed away.  Sad month for Cardinal nation.

Never saw him in person but lots of times on TV.  As I told my late father one day, I would have Bob Gibson on the mound if my life depended on one pitch.

P.S.  You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).  If you like our posts, click send, and drop a dime here.

"Julia" and more John Lennon memories!

(This is John and his mother Julia)

A couple days ago, we posted about John Lennon and his songs.

Of course, John was killed in December 1980 outside his New York City apartment.

We remember a great song from The Beatles' White Album.

This is "Julia", a song about his mother who was killed in an accident when John was a teenager.

Here is that song about Julia, his mother, and Aunt Mimi, who became very close to him.

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.

(Lennon/McCartney)

Half of what I say is meaningless

But I say it just to reach you, Julia

Julia, Julia, oceanchild, calls me

So I sing a song of love, Julia

Julia, seashell eyes, windy smile, calls me

So I sing a song of love, Julia

Her hair of floating sky is shimmering,

glimmering In the sun

Julia, Julia, morning moon, touch me

So I sing a song of love, Julia

When I cannot sing my heart

I can only speak my mind, Julia

Julia, sleeping sand, silent cloud, touch me

So I sing a song of love, Julia

Hum hum hum hum... calls me

So I sing a song of love for Julia, Julia, Julia"

 

1936-39: A look back at The Spanish Civil War with Barry Jacobsen

1936-39:    A look back at The Spanish Civil War with Barry Jacobsen.......click to listen

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.

1980: The Iran-Iraq War this week

Iran and Iraq went to war this week in 1980.    It was a horrible war that went on for almost 8 years.

Sadly, population centers in both countries were devastated and Iraq employed chemical weapons, such the blister agent mustard gas from 1983 and the nerve gas Tabun from 1985.  

Later, Iraq attacked the Kurds to the north.

So Iraq used chemical weapons in that war?   I thought that he didn't have them!   

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.

2014: The story of "Pedro Pan" with Victor Triay, Cuban American author

The story of "Pedro Pan" with Victor Triay, Cuban American author....Listen in now at http://t.co/y9bZehxPWK. #BlogTalkRadio
— Silvio Canto, Jr. (@SCantojr) September 12, 2014

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.

Race before it went woke

(My new American Thinker post)

On this day in 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. touched a nerve with the following words:

"I have a dream....that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.  I have a dream today."

We remember it today as the "I Have a Dream" speech delivered before 250,000 people at the March on Washington.  

A year later, we passed the Civil Rights Act and other legislation intended to eliminate discrimination based on race.  

Our family landed in the U.S. in the fall of 1964.  I can still remember my late father speaking in glowing terms about how the U.S. corrected its mistakes and brought everyone into the fold.   He would say something like "what other in the country has done anything like that?"

That was then, and this is now.  Have we made progress on race relations?  The easy answer is 'yes' but there is something in the air today that makes me wonder.    

For example, look at Brown University:   

Brown University has expanded eligibility for a teacher training class after initially restricting enrollment exclusively to racial and ethnic minorities.

The "Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction" teacher training course at the Rhode Island-based Ivy League school had initially been restricted to "BIPOC" students. BIPOC is an acronym for black, indigenous, and people of color.

Translation: Whites can apply.   

Second, let's look at what's happening at American Express, a company that has apparently gone woke:   

A former American Express employee on Tuesday sued the credit card company, alleging that he was fired because he is white and objected to the company's "racially discriminatory" policies, Fox Business reports.

Brian Netzel, who lost his job in 2020 after 10 years at American Express, filed a class-action complaint against the credit card giant. He said he and other white employees faced discrimination because of the company's "diversity" efforts.     

American Express poured billions of dollars into "antiracism" policies in the aftermath of George Floyd's death in 2020. Earlier this month, the company pledged to devote an additional $3 billion to a "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Action Plan."

According to Netzel's lawsuit, American Express's implementation of these "antiracism" policies "gave preferential treatment to individuals for being black and unambiguously signaled to white employees that their race was an impediment to getting ahead in the company."

Executives were given monetary incentives to "decrease the percentage of white employees in their departments."

Once upon a time, we used to say that two wrongs don't make a right.  Honestly, I would not be surprised if we see more of these lawsuits in other companies.  I've heard about these "diversity training" programs and it's woke all the way.

Where are we so many years since Dr. King told us to focus on character rather than race?   We are focusing too much on race and that is wrong and poisonous.

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.