1961: Remembering The Berlin Wall

This is a story that will make no sense to “under 30” readers. It’s a shame that so many have forgotten about The Berlin Wall, its meaning and how many perished trying to escape communism.

East Germany began constructing The Berlin Wall on a day like this in 1961:

“In an effort to stem the tide of refugees attempting to leave East Berlin, the communist government of East Germany begins building the Berlin Wall to divide East and West Berlin. Construction of the wall caused a short-term crisis in U.S.-Soviet bloc relations, and the wall itself came to symbolize the Cold War.”

The Berlin Wall was a symbol between freedom and communism. It eventually came down with the collapse of communism. All of us remember watching the “wall” coming down in late 1989. We can thank the US for standing tough and the thousands who knew that there was a better life (i.e. freedom) on the other side of the wall.

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We remember Jim "Mudcat" Grant (1935-2021)

  

James Timothy Grant was born in Florida on this day in 1935 and quickly became known as Mudcat.   He died in 2021.

Grant broke with the Indians in 1958 and did quite well:    10 wins and 11 complete games.   In 1964, Mudcat was traded to Minnesota and pitched the Twins to the AL pennant in 1965:   21-7, 6 shutouts, 14 complete games and 3.30 ERA.   

Overall, he won 145 games and the critical game 6 of the 1965 World Series.   Following that great season, he was named The Sporting News American League Pitcher in 1965.  To my knowledge, he is still the only black pitcher in American League history to win 20 games in a season and a World Series game.    (Bob Gibson did it in the National League!)

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1969: Jim Palmer threw a no-hitter against the A's

In 1966, Jim Palmer won 15 games and became the youngest pitcher to throw a World Series shutout.   

He struggled with injuries in 1967-68 but came back to the starting rotation in 1969:  16-4 with a 2.34 ERA.

On this date in 1969, Jim threw a no-hitter against the A's.      

From 1969 to the early 1980's, Jim Palmer was one of the very best pitchers in baseball.    

Jim was inducted to The Hall of Fame in 1990.

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