January 28: Remembering Jose Marti (1853-95)

Jose Marti was born on a day like this in 1853.  He died in 1895 during a confrontation with Spanish troops in the long and very costly Cuban War of Independence.

Back in 2013, we chatted with Jorge Ponce, a Cuban American who left the island as a youngster with his parents, and Alfredo Cespero from Miami.   They joined me for a discussion of Jose Marti's life and what it means for those of us who grew up in the US.  

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1981: What were you doing when Governor Reagan became Pres Reagan?

It was 1981, or the day that Ronald Reagan became the 40th president of the US.   He succeeded President Carter who served one term.

Do you remember what you were doing that sunny January day in 1981?

I was driving some colleagues between Saltillo and Monterrey in the north of Mexico.  It was an isolated road but ideal for picking up the ceremony and speech over WOAI-AM of San Antonio, Texas.   It came in clearly in our car radio!

Later, we got to the hotel in Saltillo and heard that the Iran hostages had been released.

Quite a morning, from the new president to the release of the hostages.

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1981: President Reagan took over

On January 20th 1981, Ronald Reagan was sworn in as the 40th president of the United States. A few minutes later, the 52 hostages held at the U.S. embassy in Iran were released......ending the Iranian Hostage Crisis......it was the first day of a very impressive two term presidency.....

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1981: The Iran hostages released

On this day in 1981, Governor Reagan became President Reagan.   Shortly after, the Iranian hostages were released.    

Was there a connection?   We will never know but my guess is that the Iranian understood that a President Reagan would act differently than President Carter.

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1981: Bob Gibson elected to Hall of Fame

In 1981, Bob Gibson was the only player elected to the Hall of Fame.   

As a young man in Omaha, Gibson excelled at baseball and basketball in high school.   He played college basketball at Creighton University and had a brief stint with the Harlem Globetrotters.   

In 1957, he signed with the Cardinals, and made his big-league debut in 1959.

His 17 years with St. Louis were awesome:  251 victories, 255 complete games, 3,117 strikeouts, 56 shutouts, and an ERA of 2.91.        His 1968 season may have been the greatest modern pitching performance:   22-9, 13 shutouts, 28 complete games and an unbelievable 1.12 ERA!  And he won game 7 in the 1964 & 1967 World Series!

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