1972: Hank Aaron signed the biggest contract in baseball

On this day in 1972, the Atlanta Braves made Hank Aaron the best paid baseball player before the season:   a 3 year deal worth around $ 600.000!

A couple of years later, Aaron passed Ruth in the all time HR list.    

He retired with 755 after the 1976 season.

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We remember Preacher Roe (1916-2008)

We remember Preacher Roe who was born in Arkansas on this day in 1916.  

Roe broke with the Cardinals in 1938 but did not return to the majors until 1944 with the Pirates.   

His best years were with the Dodgers, 1948-54.    

In 7 seasons with Brooklyn, Roe was 93-37 with an excellent 3.26 ERA plus 74 complete games & 12 shutouts.     

He pitched in 3 World Series against the Yankees:   2-1, 3 complete games, 1 shutout & a 2.54 ERA.     In 1951, Roe was named National League Pitcher of the Year when he won 22 with a 3.04 ERA.

Roe's career totals:  127 wins, 101 complete games and 17 shutouts.

He died in 2008.

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

 

1732: We remember George Washington

We remember another of George Washington's birthdays.

He was so vital to the success of the new American nation.

Our friends at Power Line call him the indispensable man and they are right.  

Washington led an army of colonists and then held together the new constitution by serving as the first president.

He could have been "president for life" or reelected to a 3rd term.  However, he respected the constitution and set the example by walking away from power.

He was indeed the indispensable man to the new nation.  Where would we be today without the work of George Washington?

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

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Memories of going to Lubbock and Buddy Holly's grave

Back in the mid-1990's, I took a business trip to Lubbock, Texas. 

I had a pleasant conversation with the taxi driver about Buddy Holly.  It seems that every 60-something resident of Lubbock knew Buddy Holly. 

Later, we drove to the Holly grave site, which is a popular tourist landmark.

Over the years, I have grown to love Buddy Holly's music. 

His repertoire included high energy rock tunes and some nice ballads. Some of his arrangements, such as "Raining in my heart" were a bit ahead of their time.

Holly was a very influential rocker.  We believe that The Beatles named their group after the Crickets. The Hollies were apparently named after him, too.

His songs have been recorded by The Beatles ("Words of Love"), Peter & Gordon ("True Love Ways") and The Rolling Stones ("Not Fade Away").

Buddy Holly was killed February 3, 1959 in a plane crash.  It inspired Don McClean's "American Pie" and introduced millions of us to the story and the music.

Check out "The Buddy Holly Story", a good movie about his life. 

Last but not least, get a Holly CD and turn up the volume.

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