"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free." - President Ronald Reagan
The spring that Sandy and Don didn’t show up: Before free agency, the players’ union, and big contracts, players held out to make more money.
Once upon a time, or in 1966, the defending L.A. Dodgers were looking forward to a repeat. They had arguably the best 1-2 pitching duo...
Before free agency, the players’ union, and big contracts, players held out to make more money.
Once upon a time, or in 1966, the defending L.A. Dodgers were looking forward to a repeat. They had arguably the best 1-2 pitching duo in baseball: right-hander Don Drysdale and the great lefty Sandy Koufax.
The best pitchers on the defending World Series champions were widely viewed as heretics in the context of their time. There was no free agency, no salary arbitration, and no power in the players’ union.
If a player did not like the salary dictated by management, he could stay home. So Koufax and Drysdale did, threatening by their absence to turn the Dodgers from the best team in the National League into an also-ran.
In the end, the pitchers got more money. The Dodgers got back to the World Series. The fans adored their heroes once again.
Within a decade, Marvin Miller had organized baseball’s players into what would become the most powerful union in American sports, breaking free of rules that bound them to their team until the team let them go.
But Miller did not start his job until Koufax and Drysdale were in the second week of their holdout, an event often overlooked in the chronicles of baseball’s labor history.
“We’ve come a very long way,” Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw said. “We owe a lot to our former players that fought for our rights.”
“He’s the type of guy who knows what’s right and would fight for it,” Kershaw said.
It was Feb. 23, 1966, and The Times splashed the headline across the top of the page: “Koufax, Drysdale Eye $1 Million Pact.”
A million dollars? I remember that spring and those Dodgers who had beaten the Twins in the 1965 World Series. And I recall joking with my parents about Koufax and Drysdale. My father laughed at the idea of a baseball player making that kind of money. I should add that my dad was working two jobs at the time, an office job and hotel bellboy on weekends. My mother said something in Spanish loosely translated to “I hope Koufax can get it because no one can hit the guy.”
As it turned out, they held out for 32 days and signed eventually for $130,000 (Koufax) and $105,000 (Drysdale). Those numbers sound silly now, but that’s how it used to be.
The US and the USSR clashed from this day until 1991 when the Soviet flag came down. One of those “clashes” was over missiles in Cuba in October 1962. The Truman biography is one of my favorites:
We remember Karen Carpenter who was born in Connecticut on this day in 1950. She died in 1983. Like many of you, I loved The Carpenters in the 1970's. They were one of the most popular brother-sister acts ever! My favorite Carpenters songs were "Close to you", "I Need To Be In Love" and "Goodbye to love". We miss Karen Carpenter. Her songs are still so good!
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
Humberto Fernandez Perez was born in La Habana on this day in 1932. We remember him as Chico Fernandez, the first player of color on the Philadelphia Phillies and the first Latin regular position player on the Tigers. Chico signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1951 and started his minor league career. At one point, Chico and Sandy Amoros were roommates in Montreal, then the Dodgers' AAA franchise. He finally made it to the majors in July 1956 but did not play as a regular for the National League champs or see action in the World Series against the Yankees. In 1957, Chico was traded to Philadelphia and opened the season as the shortstop. He was traded to Detroit in 1962 and enjoyed his best year: 20 home runs, 59 RBI, 10 stolen bases and a .249 average. In 1970, he started selling for Metropolitan Life, became an active figure in the local Latin American commmunity and finally reunited with his parents who fled Cuba. He died in Florida in 2016.
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.
On this day in 1965, "The sound of music" was released in the US. A few years later, I remember taking my sister to watch the movie in a theatre. As time passed, I began to appreciate the story a lot more, specially the World War II context of the movie. I also found the movie soundtrack more enjoyable over time. It was indeed a great film and the music was wonderful!
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.
Back in the fall and winter of 1964, my brother and I started school in Wisconsin and would hear a lot about “Ricky Ricardo”. It did not take long for us to figure out that Lucy’s husband was the only Cuban that my friends knew anything about.
Desi Arnaz was born Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha III on this day in 1917. His father was a politician and mayor of Santiago de Cuba, or the second largest city in the island. In the 1930’s, Mr Arnaz sent Desi and his mother to the US. He joined them a little later.
We also remember him for “Desilu,” the TV production company that changed television and released many of the sitcoms that we grew up watching, such as Mannix, The Untouchables, Mission: Impossible and Star Trek.
Desi Arnaz, who came here in the 1930’s with his mother, became one of the most successful businessmen and executives of the 20th century. He died in 1986.
Back in 2012, Fernando Hernandez, author of “The Cubans” joined us for the story of Desi Arnaz, TV star and executive. Click below to hear the podcast.
On this day in 1962, Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in an NBA game. Chamberlain hit 36 FG's and 28 foul shots, both league records.
Chamberlain retired from the NBA after the 1972-73 season. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1978 and still holds a number of NBA records.
Wonder if anyone could score 100 today?
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.
Tags:Wilt Chamberlain 1962To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the My View by Silvio Canto, Jr. Thanks!
On March 2 1836, Texas declared its independence from Mexico. It started years before when settlers came to Texas based on an agreement between Moses Austin and the new Mexican government. For about 10 years, Texas was an independent republic. Sam Houston was Texas’ first elected president. In 1845, Texas joined the Union as the 28th state, leading to the outbreak of the Mexican-American War.
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.
In the 1930s, Mr. Arnaz sent Desi and his mother to the U.S. He joined them a little later. We understand that Mr. Arnaz had some political problems and decided to take a little “exile” in Florida.
In the U.S., Desi worked in odd jobs and eventually found himself playing “bongos” on stage.
In 1940, he met Lucy and they were married quickly. They worked separately for most the 1940s until the idea of “I Love Lucy” in 1951.
We also remember him for “Desilu,” the TV company that changed TV and produced many of the sitcoms that we grew up watching.
Desi Arnaz became one of the most successful businessmen and executives of the 20th century.
He died in 1986.
We spoke with Frank Burke, author, businessman & contributor to American Thinker........We remembered Desi Arnaz (1917-1986) and 'I love Lucy' plus the business story of 'Desilu'..........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.
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.
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.
