August 30, 1905: Ty Cobb played his first game

Ty Cobb started his playing career on this day in 1905.    He hit .240 in 150 At Bats that season.   It was the last time he hit under .300!

What can you say about a guy with a .367 lifetime batting average?

This is a list of interesting items from the Cobb's career:

1) He has the highest lifetime batting average (.367) in MLB history as well as 1,933 RBI.

2) Ty Cobb is second on the all-time hit list behind Pete Rose.

3) Ty Cobb stole home more than anyone else (50).

4) He won more batting average titles than any other person (12).

In 1936, he became the first player ever selected to the Hall of Fame.

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We remember Al Lopez (1908-2005)

Alfonso Ramon Lopez was born on this day in 1908.  He died in 2005.  His parents were born in Spain but settled in Cuba.  In 1906, the family moved to Tampa where Al was born. 

Al is the answer to a great trivia question.

Between 1949 and 1964, the Yankees were AL Champs and in the Series every year but two: the White Sox won in '59 and the Indians in '54.

Who was the manager both times? Al Lopez.
As a player, Lopez was a pretty good catcher over 19 years and a Hall of Fame member.

Lopez hit .261 with 51 homers and 652 RBIs. He set the record for most games caught (1,918). It was broken by Bob Boone and Carlton Fisk.

Lopez lived long enough to see the White Sox win the 2005 Series.   It must have been a real treat for him. 

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July 2007: I guess that Alberto Gonzalez told the truth after all!

A post from July 2007:

Of course, I want public officials to be truthful and honest. No one should lie to Congress. At the same time, Congressmen should not play partisan games by setting up perjury traps.

This whole Alberto Gonzalez show is shameful and demonstrates how pathetic the Democrats are:

""You've got an interesting situation when members of Congress, knowing that somebody is constrained by matters of classification, they can ask very broad questions ... they know the person sitting on the other side cannot answer thoroughly in an open session," White House spokesman Tony Snow said." (Democrats accused of sandbagging Gonzales)

The Democrats are playing games. AG Gonzalez is operating in the real world, i.e. terrorists are plotting to blow up one of our cities and kill thousands!

AG Gonzalez can not answer every question in a public session because some of this stuff is confidential.

My guess is that the Dems are overplaying their hand and coming across as a bunch of bullies who just want to get Alberto Gonzalez.

It won't work politically. Beyond that, this kind of "gotcha" politics is poisonous for the country.

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

Tom Grieve: 2010 Rangers' Hall of Fame

The Rangers inducted Tom Grieve into the team's Hall of Fame in July 2010.  

Grieve is one of the nice guys in baseball, a good player, team executive and now the TV analyst.

He is also a good man, husband, father and now grandfather.

Congratulations to Tom Grieve!

Wonder what Satchel Paige would say today

Seventy years ago this month, the great Satchel Paige made his major league debut:  

Paige’s contract was bought by Bill Veeck’s Cleveland Indians on July 7, 1948, his 42nd birthday. He made his major league debut two days later, entering in the fifth inning against the St. Louis Browns with the Indians trailing 4-1. He gave up two singles in two innings, striking one man out and inducing one batter to hit into a double play. The Indians lost the game 5-3 in spite of Paige’s contribution. That year Satchel Paige went 6-1 with a solid 2.48 ERA for the World Champion Cleveland Indians.

Wonder how many games Paige would have won had he spent his entire career in the majors? Who knows? My guess is that he would have challenged many of the pitching records, especially complete games and strikeouts. He would have sold out stadium after stadium in a way not seen since Babe Ruth. Paige was as much a showman as a pitcher.

It’s hard to believe today that such a talent was for years not allowed to pitch in the majors because of skin color. Nevertheless, I never saw Paige complain about his fortune.  Instead, he made the most of what he had.

Apart from pitching, Satchel was well known for what he said.   

In this respect, he was like a black Yogi Berra, the other great baseball philosopher.

Allow me to speculate.  What would the great Paige say to young people today?

What would he say to the people who complain about everything rather than take advantage of the opportunities in front of them? It would be something like one of his greatest lines:

“Don’t look back.    Something might be gaining on you.” 

We could use a few more people like Paige around these days.

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

Mary Hopkin is 70 today....

Mary Hopkin, the beautiful young woman from Wales who sang so many wonderful songs, was born on this day in 1950.

Mary is best known for "Those were the days", now available in a digital format.  

This is specially good for those who grew up with the scratchy 45!

It was one of the first records released on Apple Records, the company started by The Beatles.

Mary was a beautiful 18-year old woman when she recorded this tune. It quickly became an international best seller.

I loved her voice. Let me confess that I loved her elegant look too! She looked and sounded great!

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

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We remember Cardinal Mindszenty (1892-1975)

Cardinal Joseph Mindszenty was born on this day in 1892 and died in 1975.  

Along with Pope John Paul II, the late Cardinal is one of my Catholic and anti-communist heroes.

Both men stood up to Hitler and the Soviet Union, the two great evils of the 20th century.

Back in 1949, the new communist Hungary regime convicted him of treason and life imprisonment. 

He was released in 1956 by the reformist government and granted asylum at the US Embassy in Budapest.   

Unfortunately, Warsaw Pact tanks crushed the reforms and The Cardinal was force to stay in the embassy grounds until 1971.   

He was eventually released for poor health and died in the Vienna in 1975.   His remains were returned to Hungary in 1991.

Cardinal Mindszenty’s life was just amazing.  

The Cardinal Mindszenty Foundation continues to be a great source of information about defending the unborn and many family issues.

P.S.  You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).

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.

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

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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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