History Shorts: Diocletian becomes emperor (284 A.D.)

The Roman Empire collapsed in the early 3^rd century. Fifty or more emperors claimed the throne over a 50-year period. Finally, in 284, Diocletian ended the civil wars and internal strife. Diocletian split the empire in two with four emperors as governors. However, Diocletian himself was the ultimate authority and the emperor initiated political, military, and economic reforms. He restored stability to the empire, but the economy never recovered.

The first link is a documentary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apj1cVinudY

The second is a re-enactment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZZK408imak&feature=related

and some death metal:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqrzgNucYQA

History Shorts: The Fall of Parthian Empire (224 A.D.)

Rome and Parthia fought a series on wars and skirmishes for control of the Middle East. The Parthian Empire fell around 224 A.D. It wasn't Rome, but internal and external factors broke the empire apart. Parthia's decline and fall helped open the door for eastern tribes to later invade the Roman Empire. The Sassanid Empire formed in its wake and existed until the Muslim conquest.

The following is from a documentary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ_1bshHnD8

Sci Fi History: Superman debuts (1938)

The world needed a hero in 1938. Nazism marched through Europe and America remained locked in the Great Depression. Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster developed a super villain with telepathic powers hell bent on global domination. Later, they changed the character completely turning him into a hero and modeling him on Douglas Fairbanks. Then, the pair developed an alter ego for the hero. Later, they incorporated mythological concepts into the character. Eventually, Samson and Hercules combined with Fairbanks to create Superman. By the end, Superman stood for truth, justice, and the American way. Siegel and Shuster’s creation spawned many comic books, pulp magazines, graphic novels, comic strips, movies, television shows, and radio programs. In the end, Superman may be the king of the superheroes.

Paul Waner: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1952

Born: April 16, 1903

1925: Signed by Pirates

Debut: April 13, 1926

1927: Set record with 14 straight games with an extra base hit (tied by Chipper Jones)

1927: Won batting title (.380)

1927: Won NL MVP

1927: Pirates win Pennant

1934: Won batting title (.362)

1936: Won batting title (.373)

1940: Released by Pirates

1941: Signed and released by Dodgers

1941: Signed with Braves

1942: 3000^th hit

1943: Signed with Dodgers

1944: Released by Dodgers/Signed by Yankees

1945: Released by Yankees/Retired

1952: Elected to Hall of Fame

1965: Died

1999: Finalist for All Century Team

2007: Pirates retired his #11

Accomplishments:

1927 NL MVP

3x Batting Champ

4x All Star

.333 career hitter

1627 runs

3152 hits

605 doubles

191 triples

113 home runs

1309 RBI

1091 walks-376 strikeouts

.404 OBP

.878 OPS

Led league in games: 3x

Led league in runs: 2x

Scored 100+ runs: 9x

Led league in hits: 2x

200+ hits: 8x

30+ doubles: 13x

40+ doubles: 5x

50+ doubles: 3x

63 doubles (1932): led league

Led league in doubles: 3x

10+ triples: 10x

15+ triples: 7x

22 triples (1926): Led league

Led league in triples: 2x

100+ RBI: 2x

Led league in RBI (131): 1927

Hit .300: 13x

Hit .350+: 5x

.400+ OBP: 9x

.500 + slugging: 8x

Led league in total bases (342): 1927

300+ total bases: 7x

Postseason: .333, 3 RBI, .694 OPS (1 series)

Harry Heilmann: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1952

Born: August 3, 1894

1913: Signed with Portland Beavers

1913: Drafted by Detroit Tigers

Debut: May 16, 1914 (Tigers)

1915: Minors

1916: In the Majors for good

1916: Saved drowning woman in Detroit Rivers

1918: Served about a submarine in World War I

1921: Reportedly hit a 610-foot home run

1921: Won Batting Title (.394)

1922: Broke his collarbone

1923: Won Batting Title (.403)

1925: Won Batting Title (.393)

1927: Won Batting Title (.398)

1929: Purchased by Cincinnati Reds

While with the Reds, he became the first player to homer in every ballpark

1932: Released/Retired

1934-50: Worked as Tiger announcer on the radio

Died: July 9, 1951

1952: Elected to Hall of Fame

1999: Finalist for All Century Team

Accomplishments:
4x Batting Champ

.342 career

1291 runs

2660 hits

542 doubles

151 triples

183 home runs

1539 RBI

.410 OBP

.520 slugging

.930 OPS

4053 total bases

100+ Runs: 4x

200+ hits: 4x

237 hits led league (1921)

30+ doubles: 11x

40+ doubles: 8x

50 doubles (1927)

45 doubles led league (1924)

10+ triples: 9x

15+ triples: 2x

100+ RBI: 8x

.300+ avg: 12x

.350+ avg: 6x

.403 (1923-led league)

.400+ OBP: 9x

.500+ slugging: 10x

.600+ slugging: 3x

1.000+ OPS: 5x

300+ total bases: 5x

Mike Cameron: Timeline

Born: January 8, 1973

1991: Drafted by White Sox

Debut: August 27, 1995

1998: Traded to Reds for Paul Konerko

2000: Traded to Seattle for Ken Griffey Jr.

2001: All Star

2002: Hit four home runs in a game

2002: Wrote book: It Takes a Team: Mike Cameron

2003: Signed with Mets

2005: Traded to Padres

2005: Suffered concussion in outfield collision

2007: Failed drug test for stimulants (used to combat effects of concussion)

2008: Signed with Brewers

2009: Signed with Red Sox

2011: Traded to Marlins

2011: Signed with Nationals

2012: Retired

Accomplishments:

2001 All Star

3x Gold Glove

Four Home Run Game (May 2, 2002)

.249 career average

278 HR

968 RBI

1700 Hits

383 doubles

.782 OPS

90+ runs: 3x

30+ doubles: 7x

20+ HR: 8x

30 HR (2004)

110 RBI (2001)

20+ SB: 8x

30+ SB: 3x

297 SB

1901 Strikeouts

Postseason: .174, 1 HR, 7RBI, .581 OPS (6 series)

Tim Wakefield: Timeline

Born: August 2, 1966

1984-88: Attended Florida Tech

1988: Drafted by Pirates

1990: Converted to pitcher

Debut: July 21, 1992 (Pirates)

1992: Pirates won NL East (Lost LCS to Braves)

1992: Would have been NLCS MVP with 2 wins, but Braves rallied

1995: Signed with Red Sox

1995: Worked with Niekros to improve knuckleball

1995: Red Sox lose LDS

1999: Red Sox win first postseason series since 1986 and lose LCS

2000: Resigns with Red Sox

2003: Surrendered Aaron Boone’s HR

2003: Red Sox lose LCS

2004: Surrendered 6 home runs in a victory

2004: Red Sox win World Series

2005: Red Sox lose LDS

2007: Red Sox win World Series

2008: Red Sox lose LCS

2010: Won Roberto Clemente Award

2011: Won 200^th game

2012: Retired

Accomplishments:

2x World Champion

2009 All Star

2010 Roberto Clemente Award

Won 2 games in 1992 NLCS

200-180 record

4.41 ERA

Highest ERA for a 200-game winner in history

3226.1 IP

2145 strikeouts

1.350 WHIP

15+ wins: 4x

Led league in losses (15): 1997

Sub 3 ERA: 2x

15 saves (1999)

200+ IP: 5x

Led league Hit Batters: 2x

Postseason: 5-7, 6.75 ERA, 72 IP, 1.472 WHIP, 54 strikeouts (11 series)

Mickey Lolich timeline

Born: September 12, 1940

1958: Signed by Tigers

1958-63: Minor Leagues

Debut: May 12, 1963 (Tigers)

1967: Lolich placed on National Guard duty during Detroit riots

1967: Tigers miss pennant by a game

1968: Tigers win World Series

1968: Lolich WS MVP (3 complete game wins)

1971: Won 25 games (Most for a pitcher to not win Cy Young Award)

1971: Struck out 308 batters

1972: Tigers win AL East (Lost LCS to A’s)

1975: Won 200^th game

1975: Traded to the Mets for Rusty Staub

1978: Signed with Padres

1979: Released by Padres and retired

Post retirement: Ran donut shop in Lake Orion, MI

1999: Dropped off HOF ballot

2003: On Vet Committee HOF ballot, but did not achieve enough votes for induction

Accomplishments:

1968 World Champion

1968 WS MVP

3x All Star

217-191 record

3.44 ERA

2832 strikeouts

Won 15+ games: 8x

Won 20+ games: 2x

Won 25 games (1971)

Led league in wins (1971)

Led league in losses: 2x

Sub 3 ERA: 2x

Led league in GS (25): 1971

10+ CG: 9x

15+ CG: 6x

20+ CG: 3x

Led league in CG (29): 1971

Led league in SHO (6): 1967

41 career SHO

3638.1 IP

200+ IP: 12x

250+ IP: 6x

300+ IP: 4x

Led league in IP (376): 1971

200+ Strikeouts: 7x

308 strikeouts (1971)

Led league in strikeouts (1971)

Most strikeouts by lefty in AL History

Postseason: 3-1, 1.57 ERA, 5 games, 3 CG, 0.978 WHIP, 46 IP , 31 Ks

Quotes of the Month: May 2012

Quote of the Month:
"You came home and were
 sometimes denigrated when you should have been celebrated. It was a national shame, a disgrace that should have never happened."

-Barack Obama to Vietnam Vets on Memorial Day

Stupid Quote of the Month:

“I was trying to hit him.”

-Cole Hamels after hitting Bryce Harper

Insult of the Month:

“Barack Obama is an amateur.”

-Bill Clinton
　

“Even Jimmy Carter would have killed Bin Laden.”

-Mitt Romney

“Forward, what, over a cliff?”

-Mitt Romney on Barack Obama’s new slogan

"I'm coming back. Write it down in big letters. I'm not going out like this."

-Mariano Rivera

"I spend my off days the way I want to spend them."

- Josh Beckett

“Loyalty doesn’t exist in politics.”

-Bill Clinton

“I think same-sex couples should be able to get married.”

-Barack Obama

“I am motivated to get back quickly and see to it personally those people never walk down Broad Street in celebration again."

-Jason Werth on Philadelphia fans

"I feel ... uncomfortable about the word hero because it seems to me that it is so rhetorically proximate to justifications for more war."

-Chris Hayes MSNBC Host dissing vets

Keith Hernandez timeline

Born: October 20, 1953

1971: Graduated High School (Played HS Ball with future Major Leaguer Bob McClure)

1971: Drafted by Cardinals

Debut: August 30, 1974 (Cardinals)

1976: Switched uniform number to 37 in honor of Mickey Mantle’s #7

1979: NL MVP

1979: Won Batting Title (.344)

1982: Had key hit in Game 7 of 1982 World Series

1982: Cards win World Series

1983: Traded to Mets

1983: Switched to #17 because Mets retired #37 for Casey Stengel

1985: Involved in the Pittsburgh drug trials

1985: Set ML record with 24 GW RBI

1986: Had key hit in Game 7 of the 1986 World Series

1986: Mets win World Series

1987: Named team captain

1988: Mets win NL East & lose LCS to Dodgers

1989: Signed with Indians

1992: Made now classic Seinfeld appearance as himself

2000s and beyond: Mets announcer and Just For Men pitch man

2004: Fell off Hall of Fame Ballot

2006: Involved in controversy regarding women in the dugout

2010: Won Emmy

Accomplishments:

2x World Champion

1979 MVP

1979 Batting Champion

5x All Star

11x Gold Glove winner

2x Silver Slugger

Revolutionized first base position

.296 career hitter

162 Home Runs

1071 RBI

1124 Runs

2182 hits

426 doubles

1070 Walks-1012 Strikeouts

.384 OBP

100+ Runs: 2x

Led league in runs: 2x

210 hits (1979)

30+ doubles: 8x

40+ doubles: 2x

Led league in doubles with 48 (1979)

11 Triples (1979)

105 RBI (1979)

100 walks (1982)

Led league w/94 walks (1986)

Hit .300: 7x

.400 OBP: 6x

Led league w/ .408 OBP (1980)

.513 slugging (1979)

313 total bases (1979)

Led league with 19 intentional walks (1982)

Postseason: .265 with 2 home runs and 21 RBI (5 series-117 at bats)

Hit .333 in 1982 NLCS

Had key hits in Game 7 of both the 1982 and 1986 World Series

Dwight Evans: Timeline

Born: November 3, 1951

1969: Drafted by Boston Red Sox

Debut: September 16, 1972 (Boston Red Sox)

1975: Red Sox win Pennant

1980-89: Led American League with 256 home runs

1981: AL Home Run Champ (22)

1986: Homered on season’s first pitch

1986: Red Sox win pennant

1988: Red Sox win AL East

1990: Red Sox win AL East

1990: Has public feud with Dennis Eckersley over showboating

1990: Signed with Baltimore Orioles

1992: Released by Orioles/Retired

1999: Dropped from Hall of Fame ballot on third try

2000: Elected to Red Sox Hall of Fame

2002: Red Sox hitting coach

2003: Began work as a consultant for Red Sox

2011: Appeared in the movie, Hall Pass.

Accomplishments:
3x All Star

8x Gold Glove winner

2x Silver Slugger

1981 Home Run champion

.272 hitter

.305 (1987)

385 home runs

20+ home runs: 11x

30+ home runs: 3x

1384 RBI

100+ RBI: 4x

Led league in games: 2x

100+ Runs: 4x

Led league with 121 runs (1984)

2446 hits

483 doubles

30+ doubles: 7x

1391 walks

100+ walks: 3x

Lead league in walks: 3x

.400 plus OBP: 3x

Led League with .402 OBP (1982)

.470 slugging

.500+ Slugging: 5x

300+ total bases: 3x

Led league with 215 total bases (1981)

Postseason (6 series-32 games): .239 with 4 HR and 19 RBI.

Hit .300 with 3 home runs and 14 RBI and .977 OPS in 2 World Series (14 games)