Rabbit Maranville: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1954

Born: November 11, 1891

Debut: September 10, 1912 (Braves)

1914: Braves win World Series

1921: Trade to Pirates

1924: Traded to Cubs

1925: Managed Cubs (23-30)

1925: Selected by Robins on waivers

1926: Signed by Cardinals

1928: Cards win pennant

1928: Purchased by Braves

1935: Retired

1935: His 23 years was a record until broken by Pete Rose

1954: Elected to HOF

1954: Died

Accomplishments:

1914 World Champion

Led NL in games (156): 1914

.258 career hitter

2605 hits

1255 runs

177 triples

28 HR

884 RBI

291 steals

839 walks-756 strikeouts

115 runs (1922)

198 hits (1922)

33 doubles (1924)

10+ Triples: 9x

15+ triples: 3x

20 triples (1924)

20+ steals: 6x

32 steals (1961)

Postseason: .308 with 3 RBI (.725 OPS)

As manager: 23-30 (.434)

History Shorts: Council of Nicea (325 A.D.)

The Trinitarian issue threatened to rip the early Catholic Church apart. At issue was god’s nature. Some believed in the trinity while others believed it smacked of polytheism.  The Emperor Constantine called a conference to settle the dispute. The Trinitarians won leading the emperor to enforce the decree. The council also created the first portion of the Nicean Creed, calculated Easter’s date, and settled some early canon.

This clip is a dramatization of events:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBszFV90ZSE

Christopher Pike timeline

Christopher Pike (2219-2320)

Born: 2219

2228: Moved to Elysium

2231: Mother and stepfather died in a wildfire on Elysium

2236: SS Columbia crashes on Talos IV with one survivor

2237: Enters academy

2241: Graduated top of his class at Starfleet Academy & served on Olympus

2246: First officer aboard USS Aldrin. He relieved the captain of duty when his commanding officer threatened to start a war.  He was promoted to commander and reassigned to the USS York.

2246-51: Served aboard the York, Enterprise as first officer, and on the Yorktown as its commander.

2251: Assumes command of USS Enterprise

2254: First meets his Klingon nemesis Kaaj.

2254: Incident at Rigel VII

2254: Caged by Talosians on Talos IV

2257: Enterprise begins another 5 year mission

2260: Pike reports on Orion slave trade shocking the quadrant

2262: Held captive by the Kan’ess.

2264: Promoted to Fleet Captain

2265: Surrenders command to James T Kirk

2266-7: Severely injured in training exercise. Spock takes Pike to live on Talos IV free of physical restraints.

2320: Pike dies on Talos IV

By 24^th century, a city on Cestus III and a medal of valor had been named for him.

Sci-fi History: Batman and Robin (1940)

During the 1940s, comics began including young sidekicks for their heroes in an effort to attract younger readers. In 1940, Batman teamed up with Robin for the first time. Robin emerged the most iconic of the teen sidekicks. Over time, critics began questioning the relationship between Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson. Many felt uncomfortable. Eventually, Grayson left the batcave and became Nightwing. Since then, there have been a number of Robins including Jason Todd, who became the Red Hood, Tim Drake (Red Robin), Stephanie Brown (Spoiler), and Wayne's son Damian. 

Lance Parrish: a timeline

Born: June 15, 1956
1974: Drafted by Tigers
1977: Debut (Tigers)
1979: Became starting catcher
1982: Set HR record for catchers (since broken)
1984: Caught Jack Morris' no-hitter
1984: Tigers won World Series
1986: Back problems limited play
1987: Signed with Phillies
1988: Traded to Angels
1992: Signed with Mariners
1993: Signed with Dodgers
1994: Signed with Tigers
1994: Purchased by Pirates
1995: Signed by Royals
1995: Traded to Blue Jays
1996: Signed with Pirates
1996: Retired
1996: Instructor for Royals
1997-8: Minor League Coach
1999-2001: Coach for Tigers
2001: Dropped off HOF ballot (1.7%)
2002: Broadcaster
2003-05: Tiger coach
2006-07: Minor league manager

Accomplishments
1984 World Champion
HR record for catchers (1982)
8x All Star
3x Gold Glove
6x SIlver Slugger
.252 c areer hitter
324 Home Runs
1070 RBI
856 runs
1782 hits
305 doubles
.753 OPS
30+ doubles: 2x
42 doubles (1983)
20+ HR: 7x
30+ HR: 2x
114 RBI (1983)
.529 slugging (1982)
Led league in SF (13) (1983)

Chet Lemon timeline

Born: February 12, 1955
1972: Drafted by A's
1975: Traded to White Sox
1975: Debut (White Sox)
1977: Set record for putouts and chances for CF
1979: Disco Demolition Night
1981: Traded to Tigers
1984: Tigers win World Series
1987: Tigers win AL East
1988: Lemon moves to Right Field
1988: Hit 200th career home run the same time day Darrell Evans hit his 400th
1990: Became seriously ill.
1991: Retired
1996: 0.2% of Hall of Fame vote
2001 and 2003: Had surgery for polycythemia vera
2006: His son was drafted by Texas Rangers
Today: He coaches two AAU teams
Accomplishments:

1984 World Champion
3x All Star
1979 doubles champ (44)
Led league in HBP: 4x
.273 average
215 HR
884 RBI
396 doubles
.797 OPS
151 HBP
973 runs
1875 hits
30+ doubles: 5x
20+ HR: 3x
Hit .300: 3x
Postseason: .208 with 2 HR and 5 RBI. .583 OPS (3 series)

Greatest Movie Heroes: #1-10

10. Spartacus (Kirk Douglas)
9. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill)
8. Dirty Harry (Clint Eastwood)
7. Moses (Charlton Heston)
6. George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart)
5. Superman (Christopher Reeves)
4. Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford)
3. James Bond (Sean Connery, Roger Moore, et al)
2. Will Kane (Gary Cooper)
1. Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart)

Greatest Movie Heroes: #11-20

20. Virgil Tibbs (Sidney Poitier)
19. Maximus (Russell Crowe)
18. Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson)
17. Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver)
16. Rooster Cogburn (John Wayne and Jeff Bridges)
15.Obi Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor and Alec Guiness)
14. John McClain (Bruce Willis)
13. Batman (Christian Bale)
12. The Man with no name (Clint Eastwood)
11. Phillip Marlowe/Sam Spade (Humphrey Bogart)

Greatest Movie Heroes: Honorable Mentions

This is the first of three posts with my list of greatest movie heroes. These are the honorable mentions!

Jefferson Smith (Jimmy Stewart)

The Omega Man (Charlton Heston)

Han Solo (Harrison Ford)

James T Kirk (William Shatner, Chris Pine)

Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster)

Robin Hood (Errol Flynn)

William Wallace (Mel Gibson)

History Shorts: The Edict of Milan (313 A.D.)

After Constantine won the Battle of Milvian Bridge, he assigned his victory to the Christian god. In response, he legalized Christianity, ended Diocletian's persecutions, and included incentives for the faithful. By the end of the century, church and state became one. Two hundred years later, the church became the only organization in Western Europe capable of preserving civilization and record keeping.
The first link is a student project. The second is from the Catholic Church.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5XeVWEFSO4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqLBeCmyaKY

Sci Fi History: Batman (1939)

Superman's success led to imitators. Bob Kane invented Batman in 1939. Bruce Wayne witnessed his parents' murder and swore vengeance against criminals. Kane took inspiration from Zorro, Robert Bruce, Mad Anthony Wayne, the Shadow, and Sherlock Holmes. Over the years, Batman became a cultural phenomenon in comics, radio, movies, and television.The early stories were gritty and violent. Censors forced publishers to clean them up. Before Marvel Comics arrived to challenge the DC Universe, Batman was relegated to playing baseball with Superman.  By the eighties, the character appeared tired when Frank Miller reinvigorated the Bat with The Dark Knight Returns. Wayne and Batman returned to a primal, darker place as did the villains.

Quotes of the Month: July 2012

Quote of the Month and Stupid Quote of the Month:
"If you got a business-you didn’t build that."

Barack Obama referring to things businesses built or helped build

Slam of the Month:

"I wish the president would learn how to be an American."

-John Sununu


and the rest...
"(One fan) actually called me a racial slur to begin the game with. He was the only one I had a problem with. People in Boston don't even do that."

-Carl Crawford

"The fact is, I’m gay."

-Anderson Cooper

"I don't want to take anything off the table."

-NCAA President Mark Emmert on possible sanctions against Penn State

"There seems to be something "liberating" about ignorance -- especially when you

don't even know enough to realize how little you know. Thus an administration

loaded with people who have never run any business is gung-ho to tell businesses

what to do, as well as gung-ho to tell the medical profession what to do,

lenders whom to lend to, and the military how to fight wars."

-Thomas Sowell

"We got a problem because we've got a president who's all foam and no beer."

-Tim Pawlenty

"Lay off commenting about defending and goalkeeping until you get more educated. The game has changed from a decade ago."

-Hope Solo to Brandi Chastain