Gene
Roddenberry promised NBC a “Wagon Train to the stars” and delivered a pilot for
Star Trek. The initial episode starred Jeffrey Hunter as Captain Christopher
Pike. In the episode, Pike is captured by Talosians who have mastered the art
of illusion. Their powers worked as a narcotic and the addicts lived
vicariously through other species as their world died. The Talosians hoped to
enslave Pike and another human to save their society and species. NBC brass
thought the pilot too cerebral and ordered another pilot. Hunter would not
return, so Roddenberry turned to William Shatner and Pike became James T. Kirk.
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Friday, January 24, 2014
History Shorts: The First Crusade (1096)
Europe was
overrun by gangs of nobles that preferred to plunder and kill than better
society. At the same time, most kingdoms were weak. Meanwhile, the Muslims had
expanded to Europe’s door. They would try over the course of 1,000 years to
subjugate the continent. Charles Martel defeated the invaders at Tours in the 8th
century. Pope Urban II decided to try to unite Europeans behind a cause and
defend Christendom’s borders against the Muslims by declaring a crusade. Nearly 40,000 men marched to the Holy Land,
captured Jerusalem, and established colonies in the region.
Monday, January 20, 2014
Quark: Star Trek timeline
2351: Left
home upon reaching the Age of Ascension
Before
2360: Served as an apprentice under a sub-nagus, but had sex with the bosses’
sister and was ruined.
2360:
Served as a cook on a Ferengi freighter
2360: Opens
bar on Terok Nor after bribing Gul Dukat
2360s:
Sympathized with the Bajorans and aided them during the occupation
2365: Paid
by Kira Nerys to be her alibi following a murder
2369: Terok
Nor becomes Deep Space Nine
2369:
Temporarily became Grand Nagus
2370:
Negotiated a trade deal with the Dominion
2370:
Almost murdered over a list of collaborators
2372:
Quark’s employees formed a union; Brunt made his life difficult
2372:
Thrown back in time to 1947 Roswell, New Mexico
2373-5:
Dominion War (Quark part of a resistance cell)
2374: Quark
helps thwart Brunt’s attempts to become Grand Nagus
2375: Saved
Nog during Siege of AR-558
2375: His
brother, Rom, becomes Grand Nagus
2376:
Worked with Ro Laren to take down Orion criminal organization run by Malic
2376:
Becomes Ferenginar’s Ambassador to Bajor
2376:
Begins relationship with Ro Laren
2383: DS9
is destroyed; Quark moves his bar to Bajor until the New DS9 opens
2385: New
DS9 opens
2385:
Federation President Bacco is assassinated on DS9
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Sam Thompson: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1974
Born: March
5, 1860
Debut: July
2, 1885 (Detroit Wolverines)
1887:
Wolverines win World Series
1887: Set
MLB record 166 RBI (since broken)
1887: Won
batting title (.372)
1889: Sold
to the Philadelphia Phillies
1889: First
20/20 player in MLB history
1894: Hit
for cycle
1894:
Played in all .400 hitting outfield in history (Tuck Turner, Ed Delahanty)
1894: Hit
.415
1894: .415,
32 doubles, 28 triples, 13 HR, 147 RBI, 27 SB, 1.161 OPS
1895: 165
RBI (Only player with 150+ RBI in the 19th century)
1895: .392,
18 HR, 165 RBI, 211 hits, 131 runs, 45 doubles, 21 triples, 1.085 OPS, 352 TB
1898:
Injuries led to his retirement
1906: Returned
for 8 games with the Tigers at age 46
1922: Died
1974:
Elected to Hall of Fame (Vets Committee)
2001: His
great-great grandson, Chris Thile, released an album with the song “Big Sam
Thompson”
Accomplishments:
1887
Batting Champ
2x HR Champ
First 20/20
player in MLB history
Only man
with 150+ RBI in the 19th century
.331
Average
1262 runs
1988 hits
343 doubles
161 triples
126 HR
1305 RBI
451
walks-234 strikeouts
.384 OBP
.505
slugging
.890 OPS
3031 TB
100+ Runs:
10x
200+ hits:
2x
30+
doubles: 5x
40+ doubles:
2x
10+
triples: 7x
20+
triples: 3x
10+ HR: 6x
20 HR
(1889)
20+ SB: 7x
Hit .300:
7x
Hit .350:
4x
.415 (1894)
.400 OBP:
4x
.500
slugging: 4x
.600
slugging: 2x
1.000+ OPS:
2x
300+ TB: 4x
Led league
in AB: 2x
Led league
in hits: 3x
Led league
in doubles: 2x
Led league
in triples (23): 1887
Led league
in HR: 2x
Led league
in RBI: 2x
Led league
in slugging: 3x
Led league
in TB: 2x
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Mickey Mantle: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1974
Born:
October 20, 1931
1931: Named
after Mickey Cochrane
1930s-40s:
Taught to switch-hit by father
1947:
Osteomyelitis infection nearly ended his athletic career
1948-9:
Semi-pro ball
1949:
Signed with New York Yankees
1949-50:
Minor Leagues
1950-3:
Korean War deferral due to Osteomyelitis in 1947
Debut:
April 17, 1951 (Yankees)
1951:
Slumped early on, returned to minors, and father shamed him into staying in
baseball
1951:
Father, Mutt Mantle, dies
1951:
Injured his right knee in outfield drain during World Series; Joe DiMaggio is
often blamed for the injury because DiMaggio called Mantle off at the last
minute.
1951-3: Yankees
win World Series
1952: Took
over CF for retired Joe DiMaggio
1953: Hit
565 foot HR in Washington
1955:
Yankees win Pennant
1956:
Mantle wins Triple Crown (.353, 52, 130)
1956: AL
MVP
1956:
Yankees win World Series
1957: .365,
34 HR, 94RBI, 1.177 OPS, 146 walks
1957: AL
MVP
1957:
Yankees win Pennant
1958:
Yankees win World Series
1960: Hit
643 foot HR in Detroit
1960:
Yankees win Pennant
1961:
Mantle challenges Babe Ruth’s 60 HR. Roger Maris breaks the record with 61.
1961:
Mantle suffers an injury that limits his playing time at the end of the year
1961: .317,
54 HR, 128 RBI, 1.135 OPS
1961-2:
Yankees win World Series
1963-4:
Yankees win Pennant
1964:
Mantle hits GW walk off HR in Game 3 breaking Babe Ruth’s World Series HR
record
1965-8:
Injuries limited Mantle’s effectiveness
1969:
Retired
1969:
Yankees retired his #7 and given a plaque in Yankee Stadium
Post
career: Did some announcing
1980s:
Became regular on card circuit
1983:
Banned for life for working at an Atlantic City Casino
1985:
Reinstated
1985: Wrote
The Mick
1992: Wrote
My Favorite Summer 1956
1995: Died
1997: Topps
retired #7 card
1999: All
Century Team
2006:
Received USPS stamp
Accomplishments:
7x World
Champion
3x MVP
20x All
Star
1956 Triple
Crown
1956
Batting Champ (.353)
1962 Gold
Glove
1965 Hutch
Award
3.1 seconds
from home to first is a record never broken
Longest
official home run: 565 feet
Most WS HR
(18)
Most WS RBI
(40)
.298
average
1676 runs
2415 hits
536 HR
1509 RBI
.421 OBP
.557
Slugging
.977 OPS
4511 TB
Led league
in HR: 4x
Led league
in runs: 5x
Led league
in triples (11): 1955
Led league
in RBI (130): 1956
Led league
in walks: 5x
Led league
in OBP: 3x
Led league
in slugging: 4x
Led league
in OPS: 6x
Led league
in TB: 3x
Led league
in IBB: 2x
100+ Runs:
9x
37 doubles (1952)
10+
triples: 2x
100+ RBI:
4x
21 SB
(1959)
100+ Walks:
10x
1733
walks-1710 strikeouts
Hit .300+:
9x
Hit .350+:
2x
.400 OBP:
9x
.512 OBP
(1957)
.500
slugging: 12x
.600
slugging: 6x
.705
slugging (1956)
1.000+ OPS:
8x
300+ TB: 5x
Postseason:
.257, 18 HR, 40 RBI, .908 OPS (12 World Series)
Friday, January 17, 2014
Whitey Ford: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1974
Born:
October 21, 1928
1947:
Signed with New York Yankees
Debut: July
1, 1950 (Yankees)
1950: Began
his career 9-0
1950: Yankees
win World Series
1950: TSN
Rookie of the Year
1951-2:
Korean War
1953:
Yankees win World Series
1955:
Back-to-Back one hitters
1956: Six
consecutive strikeouts (tied AL record)
1956: 19-6,
2.47 ERA, 18 CG, 2 SHO, 225.2 IP
1956:
Yankees win World Series
1957:
Yankees win Pennant
1958: 14-7,
2.01 ERA, 15 CG, 7 SHO, 219.1 IP, 1.076 WHIP
1958: Six
consecutive strikeouts
1958:
Became only man with four consecutive Game 1 postseason starts
1958:
Yankees win World Series
1960:
Yankees win Pennant
1961: New
manager Ralph Houk changed Casey Stengel’s policy of only pitching Ford against
good teams. Ford got regular starts for the first time.
1961: 243
consecutive innings without a stolen base
1961: 25-4,
3.21 ERA, .862 win %, 11 CG, 3 SHO, 283 IP, 209 strkeouts
1961: Cy
Young Award
1961: Broke
World Series record for consecutive scoreless innings (eventually 33.2 IP)
1961: World
Series MVP
1961-2:
Yankees win World Series
1963: 24-7,
.774 win %, 2.74 ERA, 13 CG, 3 SHO, 269.1 IP, 189 strikeouts
1963-4:
Yankees win Pennant
1966:
Became all-time Yankees wins leader
1967:
Retired
1974: Yanks
retired #16
1977:
Broadcast first game in Toronto Blue Jays history
1987: Gets
plaque in Monument Park
1998:
Everlast releases Whitey Ford Sings the
Blues.
1999: All Century
Team nominee
Accomplishments:
6x World
Champion
10x
All-Star
1961 Cy
Young Award
1961 World
Series MVP
1961 Babe
Ruth Award
1950 TSN
Rookie of the Year
World
Series record 33.2 consecutive scoreless IP
236-106
record
.690 win
percentage
2.75 ERA
498
games-438 starts-156 CG
45 SHO
Eight 1-0
wins
3170.1 IP
1086 walks
1956
Strikeouts
1.215 WHIP
Led league
in wins: 3x
Led league
win %: 3x
ERA Champ:
2x
Led league
in GS: 2x
Led league
in CG (18): 1955
Led league
in SHO: 2x
Led league
in IP: 2x
Led league
in WHIP (1.076): 1958
15+ Wins:
10x
20+ Wins:
2x
25 wins
(1961)
Sub 3.00
ERA: 8x
Sub 2.50
ERA: 3x
10+ CG: 8x
15+ CG: 3x
200+ IP:
11x
250+ IP: 4x
209
strikeouts (1961)
Postseason:
10-8, 2.71 ERA, 146 IP, 1.137 WHIP, 7 CG, 3 SHO, 22 games (11 World Series)
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Jocko Conlan: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1974
Born:
December 6, 1899
1934:
Signed by Chicago White Sox
Debut: July
6, 1934 (White Sox)
1935:
Umpire was ill, so he filled in
1935:
Released by Sox
1936-40:
Minor League Umpire
1941-65: NL
Umpire
1945: World
Series
1950:
Umpired game Gil Hodges hit 4 home runs
1950: World
Series
1951:
Umpired NL Playoffs
1954: World
Series
1957: World
Series
1959:
Umpired NL Playoffs
1961: Umpired
game Willie Mays hit 4 home runs
1961: World
Series
1962:
Umpired NL Playoffs
1962:
Mentioned in Danny Kaye song, "The Los Angeles Dodgers"
1964:
Retired
1965:
Served as substitute umpire for 17 games
1973-77:
His son, John Bertrand Conlan, served in U.S. House of Representatives
1974:
Elected to Hall of Fame (Vet's Committee)
1989: Died
Accomplishments:
Umpired
World Series: 5x
Umpired All
Star Game: 6x
Umpired NL
Playoffs: 3x
As a
player: .263, 0 HR, 31 RBI, 5 SB, .662 OPS (128 games)
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Jim Bottomley: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1974
Born: April
23, 1900
1916:
Dropped out of school to earn money for his family
1919: Tried
out for Cards
1920:
Signed by St. Louis Cardinals
1920-2:
Minor Leagues
Debut:
August 18, 1922 (Cards)
1924: Set
record with 12 RBI in a single game
1926: Cards
win World Series
1928: .325,
31 HR, 136 RBI, 123 runs, 187 hits, 42 doubles, 20 triples, 362 TB, 1.030 OPS
1928: Cards
win Pennant
1928:
Second player in 20-20-20 club
1928: NL
MVP
1930: Cards
win Pennant
1931:
Finished third in closest batting race ever (.3482)
1931: Cards
win World Series
1932:
Traded to the Cincinnati Reds
1933:
Salary dispute with Reds
1936:
Traded to the St. Louis Browns
1937:
Player-Manager of Browns (21-56 record)
1937:
Retired
1937: First
player with 150 doubles, triples, and home runs in a career
1938:
Managed in Minors
1939:
Became a broadcaster
1955: Scout
for the Chicago Cubs and later minor league manager
Died: 1959
1974:
Elected to Hall of Fame (Vets Committee)
Accomplishments:
2x World
Champion
1928 NL MVP
12-RBI Game
(MLB Record)
Eight
unassisted double plays in a season (MLB Record for first baseman)
.310
Average
219 HR
1422 RBI
1177 Runs
2313 Hits
465 Doubles
151 Triples
664
walks-591 strikeouts
.369 OBP
.500 SLG
.869 OPS
3737 TB
100+ Runs:
2x
227 hits
(1925)
30+
Doubles: 11x
40+
Doubles: 3x
10+
Triples: 9x
20 Triples
(1928)
20+ HR: 3x
31 HR
(1928)
100+ RBI:
6x
.300
average: 8x
.350+
average: 2x
.400 OBP:
4x
.500
Slugging: 8x
.628
Slugging (1928)
1.030 OPS
(1928)
300+ TB: 4x
Led league:
153 games (1925)
Led league:
227 hits (1925)
Led league
in doubles: 2x
Led league:
20 triples (1928)
Led league:
31 HR (1928)
Led league
in RBI: 2x
Led league
in TB: 2x
Postseason:
.258, 1 HR, 10 RBI, .569 OPS (4 World Series)
As a
manager: 21-56 (.273)
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