Bobby Wallace: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1953

Born: November 4, 1873

Debut:  September 15, 1894 (Cleveland Spiders)

1896: Moved to outfield

1897: Became full time third baseman

1899: Moved to Cardinals

1900s: Considered AL’s best shortstop for the decade

1902: Jumped to Browns

1911-12: Managed Browns (57-134)

1917: Signed by Cardinals

1918: Became the oldest person to play shortstop (broken by Omar Vizquel in 2012)

1918: Played 24 seasons without making a World Series (record)

1919: Became scout

1937: Managed Reds (5-20)

1953: Elected to Hall of Fame

1960: Died

Accomplishments:

.268 average

34 HR

1121 RBI

143 triples

.690 OPS

Hit .300: 2x

Led league in games (156): 1905

30+ doubles: 3x

10+ triples: 4x

15+ triples: 2x

21 triples (1897)

12 home runs (1899)

.504 slugging (1897)

100+ RBI: 2x

As a pitcher:

24-22 record

3.87 ERA

As a manager:

62-154 (.287)

Bill Klem: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1953

Born: February 22, 1874

Umpired: 1905-41

Klem is considered the “Father of baseball umpires.”

First to wear chest protector

Longest tenure as umpire: 37 yrs (tied by Bruce Froemming in 2007)

First to use arm signals

World Series: 1908-09, 1911-15, 1917-18, 1920, 1922, 1924, 1926, 1929, 1931-32, 1934, & 1940

All Star Games: 1933, 1938

No-Hitters: 5

Died: 1951

Hall of Fame: 1953

Al Simmons: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1953

Al Simmons timeline:

Born: May 22, 1902

1923: Traded to A’s from the American Association

Debut: April 15, 1924 (A’s)

1930: Batting Champ (.381)

1931: Batting Champ (.390)

1932: Purchased by White Sox for $100,000

1934: Became the quickest to 2000 hits in history (1390 games): still a record

1935: Purchased by Tigers for $75,000

1937: Purchased by Senators for $15,000

1938: Purchased by Boston Bees for $3,000

1939: Purchased by the Reds

1939: Signed by A’s

1943: Somehow ended up with Red Sox

1944: Signed by A’s

1945: Released by A’s ; His 307 home runs were a record for AL right handed hitters until Al Kaline

1945-49: A’s coach

1950: Indians coach

1953: Elected to Hall of Fame

1956: Died of heart attack

1999: Nominee for All Century Team

Accomplishments:

2x World Champion

2x batting champ

3x All Star

Fastest player to 2000 hits

.334 career hitter

307 HR

1827 RBI

.535 slugging

.915 OPS

1507 Runs

2927 hits

539 doubles

149 triples

4685 TB

Led league runs (152): 1930

100+ runs: 6x

Led league in hits: 2x

200+ hits: 6x

253 hits (1925)

30+ doubles:  9x

40+ doubles: 4x

53 doubles (1926)

10+ triples: 7x

16 triples (1930)

20+ HR: 6x

30+ HR: 3x

100+ RBI: 12x

Led league RBI (157): 1929

150+ RBI: 2x

Hit .300: 13x

.400+ OBP: 5x

.500+ slugging: 10x

.600+ slugging: 4x

.708 slugging: 1930

1.000+ OPS: 5x

300+ TB: 6x

Led league TB: 2x

Postseason: .329, 6 HR, 17 RBI, 1.033 OPS (4 World Series)

History Shorts: The Battle of Milvian Bridge (312 A.D.)

Diocletian’s tetrachy disintegrated after his death. Constantine and others vied for control of the Roman Empire. The Civil War raged until Constantine defeated his final rival at Milvian Bridge. Prior to the engagement, Constantine saw something in the sky, which he interpreted as a sign from the Christian God. He placed the Christian symbol on his men’s shields and went into combat. Following his victory, Constantine credited his victory to the Christian god and legalized the religion.

Here is a dramatization of events:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_P0FZfPlSA

Sci Fi History: War of the Worlds (1938)

H.G. Wells wrote War of the Worlds in 1898. Forty years later, Orson Welles broadcast a dramatization of the novel on radio. Many panicked believing the program real. Some attribute the hysteria to worries about Nazi Germany. Whatever the cause, Welles became a star and soon produced Citizen Kane. Meanwhile, the classic broadcast demonstrated the power of mass media, mass hysteria, and science fiction!

Quotes of the Month: June 2012

Quote of the Month:
" I don't know him that well, but I thought he was a weird wuss anyways."

-Davey Johnson on Joe Maddon

Dumb Quote of the Month:

“The Private Sector is doing fine.”

-Barack Obama

Unfortunate Quote of the Month:
“I stuck to my guns.”

-Eric Holder
“You’re the ultimate arbiter of which direction this country goes.”

-Obama to his celebrity fans

"Have you stopped beating your wife yet?”

-David Stern to Jim Rome

"I'm flattered you're all so interested in my vagina. But no means no."

Michigan Rep Lisa Brown during an abortion debate

Jason Varitek timeline

Born: April 11, 1972

1984: Played in Little League World Series

1992: Member of U.S. Olympic Team

1992: Won Dick Howser Trophy as top collegiate player

1993: Baseball America’s College Player of the Year

1994: Led Georgia Tech to College World Series championship game

1993: Drafted by Twins, but returned to college

1994: Drafted by Mariners

1995-7: Played in minors

1997: Traded to Red Sox along with Derek Lowe for Heathcliff Slocumb

Debut: September 24, 1997 (Red Sox)

1998: Red Sox lost ALDS

1999: Became starting catcher

1999: Sox lose ALCS

2001: Injuries limited his action

2003: Red Sox lose ALCS

2004: Red Sox win World Series

2005: Becomes Red Sox captain

2005: Red Sox lost ALDS

2006: Breaks Carlton Fisk’s club record for games caught

2007: Red Sox win World Series

2008: Caught his fourth no-hitter: a MLB record

2008: Red Sox lost ALCS

2012: Retired

Accomplishments
2x World Champion

3x All Star

2005 Gold Glove

2005 Silver Slugger

.256 career hitter

664 runs

1307 hits

30+ doubles: 5x

20+ home runs: 3x

193 home runs

757 RBI

.512 Slugging (2003)

.776 OPS

Postseason: .237, 11 home runs, 33 RBI, .744 OPS (14 series)