History of All Kinds

[BigGRacing]

It also transported prisoners of war and played a crucial role in maintaining supply lines to allied forces.

One of my favourite ships as you know

 

[TLOC]

Today is Sunday, December 14, 2025

The History of Today

1503 - Physician, astrologer and clairvoyant, Nostradamus, was born at St. Remy, Provence, France.

1799 - The first President of the United States, George Washington, died at the age 67.

1946 - The U.N. General Assembly voted to establish the United Nation's headquarters in New York.

1985 - Wilma Mankiller became the first woman to lead a major American Indian tribe as she formally took office as principal chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.

1995 - The presidents of Bosnia, Herzegovina, Serbia and Croatia signed the Dayton Accords to end fighting in Bosnia.

 

[migalyto]

Dec 14, 1911

Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen's Antarctic expedition is the first to reach the South Pole.

 

[migalyto]

Dec 15, 1791

US Bill of Rights is ratified and becomes Amendments 1 through 10 of the US Constitution when Virginia gives its approval.

 

[TLOC]

Today is Monday, December 15, 2025 The History of Today 1815 - Jane Austen's "Emma" was published. 1938 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt presided over the groundbreaking ceremonies for the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC. 1939 - "Gone With the Wind", produced by David O. Selznick and based on the novel by Margaret Mitchell, premiered at Loew's Grand Theater in Atlanta. The movie starred Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable. 1966 - Walter Elias "Walt" Disney died in Los Angeles at the age of 65.

[td]


[/td]​

 

[migalyto]

Dec 16, 1773

Boston Tea Party:

Sons of Liberty protesters throw tea shipments into Boston Harbor to protest the British-imposed Tea Act and escalating taxation without representation in the British Parliament

 

[Bruette]

Babe Ruth at his father's bar at 38 South Eutaw Street, Baltimore, just a few blocks from where Oriole Park at Camden Yards is today.

At the time the photo was taken (1915), Babe Ruth was 20 years old and had just completed his first full season as a successful pitcher with the Boston Red Sox. He used part of his World Series bonus check to help his father purchase this saloon. George Herman Ruth Sr. was a bartender by trade and owned several saloons in the area. Babe often spent time working there during the off-season. This is the only known photograph of Babe Ruth and his father together. George Sr. tragically died in 1918 from injuries sustained during an altercation outside the tavern.

 

[Bruette]

December 15, 1974 - Catfish Hunter is ruled a free agent by arbitrator Peter Seitz, the first free agent in modern baseball history. After A's owner Charles O. Finley fails to live up to terms of the star pitcher's contract.

The star pitcher for the Oakland A’s, had a contract that required team owner Charles O. Finley to pay part of his salary into an annuity for tax purposes.

• Finley failed to make those payments properly.
• Hunter’s lawyers pressed the issue, and when Finley tried to pay Hunter directly, Hunter refused, because it would have ruined the tax advantage he had negotiated.
• Arbitrator Peter Seitz ruled that Finley’s failure voided the contract.
• Hunter became the first modern free agent in Major League Baseball.
• Within weeks, he signed a record-breaking deal with the New York Yankees for five years, $3.75 million, which was astronomical at the time.
• This case sets the precedent for the free agency system that transformed player salaries, team building, and the balance of power between owners and athletes.

 

[Bruette]

December 16, 1951- Oriole lefthander, future Cy Young Award winner and executive vice president of the team, Mike Flanagan was born in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Mike had the best curveball I ever saw a lefthander throw!

 

[migalyto]

Dec 17, 1903

At 10:35 am, Orville Wright pilots the first sustained, powered, and controlled flight of a heavier-than-air aircraft at Kill Devil Hills near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina; the flight lasts 12 seconds and covers 120 feet.

 

[TLOC]

December 16, 1951- Oriole lefthander, future Cy Young Award winner and executive vice president of the team, Mike Flanagan was born in Manchester, New Hampshire.
View attachment 251626
Mike had the best curveball I ever saw a lefthander throw!

Remember Sandy Koufax! Thats the best I’ve seen plus his fastball was exceptional.

Who do you consider the best pitcher you have seen? For me it’s still Bob Gibson

 

[TLOC]

Today is Wednesday, December 17, 2025 The History of Today 1903 - 1959 - The film On the Beach premiered in New York City and in 17 other cities. It was the first motion picture to debut simultaneously in major cities around the world. 1969 - Television history was made when Tiny Tim and Miss Vicki Budinger were married on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson. 1986 - Davina Thompson became the world's first recipient of a heart, lungs and liver transplant. 1992 - U.S. President Bush, Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari signed the North American Free Trade Agreement

 

[Bruette]

Remember Sandy Koufax! Thats the best I’ve seen plus his fastball was exceptional.

I was three when Sandy retired, sadly I haven't seen much of him other than some film of his later years. Even then I could see why they called him "They left arm of God"

Mike Flanagan didn't have the benefit of an overpowering fastball to make his curveball look better. He threw hard, but only above average. For two seasons his curveball could be devastating without having to set it up. It looked just like a fastball until the batter began to swing than it moved!

Who do you consider the best pitcher you have seen? For me it’s still Bob Gibson

I did see Bob Gibson, but not at his peak.

I don't think I could decide who was the best. If I had to decide I would say Jim Palmer. But I saw many, Cuellar was a magician. McNally was a work horse. Steve Carlton in 1972 was unreal. Luis Taint also in 1972. Gaylord Perry was great but has been overshadowed by the spitball. Ron Guidry had one of the best seasons ever as did Mark Fridrich. Greg Maddox was the master of location and deception. Nolan Ryan was overrated because he could be his own worst enemy but could dominate games. Bert Blyleven had the best curveball I ever saw.

Tom Seaver, Vida Blue, Dick Bosman, Dennis Leonard, Don Sutton, Mickey Lolich, Jim Hunter, Wilbur Wood, Steve Rodgers. I could go on for the best part of the day and still leave somebody out.

Trever Rodgers had the best streak of starts I ever saw last year. Many modern-day pitchers have great arms. Few have the mastery of their craft to complete games.

It is hard, do I pick based on one season, longevity, consistency?

Best pitcher, my answer: I don't know.

The best arm I ever saw. That is easy, Nolan Ryan. He could throw 150 pitches and still throw 100mph.

 

[Bruette]

December 16, 1944 – January 16, 1945

The Battle of the Bulge was Nazi Germany’s last major offensive on the Western Front. Despite initial surprise and heavy Allied losses, the attack failed, exhausting German resources and paving the way for the Allies’ final push into Germany.

After the success of the D-Day invasion and liberation of France, Allied forces were pressing toward Germany. Adolf Hitler launched a surprise winter offensive through the Ardennes Forest in Belgium and Luxembourg, aiming to split Allied forces, capture Antwerp, and force a negotiated peace.

Timeline

• December 16, 1944: German forces attacked under cover of fog and snow, achieving initial breakthroughs.
• Late December: Fierce fighting at towns like Bastogne, where U.S. forces held out despite encirclement.
• January 1945: Allied counterattacks, led by General Patton’s Third Army, pushed the Germans back.
• January 16, 1945: The offensive collapsed, ending in Allied victory.

Key Facts

• Casualties: ~75,000 Allied vs. ~120,000 German.
• Forces: Over 400,000 Germans and 600,000 Allied troops engage.
• Conditions: Bitter cold, snow, and fog slowed both sides.
• Name Origin: The “bulge” referred to the wedge-shaped German advance on Allied maps.

Significance

• Marked the largest battle fought by the U.S. Army in World War II.
• Delayed Allied plans by about six weeks but depleted German reserves irreparably.
• Less than four months later, Germany surrendered.
• Winston Churchill called it “The greatest American battle of the war.”

---

In essence, the Battle of the Bulge was a desperate gamble by Hitler that briefly shocked the Allies but ultimately accelerated Germany’s defeat.

Sources: Britannica Wikipedia The National WWII Museum

 

[Bruette]

Cal Ripken Sr. December 17, 1935 – March 25, 1999

Cal Sr. was one of the architects of the "Oriole Way," a key figure in the minor leagues who shaped the future Orioles and ensured they carried on the success that began in the early 1960s and lasted for three decades.

Cal Ripken, Sr., became the first father ever to manage two sons simultaneously in the major leagues and who also served as a player, scout, and coach for over 30 years in the Orioles organization.

 

[BigGRacing]

Some train related history from around these parts, before and after pics. I believe it’s the longest bridge in Eastern Canada. Next is the great old Liverpool train station.

 

[migalyto]

Dec 18, 1966

The TV special How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, an adaptation of Dr. Seuss's classic children's book, aired for the first time. It quickly became a holiday staple.

 

[TLOC]

Today is Thursday, December 18, 2025 The History of Today 1865 - Slavery was abolished in the United States with the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution being ratified. 1936 - Su-Lin, the first giant panda to come to the U.S. from China, arrived in San Francisco, CA. The bear was sold to the Brookfield Zoo for $8,750. 1956 - Japan was admitted to the United Nations.

 

[Bruette]

 

[Bruette]

December 19, 1896 - The birthday of the Georgia Peach, Ty Cobb. Born in Narrows, Ga. Cobb was a perennial batting title champ and member of the first Hall of Fame class. A longtime Detroit Tiger, Cobb was an absolute force at the plate, hitting .400 three times and winning the batting title 12 times, and becoming the first member of the 4,000-hit club. Cobb won the 1909 Triple Crown and was the MVP in 1911, when he hit .419/.466/.620. At the time of his retirement, Cobb held a multitude of career records, including those 12 batting titles, 3,035 games played, 11,434 at-bats, 2,246 runs, 4,189 hits, 5854 total bases and a career batting average of .366. Cobb had a tumultuous career off the field as well, with notable fights with teammates, opposing players, umpires and fans. (Baseball Digest)

Ty Cobb's trademark "slide"