Henry Aaron, who died last week, is one of the all-time best baseball players. Aaron still has the lifetime record for RBIs and held the home run record before Barry Bonds tainted it. Think of that – two thirds of the lifetime triple crown. He’s third in hits all time, too. In addition to his great baseball achievements, he fought racism. Aaron’s career reminds me of Walter Payton. They were rarely regarded as the best in any season but they played at an extremely high level forever. In addition to his great baseball achievements, he fought racism.
I saw Aaron at a book signing in Washington for his 1991 autobiography I Had a Hammer. Many years after his playing career ended, he still drew a huge crowd.
The Latest: My first and last phone calls with the great Henry Aaron. RIP, Hammer… https://t.co/ukqucoKAsT
After Hank Aaron's death last week, so many people reflected on how sincere, genuine and humble he was. I came across his 1982 Hall of Fame induction speech the other day. It lasted 6 minutes and 40 seconds! The Hammer wasn't one for self-aggrandizement.https://t.co/S34wgnXcuF
My col: Hank Aaron's greatness and grace were underappreciated for many years, yet still remain unmatched today. Aaron, one of my heroes and role models from age 8, still holds the MLB record for RBI, total bases and honest home runs. RIP. https://t.co/uU6QxtAm6A
Henry Aaron hammers his final HR to defeat his Milwaukee #Braves teammate Eddie Mathews in a classic episode of "Home Run Derby"! (Henry wins $2,000 – Eddie gets $1,000!) ⚾️ #MLB#Baseballpic.twitter.com/EiUDJvRpyw
Earl Weaver was a great manager. Weaver knew that most players couldn’t do everything and he found the right spots to maximize the skills they had. Look up the careers of John Lowenstein, Gary Roenicke, Wayne Garland and Mike Torrez among others. They never did as well for other teams as they did for the Orioles. Do you remember Sam Horn, a low-average power hitter who played for the Orioles after Weaver’s era? Earl would have known what to do with him. He would have gotten 350 at bats, hit .250 with 25 home runs and 70 RBIs. He would have had a long career. One of Weaver’s greatest moves from switching Cal Ripken from third base to shortstop. It took extra nerve because the Orioles had traded their third baseman, Doug DeCinces, to make room for Ripken. Ripken certainly didn’t look like a shortstop but Weaver knew he could do it.
Earl’s last game with the Orioles (until he came back in 1985) was the final game of the 1982 season. I had tickets for a game in June but traded them in for the final game since I figured it wouldn’t be crowded. I was certainly wrong.
The Orioles had been chasing the Milwaukee Brewers for first place in the American League East. The Brewers finished with four games in Baltimore and came here with a three game lead. The Orioles won the first three so the teams were tied on the last day. The starting pitchers were Jim Palmer (Orioles) and Don Sutton (Brewers). It was like a playoff atmosphere. Unfortunately, the game was bad as the Brewers crushed the Orioles. After the game, the fans stuck around to give Weaver an emotional farewell. It’s one of the most memorable moments I have seen as a sports fan.
Here are two pieces of memorabilia which I later got signed by Weaver. There was a “Thanks Earl” Day on September 19, 1982. I think both the small poster and the program are from that day. I had the program framed with my ticket stubs from September 19th and the final game.
"We always felt like we had an advantage over the other team, because Earl was thinking four steps ahead of whoever was in the other dugout and whatever the situation was"https://t.co/dV1miANjHz
I was there. It was a terrible game but a great event – Earl Weaver’s last game (until he cane back years later). A memorable day. https://t.co/PmO8G1yoYD
At the '93 All-Star "Old-Timer’s Game" at Camden Yards, Earl Weaver initially penciled in all ex-#Orioles to start— including Jim Palmer over Indians great and WW II hero Bob Feller. When asked about sitting Feller, 74, Earl responded, "F*ck him. He never won any games for me." pic.twitter.com/VAQUiGrfSS
Here's a young Earl Weaver when he was a prospect in the #Cardinals system – he never did make it in the big leagues as a ballplayer. pic.twitter.com/2XAbm69Mq2
On this day in 1935, Gottfried Krueger Brewing delivered cans of 2 of its beers to customers.
It was a hit! 91% of the drinkers approved of the cans, despite the fact that the beers did not contain fruit or lactose. #craftbeerpic.twitter.com/WiWZcwAgkc
Today is National Beer Can Appreciation Day. We couldn't think of any that we appreciate more than the three that race on Frosty Friday. We're looking forward to seeing them in action again! pic.twitter.com/JEnwzqMjVK
Today is Beer Can Appreciation Day. Today in 1935 Krueger's Beer became the first beer to be packaged & sold in cans. #historypic.twitter.com/Robnmf8UPJ
Beer Can Appreciation Day recognizes the great day in 1935 when beer was first sold in cans. Credit for the first beverage can goes to the Krueger Brewing Company. Made of steel and weighing in at almost 4 ounces, these hefty canisters opened with a church-key. pic.twitter.com/kWa5mM3x4k
McConnell will use to block Democratic bills. Of course, it could be used by Republicans when they’re in charge but I’ll take that chance. We have a crisis now and can’t let McConnell block legislation to end the emergency.
Analysis: It is time once again to explain what the filibuster is and isn’t https://t.co/H9RH0Vfgcc
Senate Dems represent 41 million more Americans than GOP but Mitch McConnell wants 21 small state GOP senators representing less than a quarter of population to be able to block laws supported by huge majorities of Americans with filibuster https://t.co/CJol4P47Np
If Dems had not gone nuclear in 2013 we would have confirmed far fewer Obama judges. Then McConnell would have gone nuclear himself the first time Democrats filibustered a Trump nominee in 2017. There is zero chance McConnell would sat back while Dems filibustered Trump nominees. https://t.co/13Q6zA98EC
No idea what Feinstein is talking about here. She was elected in 1992. In her first two-year session of Congress from 1993-94 there were 80 filibusters. From 2013-14 (Democrats’ last two years in the majority) there were 252 filibusters. https://t.co/q1LOuPdxpU
I hope centrist Democrats learn very quickly to drop their misplaced veneration for the Senate filibuster. As McConnell knows, it's the party in the White House that gets punished for gridlock. Dems can only win by passing big things that most Americans want.
“According to Senate records, the number of times the chamber considered a ‘cloture’ motion to end debate — the Senate’s way of stopping a filibuster — rose from six in 1969-70 to 298 in 2019-20.”https://t.co/vtbSn0N6DE
On @MeetThePress Dick Durbin signals limited patience on filibuster: "And if this filibuster has now become so common in the Senate that we can't act, that we just sit there helpless, shame on us. Of course we should consider a change in rule under those circumstances…"
Mitch McConnell, who ran the Senate chamber for the last six years, wants Charles Schumer—the new Senate Majority Leader—to agree to keeping the filibuster in place https://t.co/qH8hko4EcL
State Republicans in deep-red states and battlegrounds alike are citing former President Donald Trump’s meritless claims of voter fraud in 2020 as an excuse to tighten access to the pollshttps://t.co/wAc50qA2Wn
We’re already seeing efforts to reassert Georgia’s place as ground zero for voter suppression because politicians are afraid change is coming. https://t.co/UtYokhiwQM
— Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (@ReverendWarnock) January 24, 2021
Democracy for me, but not for thee.
2 dead moms voting for Trump in my state and the PAGOP is raging that THEIR OWN Vote by Mail law <<checks notes>> uh- worked?
So pissed, in fact, they’re now attempting to gerrymander the PA Supreme Court. 👍https://t.co/M6ENGb9hE8
Republican lawmakers in states Trump contested are pushing new voting restrictions for future elections. That includes proposals to roll back laws in Georgia and Pennsylvania that allowed all registered voters to vote by mail.https://t.co/GbpQCeuZit
"Republican state lawmakers have begun to use President Donald Trump’s baseless charges of voter fraud to push for new restrictions on voting.” https://t.co/afJxzc3KiN
The fruit of Trump's baseless fraud charges: "Raffensperger on Wednesday asked Georgia state representatives to end no-excuse absentee voting, a proposal that would limit the voting method over 1.3 million people used in the presidential election." https://t.co/bdeL4PlFqo
Georgia Republicans outline a plan to restrict mail voting and roll back the election laws that contributed to the state's record-high turnout in the presidential election — unwinding rules the party itself put in place. https://t.co/4qA10UfAz7
Be prepared for what follows the current attack on the election: 1- State efforts to restrict voting, particularly mail-in voting which Republicans see as disadvantaging them. 2- Future attempts to intimidate election officials, courts & legislatures to overturn election losses.
Of course this woman deserves to be commended, but we have to call this what it is: This is the result of Republicans nonstop efforts to suppress black voters. If Biden wins Georgia, it will be because of a superhuman effort by people like her. Voting shouldn’t be partisan. https://t.co/177NGCXL0N
A legal fight over how to fix ballot errors in North Carolina has left thousands of voters in limbo — nearly half people of color https://t.co/gv51NQVvf9
So much of this was avoidable but Americans refusal to not travel for the holidays harmed so many people. People shrugged off the warnings. At the end of the day, millions of our fellow citizens have no regard for the safety of others. https://t.co/0T7MomHieN
If you thought you knew which countries were crushing COVID in the fall, I’d suggest doing a data refresh to make sure your narrative isn't total nonsense pic.twitter.com/BpbXRidloh
“Do Re Mi” was written by Woody Guthrie and released in 1940. As noted in the Wikipedia article, the phenomena of people moving to California from the Dust Bowl during the Depression was also addressed in John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath (which I highly recommend as well as the John Ford film from it).
very different from his studio version – both great
The new merchandise capitalizes on popularity of the moment, but provides an opportunity for a much longer impact as money from sales will support Vermont charities.https://t.co/iw5mjIcNwh
The image from President Biden's inauguration of Sen. Bernie Sanders sitting with his legs crossed wearing brown and white gloves made a splash on the internet. Now, a crocheted doll made as a tribute to the meme is being auctioned for charity. https://t.co/pNBUKvJKz6
Those wool mittens that Sen. Bernie Sanders wore to the inauguration helped raise $1.8 million for charities in the senator's home state of Vermont. https://t.co/zC98pFXYDK
Sad! 