Welcome to this biweekly newsletter, written by me, Corye Perez Beene, Ph.D. I am a United States History Professor and certified “sports nut.” I find the sports stories from the past to the present that celebrate the Awesomeness of American Sports
Thank you for your support! I am so appreciative of YOU being here 😃
I am looking for remote work, so can you share my newsletter in the hopes that potential employers can see my work? Thank you! Click on the button below:
Follow me on Twitter: @HistoryBeene or LinkedIn: coryebeene
I am looking for remote work. I can edit, proofread, and write for your website. Do you need someone to write your newsletter? If you are hiring or know of someone hiring for this type of work, would you reach out to me? Historybeene@gmail.com Thanks so much!
Gold Medal
History was made
🏀The list of the 25 greatest WNBA players came out last month, with the opportunity for fans to vote for their number one selection. The list was made to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the women’s basketball league. The winner was announced last weekend at the start of the WNBA Finals. Drum roll please: Diana Taurasi is the winner!
🏈Here is the longest touchdown by a quarterback in NCAA History (ties the record), scored by Ohio Bobcat’s QB Armani Rogers:
⚾️The Tampa Bays’ rookie outfielder Randy Arozarena became the only player in MLB playoff history to STEAL home run and HIT a home run in the same game. The Rays beat the Boston Red Sox 5-0.
🏈Sam Darnold, quarterback for the Carolina Panthers, started off the NFL season with a bang. He is the first QB in NFL history to have 5 rushing touchdowns in the first 4 games of the season.
🏌️♂️The Ryder Cup went to Team USA last month. They beat Team Europe 19-9, the largest margin of victory in the competition’s history. Here is a list of the entire team: GOLFERS. The team included heavy hitters Collin Marakawa, Xander Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka. Great job!
Silver Medal
Great stories
🏈I have been watching NFL football all of my life but I have NEVER seen a punter kick the ball TWICE in the same play! LOL! I did not know that a punter can kick it again IF the ball stays behind the line of scrimmage. Did you know that? Here is the Seattle Seahawks punter Michael Dickson. I love it when I learn a new rule of the game!
🏌️♀️I have several email accounts for work and I have a different quote for each of my email signatures. One of the quotes I have is from C.S. Lewis: “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” Debbie Blount is showing us what this quote is all about; she is a 63 year old sophomore at Reinhardt University, playing on the women’s golf team. After losing her husband, Debbie decided to return to college and since she had competed in golf championships throughout the years, it was a natural fit. Best of luck to Debbie!
Bronze Medal
⚾️Bonkers for Baseball ⚾️
Last week’s baseball memorabilia auction at Christie’s & Hunt Auctions in New York had some eye-opening dollars spent!
*Photographer Frank W. Smith’s picture of Shoeless Joe Jackson, taken in 1911, went for $1.47 million; it is the most money ever paid for a signed sports photograph!
*An autographed letter that Joe DiMaggio wrote to Marilyn Monroe (they were married for 9 months in the 1950s) sold for $525,000
*this 1925 rookie postcard signed by Lou Gehrig sold for $687,500
*Babe Ruth’s baseball bat with eight home run notches sold for $1.05 million. It is just one of five in existence to still feature original home run notches engraved by “The Great Bambino” himself.
How did the Seventh Inning stretch start during baseball games? I have always told my students it was President Taft who should be credited, but now, after reading this article, I might have to alter my lecture notes! Read more about it HERE
Leslie Mann, who played in the MLB from 1913-1928, including a World Series championship with the Boston Braves, wrote a book entitled The Fundamentals of Baseball to help teach the game. He made slides of players demonstrating the concepts in the book. Daniel Hurlburt, a student at Springfield College in Massachusetts, found the slides. Here are a few of the images, but you can see all of the 314 images HERE, at the “Leslie Mann Baseball Lantern Slide Collection.”
*Jack Fournier demonstrates the proper way to do a “drag bunt:”
*Jack Smith shows the wrong way to slide into a base:
*Heinie Groh shows the incorrect way for a 3rd baseman to stand while waiting to receive a throw:
Here is a book review of Thomas W. Gilbert’s How Baseball Happened: Outrageous Lies Exposed! The True Story Revealed.
This is a remarkable story: on August 24, 1919, pitcher Ray Caldwell was pitching his first game for the Cleveland Indians when he was struck by lightning. He survived, which is amazing enough, but he refused to leave the mound and wound up finishing the game with a win! Read the story HERE
Go watch one of 200 vintage baseball teams play the game following the baseball rules of the 1800s.
Last game of the vintage base ball season is Sunday 10/10 in #BovinaNY. Join the Bovina Dairymen who will host M.A.C from Flesichmanns at Creamery Field in Bovina at noon. All games are free. ow.ly/2CgU50GoSjs #baseball #history #greatwesterncatskills #outdoorfun
Thank you for reading! Are you looking for a speaker for your next event or conference? Email me at historybeene@gmail.com