nPostednon December 20, 2014
n
n
n
nAnguy with a last name for a first name and a first name for a lastnname is famous not for the out-in-front starring stuff the publicnsees but rather the in-the-back stuff the public doesn’t see.
n
n
n
nConfused?nI’ll explain.
n
n
n
 |
| Branch Rickey when young |
n
n“Ricky”nis a pretty common nickname for a fellow named “Richard,” butn“Rickey” is our birthday boy’s last name (also called surname).nHis full name is Wesley Branch Rickey, but he didn’t go by “Wesley,”nwhich is another fairly common first name. Instead, he went by hisnmiddle name (which was probably a family surname): Branch.
n
n
n
nAndn“Branch” just sounds like a part of a tree, doesn’t it?
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
Rickey, born on this date in 1881, played Major League Baseball, which is something that has made many anfellow famous. But Rickey’s fame didn’t come from his stint as anplayer; instead, he made history—and found a place in thenprestigious Baseball Hall of Fame—as a baseball executive.
Rickey, born on this date in 1881, played Major League Baseball, which is something that has made many anfellow famous. But Rickey’s fame didn’t come from his stint as anplayer; instead, he made history—and found a place in thenprestigious Baseball Hall of Fame—as a baseball executive.n
n
n
nHere’sna short list of his biggest accomplishments:
n
- n
-
n
Rickeyn broke the “color barrier” in Major League Baseball byn recruiting and signing Jackie Robinson to play with the Brooklynn Dodgers. Before this act, there was an unwritten rule that blackn people couldn’t play MLB, but instead had to stick to the “Negron Leagues.”n
n
n
- n
-
nRickeyn also drafted the first Afro-Hispanic superstar, Roberto Clemente.
n
n
n
- n
-
n
n
nHen created the minor league farm system.n
n
n
- n
-
nHen encouraged MLB to add more teams.
n
n
n
- n
-
nHen was an early adopter of the batting helmet, headgear designed ton protect batters.
n
n
n
n
n
n
CelebratenRickey’s life by watching the stirring movie “42,” which is mostlynabout Jackie Robinson—but which features Harrison Ford playing thenrole of Branch Rickey.
CelebratenRickey’s life by watching the stirring movie “42,” which is mostlynabout Jackie Robinson—but which features Harrison Ford playing thenrole of Branch Rickey.n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nAlsonon this date:
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nAnniversary of Macau’s transfer to the People’s Republic of China
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nAnniversarynof an innovation that led to corrugated cardboard
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
Anniversarynof Elvis being drafted into the army
Anniversarynof Elvis being drafted into the armyn
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nElectricityntheme day
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nAnniversarynof first cantilever bridge over Niagara Falls
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nPlannahead:
n
n
n
nChecknout my Pinterest pages on:
n
- n
-
nDecembern holidays
n
-
nDecembern birthdays
n
- Historicaln anniversaries in December
nn
n
n
n
nAndnhere are my Pinterest boards for:
n
- n
-
nJanuaryn holidays
n
-
nJanuaryn birthdays
n
-
nHistoricaln anniversaries in January
n
n
n
n
n
n