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Walter Clement Pipp (Wally
Pipp) was a mainstay at first base for the New York Yankees from
1915-1925. Pipp was American League home run champion:
1916, 1917, had 3 seasons with a .300+ batting average. and 2
seasons with 100+ RBI. On June 2, 1925, Yankee coach Miller
Huggins, wishing to shake up his lineup for a day, benched Pipp, and
replaced him with a newcomer named Lou Gehrig. It was the
beginning of Gehrig's streak of playing in 2,130 consecutive games.
Pipp was traded to Cincinnati.
George Shaw was an
All-America quarterback from the University of Oregon, and the
number-one NFL draft pick (Baltimore Colts) in 1955. Shaw was
everything the Colts had hoped for, but in the fourth game of the
1956-57 season, he broke his leg. He was replaced by a player
who had been a ninth round NFL pick (Steelers) in 1955,
after playing for Louisville. The Steelers cut him after their first
exhibition game, saying he "lacked the intelligence to play quarterback in
the NFL." Johnny Unitas went on to become one of the greatest QBs in
NFL history. Shaw was traded to the New York Giants.
Barack Obama, the improbable Democratic Party nominee for president in 2008.
Despite having no experience, at anything, Obama's good looks and
charisma vaulted him and running mate Sen. Joe Biden into a commanding
lead. By mid-September, however, Republican John McCain, on the
strength of VP mate Sarah Palin's performance on the campaign
trail, had taken the lead over Obama. Then, on the
morning of September 18th, at 11 AM EDT, there began an
electronic run on the banks, by persons unknown, who withdrew a
staggering half trillion dollars in just one hour. Bush
closed the banks, and emergency plans were discussed by the president
and congressional majority Democrats. They chose Obama as their spokesman,
he also being, evidently, a renowned economist. Obama's performance was charitably characterized as inept, but
Democrats blamed Bush for the disaster, and Obama was able to retake and
hold his lead.
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