Growing up in northern California you learn different things than you do in other parts of the country. Of course, you learn about the Revolutionary War and The Civil War, and all those tiny states up in the corner where America first began, but you're more exposed to western history and geography. Things like the missions along the El Camino Real, Father Junipero Serra, redwoods and the '49 Gold Rush. Also, you hear about the Donner Party.

The Donner Party were settlers coming to California to homestead. After making a series of bad decisions, they wound up stranded up in the Sierra Nevada mountains for the winter. The winter was harsh and food was scarce, and before the spring thaw arrived half of the original eighty had died, and some had reverted to cannibalism to survive.

My uncle had a wonderful collection of books in his home, and one was about the Donner Party. In this book, diary entries and personal recollections from survivor interviews were gathered to tell their tragic story. These people literally went through frozen hell trying to keep their children and each other alive. Over the years I've read everything I could find on the subject, for it holds a morbid fascination for me.

Archeologists have discovered what they believe to be one of the camps used by the Donner party.

Here's an excellent site that shows the original route and timetable, using quotes from the original sources to create a daily log.

This is a nice resource, with tons of links to related materials.

Posted by: Ted at 08:06 AM | category: History
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George "Machine Gun" Kelly (he's the guy wearing the bracelets).

(in the extended entry) more...

Posted by: Ted at 05:27 PM | category: History
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(courtesy of Sporting News)

This season, Barry Bonds has more intentional walks (67) than any hitter in the AL has total walks.

Back in 1934, NY Giants southpaw Carl Hubbell struck out five straight batters in the All-Star game. Those five were Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmy Foxx, Al Simmons and Joe Cronin. All five were easily elected to the Hall of Fame upon retirement.

The starting NL outfield (Bonds, Griffey [doh!] and Sosa), has combined for 1,735 career home runs. The entire AL starting lineup has a total of 1,799 career homers.

Posted by: Ted at 06:51 PM | category: History
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1 Bonds also has scored more runs than he has hits... how many times has that ever been done?

In USA Today, Henry Aaron claims that Bonds is a better hitter than Ruth... I say no way jose... Ruth is the best hitter ever - bar none... what are your thoughts on that?

Posted by: Madfish Willie at July 12, 2004 08:59 PM (yN46R)

2 I have no unbiased opinion. In my heart, Barry Bonds and the Babe don't hold a candle to Willie Mays.

My head tells me it's Barry, Babe and Willie, in that order.

Posted by: Ted at July 13, 2004 10:05 AM (ZjSa7)

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