Browsing: Lists

A Brief History On December 1, 1768, the Danish ship Fredensborg sank in a storm off the coast of Norway on her return trip from a death filled delivery of slaves to St. Croix in the Caribbean.  Previously we reported on “10 Infamous Ships”  and today we list “10 More Infamous Ships” that either served an evil purpose or were particularly unlucky, and are remembered today with less than fond memories.  As always, we invite our readers to add those nominees they think belong on such a list.  (Note: the RMS Titanic and SS Edmund Fitzgerald are TOO obvious!) Digging…

A Brief History On November 23, 1948, one of major league baseball’s greatest hitters and onetime highest paid player in the National League died penniless, and no one, not even his own son, would claim the body. Hack Wilson played for the Giants, Cubs, Dodgers and Phillies, but his heyday was with the Cubs.  We told Wilson’s story in our article “Onetime Highest Paid Player in National League Dies Penniless” and today we discuss 5 such stellar professional or famous athletes that lost their fortunes and ended up in financial straits. Digging Deeper Evander Holyfield, Heavyweight and Cruiserweight Boxing Champion.…

A Brief History On November 22, 1986, boxer Mike Tyson won the Heavyweight boxing championship at the record young age of 20 years old.  Incredibly, Puerto Rican Welterweight boxer won his first championship when only 17!  Young people have often achieved great things throughout history, and today we look at 10 of these talented young people.  (We will ignore people that inherited their crowns and stick to those that earned their achievements.) Digging Deeper 1. Wilfred Benitez, 17, professional boxing champion. Not only did this prodigy win a world title at the age of 17, he went on to win…

A Brief History On November 20, 1518, Sir Marmaduke Constable, a Tudor Era English courtier and soldier, died in a most unusual way.  One may even say, in an idiotic way.  This gentleman died when he drank a glass of water and swallowed the frog that was in the water!  We previously told you about “10 More Idiotic Ways to Die,” which itself was a sequel to our other articles, “10 Horrible Ways to Die,” “10 People Who Were the First to Die 10 Different Ways,” and “9 Innovative Ways to Die,” and today we continue to explore the many…

A Brief History On November 14, 1978, 40 years ago today, the #1 Song in the United States was the disco dance tune, “MacArthur Park,” by the Queen of Disco, Donna Summer.  Born LaDonna Adrian Gaines in 1948, this powerful singer unfortunately died in 2012, at the too young age of 63 from lung cancer though she was a non-smoker.  (She thought all the contaminated air she breathed in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York is what caused her cancer.)  Summer was certainly not the first or the last musical artist to take a…