This is an iHeart Podcast. Did you know Tide has been upgraded to provide an even better clean and cold water? Tide is specifically designed to fight any stain you throw at it. even in cold. Butter?
Yep. Chocolate ice cream? Sure thing. Barbecue sauce? tides got you covered.
You don't need to use warm water. Additionally, Tied pods let you confidently fight tough stains with new ColdZheim technology. Just remember. If it's gotta be clean, it's gotta be tied. Stop settling for weak sound.
It's time to level up your game and bring the boom. Hit the town with the ultra-durable LGX Boom portable speaker and enjoy vibrant sound wherever you go. Elevate your listening experience to new heights because let's be real, your music deserves it. The future of sound is now with LG X Boom. And for a limited time, save 25% at lg.com with code FALL25.
Bring the bowl. X boom. Let's be real. Life happens. Kids still, pets shed, and accidents are inevitable.
Find a sofa that can keep up at washable sofas.com. Starting at just $699, our sofas are fully machine washable inside and out. you can say goodbye to stains and hello to worry-free living. Made with liquid and stain-resistant fabrics. They're kid-proof, pet-friendly, and built for everyday life.
Plus, changeable fabric covers let you refresh your sofa whenever you want. Neat flexibility, our modular design lets you rearrange your sofa anytime to fit your space, whether it's a growing family room or a cozy apartment. Plus, they're earth-friendly and trusted by over 200,000 happy customers. It's time to upgrade to a stress-free, mess-proof sofa. Visit washablefas.com today and save.
That's washablefas.com. Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply. Looking for entertainment everyone will love? TiVo Plus has you covered with over 300 free channels. From movies for Family Night to kids' shows, live news, sports, and your favorite TV series, all in one place.
No sign-ups, no credit card required. Just turn on and enjoy. And with new channels and fresh content added all the time, there's always something to watch. Teebo Plus. Free, binge-worthy, and always on.
Check us out at Teevo.com. This message is brought to you by AppleCard. Each Apple product, like the iPhone, is thoughtfully designed by skilled designers. The titanium Apple Card is no different. It's laser-etched, has no numbers, and it earns you daily cash on everything you buy, including 3% back on everything at Apple.
Apply for Apple Card on your iPhone in minutes. Subject to credit approval, AppleCard issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Salt Lake City Branch. Terms and more at AppleCard.com. This is Lee Habib, and this is Our American Stories, the show where America is the star. and the American people.
And to search for the Our American Stories podcast, go to the iHeartRadio app. or wherever you get your podcasts. Our next story comes to us from Nick Ragon, host of the popular YouTube channel This Date in History with Nick Ragon. Ray Caldwell put on a Cleveland Indian uniform for the first time. And none of the 20,000 fans at League Park had any idea.
that they were about to see something that defies belief. Let's take a listen. If you're a baseball fan, you're probably familiar with the term electric stuff to describe a pitcher who is on top of his game. Growing up in the 80s, it seemed like Dwight Gooden, Nolan Ryan, Roger Clemens, and other flamethrowers had their electric stuff every night. But what if I told you that the term actually originated in the early part of the 20th century?
that it wasn't really used to describe a pitcher's throwing prowess, but rather traces its origins to one of the strangest events in Major League Baseball history. Hack one of the strangest events in sports history. It was August 24th, 1919. By all accounts, an uncomfortably muggy day at League Park in Cleveland. The first place Indians were hosting the Philadelphia Athletics in front of 20,000 fans.
They were excited to see their new pitcher, the journeyman Ray Caldwell. who was recently let go by the Boston Red Sox. Once upon a time Caldwell had been regarded as a generational talent. One of those guys with transcendent stuff that screamed can't miss potential. But years of hard drinking and erratic behavior had left him a shell of his former self.
By 1921, Haldwell was desperate for a last chance to show that he could still play the game. He no longer had his dominant fastball a nasty curve, but he did sport one of the game's best spit balls, which in 1919 was still legal. On this particular afternoon, He had total command of his spitter. The athletic players were flummoxed by the way it bobbed and weaved through the air, impervious to contact. A combination of the bright sunshine and saliva ridden ball, had resulted in just four baserunners for the A's through the first eight innings.
giving the Indians a slim one run lead heading into the top of the ninth inning. Fans would later say that they noticed dark clouds that seemingly materialize out of Lake Erie and descend upon the stadium with alarming speed. practically enveloping it. With droplets of rain beginning to sprinkle from the heavens, Caldo worked extra fast. hoping to avoid a rain delay.
He quickly got ahead of the first batter and induced a meek pop-up to the shortstop for out number one. A nasty spitter resulted in a second infield pop-up, and Caldwell and the Indians were now one out from putting the A's away. By this time the wind was howling, It's as if the stadium was mired in a total eclipse had become so dark Some fans had already scattered from League Park a combination of the rain and sense of foreboding chasing them away.
So picture this. Caldwell is towing the rubber and leaning in to get the sign. when a flash from the sky explodes into the middle of the field. Indian shortstop Ray Chapman would later say he felt a surge of electricity go down his leg. and the violence of the lightning strike causes the players to dive for the ground.
I took my metal mask and threw it as far as I could. Say Cleveland's catcher Steve O'Neill after the game. I didn't want to attract any bolts towards me. Seconds after the lightning hit the ground, the players were still staring at each other in disbelief. On the mound lay Ray Caldwell, arms spread wide, completely unconscious.
The lightning bolt had struck him directly. Players rushed to aid Caldwell, but the first man who touched him leapt into the air, saying he had been zapped by Caldwell's prone body. The players in UMP stared over Caldwell, his chest smouldering from where the bulk burned it. Shortstop, Ray Chapman blurted out to nobody in particular: is he dead? The players were terrified to touch him to even take his pulse.
Nobody knew what to do. Believe it or not, they were ready to pronounce Caldwell dead when the 31-year-old pitcher started groaning and crawled back to his knees and then his feet. His teammates were thrilled to see him alive. but they kept their distance from the guy whose chest was on fire just minutes before. One of the umpires offered to assist him off the field and take him to a hospital.
but Caldwell would have none of it. I have one more out to get, he testily barked at the ump. He argued the point with the Indians player manager. The legendary Triss Beaker. and his intransigence won the day.
as Speaker reluctantly let him stay on the field to try and record the final out. Give me the dang ball and point me towards the plague. He commanded shortstop Ray Chapman. who was still in semi-disbelief that Caldwell was alive and pitching. The umpires lingered around the mound as the players slowly took their positions.
Ace shortstop Joe Duggan dug into the batter's box, waiting for the umps to signal play ball. The umps just look at each other for an extra beat and shrug their shoulders. Play ball, one of them says. By this time most of the fans had scattered in the chaos of the lightning strike. but for the few hardy souls who stuck around, they are about to witness the conclusion of the strangest game in Major League history.
With the first pitch, Calba grooves a fastball to Dugan. who hits a screaming line drive to third baseman Willie Gardner. who knocks it down with his chest and rushes to throw the first just in time to edge out Dugan. And with that, Ray Caldwell, in his first start as a Cleveland Indian, Pitches a complete game victory, which includes being struck by lightning. With the media after the game, Ray Caldwell was as curt as he was brief.
I just wanted to complete the game, he hurriedly told reporters as he rushed from the clubhouse. purportedly to hit his favorite watering hole. As if this story isn't fascinating enough, There's an interesting footnote, actually two footnotes. seventeen days after being struck by lightning, Ray Caldwell would pitch a no-hitter against one of his former teams, the New York Yankees.
Someone on his team jokingly told the media after the game that he had electric stuff that day. and the term stuck. His stuff would remain electric for the rest of the year as he went five-in-one with the Indians and nearly led them past the White Sox. who would famously go on to Throw the World Series. The following year he matched a 20-win season.
Sadly, that would be the same year that the Indian shortstop Ray Chapman tragically died after being beamed in the head by the Yankees' Carl Mays. His death prompted several rules changes, including banning the spitball and requiring dirty balls to come out of play.
So the next time you hear some pitcher has electric stub, Just remember. He's no Ray Caldwell. And a terrific job on the production, editing, and storytelling by our own Greg Hengler. And a special thanks to Nick Ragone. And he hosts the popular YouTube channel, This Date in History, with Nick Ragone: The Story of Ray Caldwell.
Here on Our American Stories. Lee Habib here. As we approach our nation's 250th anniversary, I'd like to remind you that all the history stories you hear on this show are brought to you by the great folks at Hillsdale College. Go to hillsdale.edu to find out about their terrific free online courses. Their series on communism is one of the finest I've ever seen.
Again, go to hillsdale.edu and sign up for their free and terrific online courses. Stop settling for weak sound. It's time to level up your game and bring the boom. Hit the town with the ultra-durable LGX Boom portable speaker and enjoy vibrant sound wherever you go. Elevate your listening experience to new heights because let's be real, your music deserves it.
The future of sound is now with LG X Boom. And for a limited time, save 25% at lg.com with code FALL25. Bring the bowl. X boom. Time for a sofa upgrade?
Visit washable sofas.com and discover Anibay, where designer style meets budget-friendly prices, with sofas starting at $699. Anibay brings you the ultimate in furniture innovation with a modular design that allows you to rearrange your space effortlessly. Perfect for both small and large spaces, Anibay is the only machine-washable sofa inside and out. Say goodbye to stains and messes with liquid and stain-resistant fabrics that make cleaning easy. Liquid simply slides right off.
Designed for custom comfort, our high-resilience foam lets you choose between a sink-in feel or a supportive memory foam blend. Plus, our pet-friendly stain-resistant fabrics ensure your sofa stays beautiful for years. Don't compromise quality for price. Visit washable sofas.com to upgrade your living space today with no risk returns and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Get up to 60% off plus free shipping and free returns.
Shop now at washablesofas.com. Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions. may apply. Looking for entertainment everyone will love? TiVo Plus has you covered with over 300 free channels.
From movies for Family Night to kids' shows, live news, sports, and your favorite TV series, all in one place. No sign-ups, no credit card required. Just turn on and enjoy. And with new channels and fresh content added all the time, there's always something to watch. TiBo Plus.
Free, binge-worthy, and always on. Check us out at TiVo.com. Hey, what's up, it's Mario Lopez. Back to schools, an exciting time, but it can also be overwhelming and kids may feel isolated, a vulnerability that human traffickers can exploit. Human trafficking doesn't always look like what you expect.
Everyday moments can become opportunities for someone with bad intentions, whether you're a parent, teacher, coach, or neighbor. Check in. Ask questions. Stay connected. Blue Campaign is a national awareness initiative that provides resources to help recognize suspected instances of human trafficking.
Learn the signs and how to report at dhs.gov/slash blue campaign. Witness the new season of Reasonable Doubt streaming on Hulu September 18th. LA's most successful attorney, Jack Stewart, defends a young actor accused of murder. Follow Emayati Coronaldi, Morris Chestnut, Joseph Socora, and guest stars Cash Dahl and Laurie Harvey as they face off in the year's most sensational trial. In the pursuit of justice, every move counts.
Reasonable Doubt Season 3 is streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney Plus September 18th. Hulu on Disney Plus for bundle subscribers. terms apply. This is an iHeart podcast.
