104 years ago today, Moonlight Graham didn't make it to the plate

[taterguy]

Let's hear it for making the most out of missed opportunities

[Mr. Ected]

1. From the Field of Dreams to An Esteemed Medical Career

You piqued my curiosity; I had to look:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonlight_Graham

[taterguy]

2. Most people think Kinsella just made him up

Of course the book & movie did change a lot of details about his life

[Tuesday Afternoon]

3. Now there is a name you don't here any more....

Archibald.

[fishwax]

4. Brief Appearances on big stages ran in the family: his brother was a US Senator for a year or so

And, oddly, played a small and unwelcome role in the rise of one Jesse Helms--Frank Graham was appointed to the senate when a sitting Senator died in 1949. The next year there was a special election to complete the term, and Graham--a liberal democrat and desegregationist--got 49% of the vote in a three-way race.

His leading opponent (Willis Smith) had apparently decided not to call for a run-off (since Graham hadn't won a majority), but Jesse Helms, then a prominent NC newsman, rallied Smith's supporters to convince Smith to run and then helped fuel racist flames during the runoff. Smith won the runoff and the general election, and brought Helms to Washington as part of his staff.

[Blue_Tires]

5. but as a reward he DID have one of the ultimate badasses play him in the movie