Willie Mays created his own category. A completely unique set of skills on the baseball field, but his joyful personality and positive spirit was remembered by everyone around him. Nobody saw anything like Willie Mays, he was truly an original and unforgettable icon. He was the first five-tool ballplayer, who could hit for power, run, field, throw, and dominate the game at any moment. He was a fierce competitor but also one of the most likeable and respected athletes of all time. ...

This conversation delves into the fascinating story of Victor David Brenner, the artist behind the Lincoln Cent, the most reproduced piece of art in history. It explores the challenges he faced with the U.S. Mint, particularly with Charles Barber, the Chief Engraver, and the political dynamics that led to the removal of his initials from the coin. The discussion highlights the public's frenzy for the new coin, the artistic integrity of Brenner, and the legacy of the Lincoln Cent t...

The DBR1 Triumph: John Wyer, David Brown, and the Aston Martin Le Mans Victory Explore the definitive Aston Martin Le Mans victory 1959. This episode chronicles the intense, decade-long quest of the David Brown Aston Martin racing team. The journey began when successful industrialist David Brown purchased Aston Martin "more or less on a whim" for £20,000 and immediately set the ambitious long-term goal of Winning Le Mans 24 Hours. In 1950, Brown hired John Wyer as team manager, a partnership ...

Dive into the life and legacy of Walter Johnson, 'The Big Train,' and one of baseball's greatest pitchers of all time. We explore his rise from a late starter in baseball at the age of 16, to a dominating force in the Major Leagues. His character and humility, his friendships with other legends like Ty Cobb, and the challenges he faced in negotiating his worth as a player. We'll highlight key moments in Johnson's career, his pitching prowess, and the respect he garnered f...

The King of Coins: Louis E. Eliasberg's Legacy Dive into the fascinating world of coin collecting with the story of Louis E. Eliasberg, the only collector to assemble a complete collection of U.S. coins. Discover how his banking career and passion for history intertwined to create a legacy that continues to inspire collectors today. Learn about his beginnings in Baltimore and his conservative banking approach that helped him navigate the Great Depression. Explore the intriguing tale of ...

The story of the Sauber-Mercedes C9 race car is almost too good to be true. Step into the golden age of endurance racing with "Sauber Mercedes C9," a deep dive into one of the most dominant and iconic Group C race cars in history. This video tells the amazing story of how a small Swiss company, led by Peter Sauber, partnered with the mighty Mercedes-Benz to create a championship-winning machine. Discover the behind-the-scenes events, the technological innovations, and the fearless drive...

Think about this - in 1920, when Babe Ruth crushed his own record from the year before, with 54 home runs in a single season, the next closest player was George Sisler, who hit 19 homers… The Babe had almost triple as many home runs as the second highest total! Then, in 1921, the very next year, The Babe hit more than double as many home runs as the second highest… breaking his own record for the third year in a row, completely shocked baseball fans, and changed the game forever.&...

Embark on a numismatic journey with "Creating the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle," my episode that uncovers the fascinating history behind one of America's most beautiful gold coins. We delve into the captivating story of how President Theodore Roosevelt, determined to elevate U.S. coinage to the level of ancient Greek art, commissioned the renowned sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens. This video explores the collaborative efforts with figures like Frank Leach and others at the U.S. Mint, highlightin...

Carl Benz was not only my favorite inventors and creators I've read about so far, but he was also a true inspiration. An absolute legend. He spent his entire life first developing and perfecting an engine, then attached it to a horseless carriage. Creating one of the very first automobiles, and helping to develop the automotive industry as we know it today. Carl Benz was the very first person to commercially sell vehicles. By 1899, his company became the largest auto manufacture i...

There was a time when Ty Cobb was completely lost. He was a super talented ball player, but without focus. But there was a turning point for Cobb, when everything changed. And his career took off like a rocket. I read an amazing book by author Charles Leerhsen titled, "Ty Cobb, A Terrible Beauty." And discovered Cobb was not the monster that some made him out to be. The book tries to set the record straight, and tell the real story. I also discovered that just a Ty Cobb was rising...

The story of the 1787 Brasher Doubloon has everything... All the traits we look for in the world's greatest rare coins. Not only was the coin mostly forgotten and ignored for 50 or 60 years after it was made, but this story has mystery, intrigue, and a super-talented creator who was right in the middle of a revolution. You won't believe how the 1787 Brasher Doubloon became one of the most valuable and historic coins ever made. Summary This conversation explores the ...

Explore the history behind the world's most valuable car, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe. This episode tells the incredible story of its creation, born from the legendary 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR race car and its connection to the Silver Arrows era. We dive into the life and career of Rudolf Uhlenhaut, the brilliant engineer and designer whose vision brought this automotive marvel to life. Discover how this iconic machine, a one-of-two prototype, became a symbol of racing excelle...

Ted Williams was possibly the most intense ball player to ever live. His passion to be the best launched him to the very top of the baseball world. He broke records, and launched home runs just like he dreamed about when he was a kid. I read an amazing book titled, “My Turn at Bat, The Story of My Life,” by Ted Williams and sports writer John Underwood, published in 1969. Even though he was far from perfect, and had plenty of mistakes and regrets… After reading the book a fe...

The amazing creators story of the 1849 Liberty Head double eagle gold coin covers some of the most important events in U.S. history. The sudden discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill that sparked the California Gold Rush in 1848, Then just one year later, the very first 1849 double eagle coin is created. For the next 50 years, millions of Liberty Head double eagle coins would be struck by the U.S. Mint, backing the gold standard financial system around the world. You would...

A humble car designer from a small town in the middle of Argentina Stumbled on a magazine with a quote from Leonardo da Vinci at age 13 Gets hired at Lamborghini, job offer is pulled before he can start work, shows up at Lamborghini's doorstep anyway Insists his employer buy an autoclave to make car parts, they decline, they tell him to get back to work. He rides his bike to the bank and gets a loan for his own autoclave, rents a warehouse And this is just the beginning, You couldn...

Why did Honus Wagner stop the printing of his baseball card back in 1909? It's one of the great baseball card debates. But you'll have to understand the life and baseball career of Honus Wagner to get a better appreciation of the fateful decision. The decision to halt the creation of - what is now, known as the Holy Grail of sports cards, the T-206 Honus Wagner. I read three biographies on Honus Wagner over the last week, and I found the moment. It's the moment that I'...

There's a few important ideas to help understand the story of the 1822 half eagle gold coin. One of the most valuable and rare coins of all-time. It's a story about extreme rarity, But there’s also a few other themes that pop up over and over again, once you begin to learn all about - the 1822 half eagle gold coin. It’s rarity, but it’s also all about mystery, provenance, and relationships - that circle around the 1822 half eagle. So let’s get into the main themes around this coin...

When Porsche decided to built the ultimate car to finally win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the late 1960s, they knew they would need the absolute best team. And if it wasn't for the all-star cast of drivers, engineers, team managers, and of course, the driving force behind the entire program, Ferdinand Piech, there's no way their goal of victory at Le Mans would have ever been reached. I found an amazing book, with the entire history of the incredible Porsche 917. Even though I had to read th...

Lou Gehrig, the son of two German immigrants, started as a kid from a lower-middle class neighborhood in Manhattan, and became a New York Yankee legend. One of the most popular, beloved, respected, and memorable ball players to ever live. At just 23 years old, New York Yankee manager Miller Huggins noticed something different about Lou Gehrig. He didn't just smash home runs further than anyone had ever seen. Huggins admitted that Gehrig had already become an influence to the en...

The 1933 Saint Gaudens Double Eagle gold coin was created during one of the most pivotal and significant years in United States history. Just as the new president was elected, a banking panic was gaining momentum, and picking up speed. The country was plunging deeper into the Great Depression. Unprecedented action must be taken to save the entire financial system from complete collapse. During this firestorm, the most valuable coin in the world sprung free from it's impending d...