On this episode of Our American Stories, on August 24, 1919, Cleveland Indians pitcher Ray Caldwell made his debut at League Park before a crowd of 20,000. In the ninth inning, with victory in sight, lightning suddenly struck the field—and Caldwell himself. Fans thought he had been killed. Instead, moments later, he stood up, shook it off, and finished the game. It remains one of the most astonishing moments in Major League Baseball history. Nick Ragone, host of This Date in History, shares the story of how Ray Caldwell survived a lightning strike and kept pitching.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, on August 24, 1919, Cleveland Indians pitcher Ray Caldwell made his debut at League Park before a crowd of 20,000. In the ninth inning, with victory in sight, lightning suddenly struck the field&mdash;and Caldwell himself. Fans thought he had been killed. Instead, moments later, he stood up, shook it off, and finished the game. It remains one of the most astonishing moments in Major League Baseball history. Nick Ragone, host of This Date in History, shares the story of how Ray Caldwell survived a lightning strike and kept pitching.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

Our American Stories tells stories that aren’t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we’ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit, and be inspired by our stories.

Our American Stories

Ray Caldwell: The MLB Pitcher Struck by Lightning Who Finished the Game

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/a16e1606-adc2-482f-b292-b3560169ae82/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, the story most people know about Monopoly is charming—and false. It was never just the invention of one down-on-his-luck salesman. The real roots of the game stretch back to a politically charged board game called The Landlord’s Game, created by a woman named Lizzie Magie to warn people about the dangers of unchecked greed. Her game was borrowed, reworked, and eventually published without her name on the box. Mary Pilon, author of The Monopolists, is here to share how Charles Darrow got the credit, how Parker Brothers sold the story, and why the truth behind Monopoly is far more interesting than fiction.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, the story most people know about Monopoly&nbsp;is charming&mdash;and false. It was never just the invention of one down-on-his-luck salesman. The real roots of the game stretch back to a politically charged board game called&nbsp;The Landlord&rsquo;s Game, created by a woman named Lizzie Magie to warn people about the dangers of unchecked greed. Her game was borrowed, reworked, and eventually published without her name on the box. Mary Pilon, author of&nbsp;The Monopolists, is here to share how Charles Darrow got the credit, how Parker Brothers sold the story, and why the truth behind&nbsp;Monopoly&nbsp;is far more interesting than fiction.
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Who Really Invented Monopoly? The Story the Box Never Told

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Final Thoughts

On this episode of Our American Stories, before it became a greasy icon or a late-night craving, the hamburger was an immigrant invention trying to make itself useful. German farmers working the fairgrounds needed something fast and portable, so someone tucked spiced beef between slices of bread, and the hamburger was born. It wasn’t fancy, but it worked. Then came Upton Sinclair, whose book The Jungle made the public retch and nearly killed the hamburger altogether. Only after White Castle stepped in to clean up its image did Americans start trusting it again. George Motz, the documentarian behind Burger America, walks us through how one modest sandwich clawed its way into our national identity.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, before it became a greasy icon or a late-night craving, the hamburger was an immigrant invention trying to make itself useful. German farmers working the fairgrounds needed something fast and portable, so someone tucked spiced beef between slices of bread, and the hamburger was born. It wasn&rsquo;t fancy, but it worked. Then came Upton Sinclair, whose book&nbsp;The Jungle&nbsp;made the public retch and nearly killed the hamburger altogether. Only after White Castle stepped in to clean up its image did Americans start trusting it again. George Motz, the documentarian behind&nbsp;Burger America, walks us through how one modest sandwich clawed its way into our national identity.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

How the Hamburger Became an American Staple

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/a1134c95-e94a-41ed-8454-b3ba0066e866/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, it’s not carved into marble or codified into law, but you’ll hear it whispered in cockpits and painted on the walls of Navy offices across the world: “Don’t Give Up the Ship.” The phrase didn’t come from a slogan factory. It came from the dying words of Captain James Lawrence during the Battle of Lake Erie, shouted in defiance as his ship slipped beneath the water. Over time, those words stitched themselves into the culture of the United States Navy. Entrepreneur and America’s Cup champion Bill Koch joins us to explain what it means and why it still matters—especially to his family.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, it&rsquo;s not carved into marble or codified into law, but you&rsquo;ll hear it whispered in cockpits and painted on the walls of Navy offices across the world: &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t Give Up the Ship.&rdquo; The phrase didn&rsquo;t come from a slogan factory. It came from the dying words of Captain James Lawrence during the Battle of Lake Erie, shouted in defiance as his ship slipped beneath the water. Over time, those words stitched themselves into the culture of the United States Navy. Entrepreneur and America&rsquo;s Cup champion Bill Koch joins us to explain what it means and why it still matters&mdash;especially to his family.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

“Don’t Give Up the Ship”: How a Naval Order Became a Lasting Motto

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/230e37b8-0790-47c5-bfea-b3ba0066e869/transcript

Ray Caldwell: The MLB Pitcher Struck by Lightning Who Finished the Game

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