The Chicago Cubs last won the World Series in 1908, and they have chance to do it again over the next couple of weeks. Around the country, people are celebrating the return of the Cubs to the pinnacle of baseball achievement, but, around here, we are celebrating something else.
Lester Strode, the bullpen coach for the Chicago Cubs, played baseball for Cumberland University, the school where I teach. In honor of Coach Strode, he are some other things that happened in 1908.
A long-distance radio message was sent from the Eiffel Tower for the first time.
The first major commercial oil discovery in the Middle East was made.
Robert Peary set sail for the North Pole.
The Hoover Company acquired manufacturing rights to the upright portable bathroom cleaner.
Emile Cohl made the first fully animated film – Fantasmagorie.
Henry Ford produced his first Model T automobile.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were killed in Bolivia.
Louis L’Amour was born.
Bette Davis was born.
Ian Fleming was born.
Estee Lauder was born.
Lyndon Johnson was born.
Grover Cleveland died.
SBI: A Thinning Crowd 
It was a very good year. Maybe this too will be a very good year. There’s still hope.
The year is almost over.