5 Things to Know Today

Good morning, Bethlehem. Today is Thursday, July 7, 2011, 30 days until Musikfest.

1. Two of the greatest baseball players of the 20th Century were both born on this day, though neither ever got the full accolades they likely would have earned if they had the chance. Leroy “Satchel” Paige, born in 1906, and Ted “Double Duty” Radcliffe, born in 1902, were both stars in Negro professional baseball leagues well before Jackie Robinson became the first black man in Major League Baseball in 1947. They were teammates with the 1932 Pittsburgh Crawfords when Radcliffe got his nickname. Writer Damon Runyon hung the “Double Duty” moniker on Radcliffe after watching him catch a Paige shutout in the first game of a doubleheader, then pitch a shutout in the second game. He was both one of the best hitting catchers, and best pitchers, of his day. Paige, who in his prime was a fire-balling right-hander, became the oldest rookie in big league history when he joined the Cleveland Indians in 1948 at the age of 42 – joining on a team that would win the World Series. Joe DiMaggio, who competed against Paige in exhibition games, said he was the greatest pitcher he ever faced.
2. Weather forecasters are predicting a partly sunny day with a high in the upper 80s and a 20 to 30 percent chance of thunderstorms.
3. Mayor John Callahan has planned a 3 p.m. news conference to discuss planned streetscape improvements to the W. Broad Street business corridor.
4. The Revelations, featuring Tre Williams, are the free act tonight at the , starting at 7:30 p.m. The style is Southern soul music.
5. The invasion takes place at the tonight when is shown on the big screen for the Movies by Moonlight Series. Mayor Callahan attempted to forge a diplomatic relationship with the invaders on Wednesday, but the Martians are apparently a war-like people. The fun starts at 6 p.m. and includes a actual Mars Attacks! movie prop flying saucer, a visit from the women of the Martian Tourism Bureau, a Martian concert and costume contests for those who do their best to look like a space alien. Prizes include cash and an original, collectible Mars Attacks! movie poster. The movie itself is scheduled to start at 9 p.m.