“Dr. Seuss’ Birthday,” and “"Wilt the Stilt," Scores 100,” - This Day in History – Mar 2nd

The “Rhyming Writer,” Dr. Seuss is born

Back in 1904, Theodor Seuss Geisel who would be known later by the literary and movie world as  “Dr. Seuss,” was born on this day in Springfield, MA. History.com stated, “Geisel, who used his middle name (which was also his mother's maiden name) as his pen name, wrote 48 books--including some for adults--that have sold well over 200 million copies and been translated into multiple languages.” 

The Dr. Seuss franchise included famous children’s books such as “The Cat in the Hat,” “Green Eggs and Ham,” “The Grinch,” and “The Lorax.”  His books tackled characters with odd names such as “Yertle or Sneetches in whimsical stories that children found interesting.  He also wrote about serious topics such as the environment with the book, “The Lorax.” 

According to history.com, “Many Dr. Seuss books have been adapted for television and film, including "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" and "Horton Hears a Who!" In 1990, Geisel published a book for adults titled "Oh, the Places You'll Go" that became a hugely popular graduation gift for high school and college students.” 

Mr. Geisel loved working and living in an old observatory in La Jolla, CA called, “The Tower.”  He passed away in 1991 at the age of 87.  His birthday is celebrated throughout schools every year to enhance literacy.

“Wilt the Stilt,” scores 100 points

Back om March 2, 1962, Wilt Chamberlain, the incredible basketball center made history in Hershey, PA during a game against the New York Nicks.  The 7' 1" Philadelphian and graduate of Overbrook High School, University of Arkansas, and Harlem Globetrotter alumnist played the game of his career as a Philadelphia Warrior by scoring an incredible 100 points in a single game.   

Known by the nickname of  “Wilt the Stilt,” and Mr. Chamberlain would become the first basketball player to achieve this feat that had been set by Chamberlain earlier in the same season with a total of 78. 

According to history.com, “Wilt was an immediate sensation in the NBA, and the most dominant offensive force the league had ever seen. He was named Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player for the 1959-60 season, his first of four MVP awards. During the 1961-62 season--Chamberlain’s most dominant offensively--he averaged 50.4 points per game (breaking his own record of 38.4 points per game from 1960-61) and 25.7 rebounds per game. He later led the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers to NBA championships, in 1967 and 1972, respectively.” 

Chamberlain would later retire from the game after the 1972-73 season.  However, he would achieve elite status in his career by being: 

• Elected to the 1978 Basketball Hall of Fame in 1978
• The player with the most points per game a season at 50.1
• The player with the most rebounds per game a season at 27.2
• The player with the most rebounds in a career at 23,924

Special Note: In 1991, Mr. Chamberlain’s autobiography, “A View From Above,” claimed that he had slept with 20,000 women in his lifetime. 

Mr. Chamberlain died from a heart attack at the age of 63 in 1999. He was a lifelong bachelor with no children.

All History facts provided from the link below:

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/dr-seuss-born