Mike Hirsh
@mph54.bsky.social
Pediatric Surgeon (retired), Mets and Baseball fan, history buff, public health advocate.Opinions are my own.
1956- OTD The 5 Satins record their iconic version of In the Still of the Night, which for decades won a place in the top 5 Rock and Roll songs when radio stations did their top 100 surveys.Great for slow dancin’. 🎶👏🏻❤️
music.apple.com/us/album/in-...
music.apple.com/us/album/in-...
February 18, 2026 at 1:07 PM
1956- OTD The 5 Satins record their iconic version of In the Still of the Night, which for decades won a place in the top 5 Rock and Roll songs when radio stations did their top 100 surveys.Great for slow dancin’. 🎶👏🏻❤️
music.apple.com/us/album/in-...
music.apple.com/us/album/in-...
1986- OTD the Surgeon General released a PSA upon the instructions of deceased actor Yul Brynner who had died of lung cancer after a lifetime of smoking. The ad remains one of the most powerful anti-smoking messages of all time. Listen
youtu.be/JNjunlWUJJI?...
youtu.be/JNjunlWUJJI?...
February 17, 2026 at 11:43 AM
1986- OTD the Surgeon General released a PSA upon the instructions of deceased actor Yul Brynner who had died of lung cancer after a lifetime of smoking. The ad remains one of the most powerful anti-smoking messages of all time. Listen
youtu.be/JNjunlWUJJI?...
youtu.be/JNjunlWUJJI?...
Remembering the 1914 birthday of talented character actor Arthur Kennedy. He was born in Worcester, MA & went on to a very busy career as a stage (won a Tony for playing Biff in Death of a Salesman) and screen actor (5 Oscar nominations). As a kid, I loved him as a scientist in #FantasticVoyage.👏🏻🎥
February 16, 2026 at 12:54 PM
Remembering the 1914 birthday of talented character actor Arthur Kennedy. He was born in Worcester, MA & went on to a very busy career as a stage (won a Tony for playing Biff in Death of a Salesman) and screen actor (5 Oscar nominations). As a kid, I loved him as a scientist in #FantasticVoyage.👏🏻🎥
Remembering the 1964 bday of larger than life #SNL comedian Chris Farley. He was taken from subway too early but left us with some hilarious moments on TV and the Big Screen. 🎥📺🙏👏🏻❤️ Chris Farley
youtu.be/0lcFuBDkxo0?...
youtu.be/0lcFuBDkxo0?...
February 15, 2026 at 12:47 PM
Remembering the 1964 bday of larger than life #SNL comedian Chris Farley. He was taken from subway too early but left us with some hilarious moments on TV and the Big Screen. 🎥📺🙏👏🏻❤️ Chris Farley
youtu.be/0lcFuBDkxo0?...
youtu.be/0lcFuBDkxo0?...
It’s Valentine’s Day.St. Valentine was an early Christian bishop preaching in pagan Rome.He cured the blind & those with epilepsy,but became associated with love by marrying Christian couples. His day was made famous by Worcester MA’s own Esther Howland,who in 1849 created the Valentine’s Day card.
February 14, 2026 at 12:20 PM
It’s Valentine’s Day.St. Valentine was an early Christian bishop preaching in pagan Rome.He cured the blind & those with epilepsy,but became associated with love by marrying Christian couples. His day was made famous by Worcester MA’s own Esther Howland,who in 1849 created the Valentine’s Day card.
(1) Remembering the 1892 bday of American Jurist/Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson, of Watertown,NY. He had an amazing career as an attorney before being appointed to the SCOTUS by FDR…..
February 13, 2026 at 12:48 PM
(1) Remembering the 1892 bday of American Jurist/Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson, of Watertown,NY. He had an amazing career as an attorney before being appointed to the SCOTUS by FDR…..
1941-OTD Dr. Charles Fletcher, a British physician/epidemiologist, injected the first human patient with the newly discovered antibiotic Penicillin. This opened up a new era of infectious disease study and pharmaceuticals. Fletcher went on to become a beloved TV Doctor for the #BBC. ⚕️👏🏻📺🇬🇧
February 12, 2026 at 11:26 AM
1941-OTD Dr. Charles Fletcher, a British physician/epidemiologist, injected the first human patient with the newly discovered antibiotic Penicillin. This opened up a new era of infectious disease study and pharmaceuticals. Fletcher went on to become a beloved TV Doctor for the #BBC. ⚕️👏🏻📺🇬🇧
1971-OTD #CaroleKing’s iconic record Tapestry was released. She won 4 Grammy’s the next year for the wonderful compilation of songs that became the soundtrack of the next decade. Carole just celebrated her 84th birthday yesterday. Tapestry still holds up!🎶👏🏻🙏❤️
February 10, 2026 at 12:01 PM
1971-OTD #CaroleKing’s iconic record Tapestry was released. She won 4 Grammy’s the next year for the wonderful compilation of songs that became the soundtrack of the next decade. Carole just celebrated her 84th birthday yesterday. Tapestry still holds up!🎶👏🏻🙏❤️
1943-OTD Japanese forces withdrew from the Solomon Islands of Guadalcanal.This ended a battle that News 6 mos. long & was the 1st American land battle in the Pacific War.The American victory cost 7000 American lives & an estimated 25K Japanese lives.The 1st island hopping victory 4 the USA🇺🇸🙏
February 9, 2026 at 1:33 PM
1943-OTD Japanese forces withdrew from the Solomon Islands of Guadalcanal.This ended a battle that News 6 mos. long & was the 1st American land battle in the Pacific War.The American victory cost 7000 American lives & an estimated 25K Japanese lives.The 1st island hopping victory 4 the USA🇺🇸🙏
50 yrs ago OTD Martin Scorsese’s scathing film about the degradation of society in NYC,The Taxi Driver ,was released. It was controversial from the start but was buoyed by great performances by Robert DeNiro (Oscar) as Travis Bickle and a young Jodie Foster as a child prostitute. It is a classic🎥👏🏻❤️
February 8, 2026 at 12:27 PM
50 yrs ago OTD Martin Scorsese’s scathing film about the degradation of society in NYC,The Taxi Driver ,was released. It was controversial from the start but was buoyed by great performances by Robert DeNiro (Oscar) as Travis Bickle and a young Jodie Foster as a child prostitute. It is a classic🎥👏🏻❤️
1950- OYD Walt Disney studios released the animated classic Pinocchio. With beautiful songs and unforgettable characters like Jiminy Cricket, it was a huge hit. I was pretty scared when I first saw it about 20 years later as a 6 yo- but what a tale!🎥👏🏻❤️
share.google/Ev98OCruMZ9x...
share.google/Ev98OCruMZ9x...
February 7, 2026 at 1:01 PM
1950- OYD Walt Disney studios released the animated classic Pinocchio. With beautiful songs and unforgettable characters like Jiminy Cricket, it was a huge hit. I was pretty scared when I first saw it about 20 years later as a 6 yo- but what a tale!🎥👏🏻❤️
share.google/Ev98OCruMZ9x...
share.google/Ev98OCruMZ9x...
Remembering the 1895 bday of the Sultan of Swat, HOF’Er George Herman “Babe” Ruth, whose legendary prowess at hitting the long ball cemented baseball as the national pastime. His 714 HR’s in what was otherwise considered a dead ball era are an amazing accomplishment.⚾️❤️👏🏻
www.mlb.com/video/rememb...
www.mlb.com/video/rememb...
February 6, 2026 at 12:31 PM
Remembering the 1895 bday of the Sultan of Swat, HOF’Er George Herman “Babe” Ruth, whose legendary prowess at hitting the long ball cemented baseball as the national pastime. His 714 HR’s in what was otherwise considered a dead ball era are an amazing accomplishment.⚾️❤️👏🏻
www.mlb.com/video/rememb...
www.mlb.com/video/rememb...
Remembering the 1934 bday of the true #MLB home run king, Hammerin’ Henry (Hank) Aaron. He was a 25 time All-Star & an underrated outfielder besides his 755 homers and a lifetime .300+ hitter. The Pride of Mobile Alabama. ⚾️🙏👏🏻
February 5, 2026 at 11:25 AM
Remembering the 1934 bday of the true #MLB home run king, Hammerin’ Henry (Hank) Aaron. He was a 25 time All-Star & an underrated outfielder besides his 755 homers and a lifetime .300+ hitter. The Pride of Mobile Alabama. ⚾️🙏👏🏻
1970- OTD the epic biopic about General George Patton was released. It was a tour de force performance by George C. Scott who one the best actor Oscar in 1971. Still a great watch. 🎥🙏👏🏻❤️
youtu.be/sv9XNFpRdhg
youtu.be/sv9XNFpRdhg
Patton (1/5) Movie CLIP - Americans Love a Winner (1970) HD
YouTube video by Movieclips
youtu.be
February 4, 2026 at 10:46 AM
1970- OTD the epic biopic about General George Patton was released. It was a tour de force performance by George C. Scott who one the best actor Oscar in 1971. Still a great watch. 🎥🙏👏🏻❤️
youtu.be/sv9XNFpRdhg
youtu.be/sv9XNFpRdhg
150 yrs ago OTD Albert Spaulding founded his sporting goods company.He was a cofounder of the National League & is in the Hall of Fame.But I appreciate all the sporting equipment he made,not the least of which was the pinkie high bounce ball.In NYC we played stick/stoop/hand/wall ball with them. 👍🏀❤️
February 3, 2026 at 12:31 PM
150 yrs ago OTD Albert Spaulding founded his sporting goods company.He was a cofounder of the National League & is in the Hall of Fame.But I appreciate all the sporting equipment he made,not the least of which was the pinkie high bounce ball.In NYC we played stick/stoop/hand/wall ball with them. 👍🏀❤️
Today is the day in 1959 when the music died. RIP
February 3, 2026 at 12:26 PM
Today is the day in 1959 when the music died. RIP
Reposted by Mike Hirsh
The Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Stan Grossfeld of the @bostonglobe.com just featured my work with Guns2Gardens MA, as well as Dr Mike Hirsh @mph54.bsky.social of UMass Memorial and Vanessa Calixto of Worcester's YouthGROW teen urban garden.
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/02/02/m...
guns2gardens.org
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/02/02/m...
guns2gardens.org
Forging guns into tools of growth - The Boston Globe
Volunteer blacksmiths with Guns2Gardens turn old pistols, rifles, and other firearms into garden tools.
www.bostonglobe.com
February 3, 2026 at 12:59 AM
The Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Stan Grossfeld of the @bostonglobe.com just featured my work with Guns2Gardens MA, as well as Dr Mike Hirsh @mph54.bsky.social of UMass Memorial and Vanessa Calixto of Worcester's YouthGROW teen urban garden.
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/02/02/m...
guns2gardens.org
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/02/02/m...
guns2gardens.org
1887- OTD the first Ground Hog Day celebration at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, PA was celebrated. There has been a designated Punxsutawney Phil ever since. Waiting to hear his prediction of the winter this year.
February 2, 2026 at 12:54 PM
1887- OTD the first Ground Hog Day celebration at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, PA was celebrated. There has been a designated Punxsutawney Phil ever since. Waiting to hear his prediction of the winter this year.
1967- the 10 team American Basketball Association is founded. It lasts for a decade and introduces basketball to the 3 point shot. For me, watching Dr. J (Julius Erving) do superhuman things with that crazy looking ball made the ABA something I followed closely. Glad for the merger though. 🏀🙏❤️
February 1, 2026 at 1:51 PM
1967- the 10 team American Basketball Association is founded. It lasts for a decade and introduces basketball to the 3 point shot. For me, watching Dr. J (Julius Erving) do superhuman things with that crazy looking ball made the ABA something I followed closely. Glad for the merger though. 🏀🙏❤️
Two baseball giants born on the same date today. Jackie Robinson-1919- who broke the color line and brought glory to the Bums in Brooklyn. And Mr Cub, Ernie Banks -1931-!who was a fixture at short/1b at Wrigley- Let’s Play 2! Thanks for the baseball memories!
January 31, 2026 at 12:22 PM
Two baseball giants born on the same date today. Jackie Robinson-1919- who broke the color line and brought glory to the Bums in Brooklyn. And Mr Cub, Ernie Banks -1931-!who was a fixture at short/1b at Wrigley- Let’s Play 2! Thanks for the baseball memories!
1945–OTD a band of Army Rangers & Filipino guerrillas raiided a POW camp on Luzon called Cabanatuan where about 500 American & Filipino survivors of the 1942 Death March from Bataan were being held by the Japanese.The raid was well planned & spectacularly successful. 1 of the great escapes of WW2.👏🏻
January 30, 2026 at 12:11 PM
1945–OTD a band of Army Rangers & Filipino guerrillas raiided a POW camp on Luzon called Cabanatuan where about 500 American & Filipino survivors of the 1942 Death March from Bataan were being held by the Japanese.The raid was well planned & spectacularly successful. 1 of the great escapes of WW2.👏🏻
Remembering the 1923 birthday of brilliant screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky who gave us movie greats like Marty, the Hospital, & Network. His prescience of where television news and reality TV will go still amazes me. 🎥📺❤️🙏👏🏻
January 29, 2026 at 11:00 AM
Remembering the 1923 birthday of brilliant screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky who gave us movie greats like Marty, the Hospital, & Network. His prescience of where television news and reality TV will go still amazes me. 🎥📺❤️🙏👏🏻
OTD 40 yrs ago I was a pediatric surgery fellow at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philly.Inpatient floors had set up mini-theaters so everyone could watch America’s teacher, Christa McAuliffe, blast off in the Challenger. Tragedy ensued and tears and screams followed. Such a loss!😱🇺🇸😞
January 28, 2026 at 12:41 PM
OTD 40 yrs ago I was a pediatric surgery fellow at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philly.Inpatient floors had set up mini-theaters so everyone could watch America’s teacher, Christa McAuliffe, blast off in the Challenger. Tragedy ensued and tears and screams followed. Such a loss!😱🇺🇸😞
81 years ago OTD the Soviet army liberated Auschwitz. We commemorate the event by declaring this day as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. I lost 6 of my 8 Great Grandparents in that camp. They were among the 1.2 million souls exterminated there. Never again✡️🙏😞
January 27, 2026 at 1:01 PM
81 years ago OTD the Soviet army liberated Auschwitz. We commemorate the event by declaring this day as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. I lost 6 of my 8 Great Grandparents in that camp. They were among the 1.2 million souls exterminated there. Never again✡️🙏😞
Remembering the 1876 birthday of Dr. Julius Hess, widely acknowledged as the father of Neonatology. He invented incubators for the care of premature infants and for their transport to speciality care units now called NICU’s. A true medical pioneer!⚕️👏🏻🙏
January 26, 2026 at 6:41 AM
Remembering the 1876 birthday of Dr. Julius Hess, widely acknowledged as the father of Neonatology. He invented incubators for the care of premature infants and for their transport to speciality care units now called NICU’s. A true medical pioneer!⚕️👏🏻🙏