Rolling Stone named Franklin the greatest singer ever. ‘Most
magnificent sound to emerge from America.’

Guitarist Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones had the honor
of inducting the “Queen of Soul” into the Rock Hall in 1987.

Aretha Louise Franklin (March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018)

William John Vukovich II (March 29, 1944 – August 20, 2023)

Bill Vukovich II, the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year in
1968, died Sunday. 

He finished in the top ten 85 times, with one victory in 1973
at Michigan and best finish at the Indianapolis 500 came in
1973, where he came in second in a rain-shortened, tragedy-
marred event. He was inducted in the National Midget Auto
Racing Hall of Fame in 1998

Vukovich also had 23 National midget car victories in his career,
and drove for part of his career in J. C. Agajanian‘s midget car.

Bill Vukovich II was the son of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner
Bill Vukovich and the father of Billy Vukovich III, both of whom
were killed in racing accidents.

Vukovich ll in 1967.

     
     
   

Mickey Charles Mantle (October 20, 1931 – August 13, 1995)

Former New York Yankees star Mickey Mantle dies of liver cancer
at the age of 63. While “The Mick” patrolled center field and batted
clean-up between 1951 and 1968, the Yankees won 12 American
League pennants and seven World Series championships.

Hall of Fame plaque

1983 Topps 1952 Reprints #311 Mickey Mantle BGS
Authentic Auto RARE LOW POP

Jimmie Johnson was among the racing legends who were elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Wednesday along
with crew chief Chad Knaus and Donnie Allison.

Johnson won seven NASCAR Cup Championships during his
career, which is tied with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt for
the most all time. Johnson’s first five came consecutively.

He is also the all-time winningest driver at five tracks. In
addition to that, he won Driver of the Year five times and
was the first racing driver to win The Associated Press
Male Athlete of the Year in the U.S. He had 83 total Cup
wins. Johnson will be 47 in September.

Cooperstown philanthropist Stephen C. Clark – seeking a way
to celebrate and protect the National Pastime as well as an
economic engine for Cooperstown – asked National League
president Ford C. Frick if he would support the establishment
of a Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

The idea was welcomed, and in 1936 the inaugural Hall of Fame
class of Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Babe
Ruth and Honus Wagner was elected.

Stephen Carlton Clark
(August 29, 1882 – September 17, 1960)

Fans gather in front of the Hall of Fame on June 12, 1939 for
the first induction ceremony.

COOPERSTOWN, NY – JULY, 1939. The first inductees to
the Baseball Hall of Fame pose for a group portrait in Cooperstown in July of 1939. They are: top row left to
right Honus Wagner, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Tris
Speaker, Nap Lajoie, George Sisler, and Walter Johnson.
Front row Eddie Collins, Babe Ruth, Connie Mack, and
Cy Young.