Q: What’s the story behind Blackbeard Island? How did it get its name?
A: Ah, there's nothing like a good pirate story. The dread pirate Blackbeard – much more fearsome than his given name of Edward Teach — might have hung out around the many islands that dot Georgia's coast during his short time terrorizing the seas. The one named for him is northeast of Sapelo Island and had been named for Blackbeard by 1760, just 42 years after his death. Rumors of buried treasure have abounded for years, but nobody has found any stolen loot on Blackbeard Island. Or at least not said anything about it. The focus turned to the 5,618-acre island's natural treasures in the early 19th century, when oak was harvested to build ships. The federal government turned it into a yellow fever quarantine station during the last part of the 1800s, but Blackbeard Island has been a national wildlife refuge for the past 100 years, resulting in thousands of acres of forest and marsh, which are home to many types of birds, turtles, deer and alligators. You can visit the island during the day, but there's no camping and no restaurants. For more information, go to www.fws.gov/blackbeardisland. And if you find any buried treasure, I get a cut.
Q: I heard of a former baseball player from Georgia who pitched for the New York Yankees in the 1940s. He had a funny name. Who was that?
A: He went by Spud, a relief from Spurgeon Ferdinand Chandler, but his name didn't matter to batters. Chandler was from Commerce and grew up in Franklin County – where Ty Cobb also was raised – and played three sports at the University of Georgia before heading to pro baseball. He pitched for the New York Yankees from 1937-47 and was MVP of the American League after going 20-4 for the world champs in '43, when he was 35 years old. After missing most of the next two seasons serving in the military, Chandler won 20 again in '46, but retired after the next season. Chandler, who died in 1990, had a 109-43 record and helped the Yankees win six World Series.
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