MLB – Best Player by Team

I think about this a lot (you know, like if I’m trying to fall asleep), but never actually committed it to paper.

Coupla notes:

• This is going to be mostly based on WAR, though with a few exceptions here and there (marked with a *). 
• In general, when it comes to teams who have changed their cities, I’ll go for continuity if they keep the team name. Otherwise, it’s based on the city. 
• Finally, I’m ordering them from most to least obvious.

Yankees – Babe Ruth

Well, no surprise here. Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle, et al. are all great, but it’s really hard to beat the Babe.

Ah, what might have been

Detroit – Ty Cobb

Not a very nice person, but there really isn’t anybody else even close in the Motor City.

Braves – Hank Aaron

I’m including Milwaukee and Boston here, but it’s still no contest. Interestingly, Aaron’s nearest rivals are pitchers – Warren Spahn and Kid Nichols.

He actually played most of his career in Milwaukee

Red Sox – Ted Williams

Another run-away. Hats off to Yaz, Clemens, etc., but the Splendid Splinter has always ruled Fenway.

Uncle Sam did get his best years though

Washington – Walter Johnson

The Big Train doesn’t get the recognition he deserves because he played for lowly DC. That said, he’s probably the best pitcher ever to play the game.

A lot of people don’t realize he managed with Cleveland (in addition to Washington)

Philadelphia – Mike Schmidt

Schmidt gets a little competition from pitchers – Steve Carlton, Robin Roberts, Grover Cleveland Alexander – but really not that much at all.

Hey, where’s the ‘stache?

Giants – Willie Mays

It’s a franchise with a long and storied tradition, but the Say Hey Kid reigns supreme. Bonds, Ott, and Matthewson are his nearest rivals.

Of his 23 years, only 8 were in NY

Kansas City – George Brett 

This is pretty much a one-man show. The closest competitors – the rather obscure Amos Otis and Kevin Appier – have half the lifetime WAR that Brett has. 

With singer Lourde

San Diego – Tony Gwynn

Once again, not a lot of competition here. Dave Winfield comes in at half of Gwynn. Of course, if he’d spent his whole career in San Diego, it would have been close (though Gwynn would’ve still won out).

Too bad they made you wear that terrible uniform

Angels – Mike Trout

Trout’s our first active player on this list. That said, he really is head and shoulders above the rest of the Angels, even though they’ve been around for not quite 65 years now. I’m sure Nolan Ryan would reign supreme here (and in Texas and Houston too) if he’d only stayed in one place.

I wish they could have given you (or kept) some better teammates

Baltimore – Cal Ripken Jr.

There sure have been some bright stars shining in Baltimore over the years – Jim Palmer, Frank Robinson, Brooks Robinson, Eddie Murray – but it’s hard to compete with someone who shone practically every day for 21 years.

It was a family tradition

Mets – Tom Seaver

Though Tom Terrific did play elsewhere (CIN, BOS, CWS), his great successes were all with the Mets. Plus, nobody else – Strawberry, Gooden, David Wright – really came close.

I always loved that knee-on-the-ground motion

Pittsburgh – Honus Wagner

As a diehard Roberto Clemente fan, this one was pretty hard for me. Though he played a long time ago, Wagner is undoubtedly the Bucs’ best player (and probably the best shortstop of all time anywhere).

Brewers – Robin Yount

Though he wasn’t a particularly flashy player, Yount is way on top when it comes to the numbers. Playing 20 years for the same team certainly helped. Interestingly, Paul Molitor would’ve been on top here except for those years with Minnesota and Toronto.

Seattle – Ken Griffey Jr.

Surprisingly close, this one. Would you believe Griffey and Edgar Martinez are only two points apart? Griffey’s the leader, though, and also has a much higher profile (even though he did play elsewhere). Surprisingly, Ichiro was more than 10 points behind Martinez. Now, if he hadn’t been 27 as an MLB rookie …

Another great father/son duo

Cincinnati – Pete Rose

This one was super close, with Rose, Johnny Bench, and Barry Larkin all scoring in the 70s in lifetime WAR. I was leaning toward Bench, but Rose’s recent reinstatement made me go with Charlie Hustle (who also had the highest WAR among the three and was pretty unbeatable career-wise).

Most people remember the Phillies, but not the Expos

St. Louis – Stan Musial

I thought this one would be a lot closer. Personally, I was leaning toward Rogers Hornsby, but also knew Bob Gibson would be up there too. Stan the Man, however, with his 22 years with the club, ran away with it pretty easily.

Cubs – Ernie Banks *

There have been some stars on the northside over the years – Billy Williams, Ron Santo, Ryne Sandberg, Fergie Jenkins – but only one player is Mr. Cub. That said, Banks is actually behind Santo, Sandberg, and Cap Anson in lifetime WAR. I’m still going with him though.

From one great Chicagoan to another

Dodgers – Sandy Koufax *

I knew Koufax’s shortened career would hurt him, but I didn’t realize he’d place behind Clayton Kershaw, Don Drysdale, and Don Sutton. Even so, four straight Cy Young Awards right before he retired (at age 30) tell me he was one of the best pitchers even to play the game.

Hard to believe it all started in Brooklyn

Colorado – Todd Helton

Well, I was guessing it was going to be either Helton or Larry Walker. Now, if Walker had played his whole career at Coors, it would have been a little different. Because of his many years in Montreal, though, Walker’s way behind compared to career-Rockie Helton.

I’m sure his heart belongs in Knoxville though

Houston – Jeff Bagwell

I was guessing Bagwell here, but was wondering if Craig Biggio would make it a contest. Looks like it’s pretty much all Bags.

Another what-coulda-been

Minnesota – Harmon Killebrew *

The Twins have had a lot of stars over the years – Joe Mauer, Rod Carew, Tony Oliva, Kirby Puckett, Bert Blyleven, Paul Molitor, Dave Winfield, Killebrew – but none have ever reached super-star status. Though Carew actually rates a couple of points above Killebrew, Carew also was also a big-time star with the Angels. So, given that, I’m going to go with Killer.

Yup, the Twins are actually just the old Senators

White Sox – Luke Appling

If you know anything about baseball history, you know the White Sox are really bad, with very few stars. You might also know that Luke Appling played a super-steady shortstop for them for 20 years. And, sure enough, he’s the one who came out on top. Frank Thomas, Eddie Collins, and several pitchers (Ted Lyons, Ed Walsh, and Red Faber) did give him a run, but Old Aches and Pains (what a nickname!) is going to have take the crown.

Though the White Sox were his only team as a player, he coached with 5 others

Cleveland – Nap Lajoie

I was thinking for sure this would be Bob Feller. I forgot, though, that the Indians go all the way back to 1901, as well as that Nap Lajoie was a huge star way back then. Another old-timer, Tris Speaker, comes closest to him.

Athletics – Rickie Henderson *

It’s a storied franchise, but most of that story has been in the past. I’m talking about some recent history (Reggie Jackson, Mark McGwire, Catfish Hunter), but also some ancient history (Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons, Eddie Collins, Lefty Grove) as well. Rickey Henderson, though he played for a number of other teams (eight, to be exact), is also one of the best players to ever play the game. That said, would you believe Eddie Plank actually has a point or two on him?

Texas – Ivan Rodriguez

I can think of a couple possibilities here (Rafael Palmeiro, Adrian Beltre, Juan Gonzalez), but my mind keeps going back to Pudge. Interestingly, not quite half of his overall WAR comes from defense. 

Hard to believe he played for 5 other clubs

Tampa Bay – Evan Longoria

Now we’re getting into the toughies. These teams (and Texas too, for that matter) are just too new to really have anyone with historically great numbers. For the Rays, though, Longoria is pretty much a run-away winner. Of course, he’s also one of the few Rays who actually stayed with the team for awhile as well.

He retired just recently

Miami – Giancarlo Stanton

Same deal. In fact, these guys seem to be even quicker at giving away their stars. That said, Stanton is the best of the bunch, even with all his years in NY. Now, if they had somehow been able to hold on to Miggie Cabrera …

One of the original players to be named later

Toronto – Dave Stieb

This one was a real surprise for me. I thought for sure it would be a batter – Carlos Delgado, Tony Fernandez, Jose Bautista … Stieb, though, has almost 20 points on everyone else. Pitching for them for 15 years certainly helped. Did you realize, though, that he led the league in pitching WAR for three years running?

Arizona – Randy Johnson

Well, I think we all know Johnson was an incredible pitcher. Like Nolan Ryan, though, Johnson sure did jump around a lot. In fact, over 22 years in the bigs, he played for no less than six teams. And he also notched two more years with Seattle than he did with Arizona. That said, his eight years with the D-Backs were some of his best, with him leading the league in pitching WAR for half of those years.

Not actually Randy, but arguably one of the greatest Halloween costumes of all time

Funnily Named Popes

Sadly, Pope Francis has passed away. With that, though, comes a new pope, the 267^th in line.

And with a new pope comes a new name. Will he be a Francis II, another John Paul, a Benedict, or perhaps something totally different? [This just in – it’s a Leo!]

I’m guessing, though, that the name the new pope takes will not be among the following. Yup, when you’ve got 267 of them, there are bound to be some duds out there.

So, here they are …  the 20 oddest papal monikers over the centuries, from least so to most so.

20.  Urban

I think I’ve heard this name maybe twice before – football coach Urban Meyer and baseball player Urban Shocker. Typically, though, “Urban” goes before things, like “Outfitters,” “Cowboy,” “Dictionary,” and “Jungle.” Just not that popular as a name.

Pope-wise, there have actually been no fewer than 8 Urbans, with the first coming in 222 and the last in 1623. Urbans are behind the first crusade, the feast of Corpus Christi, and the trial of Galileo. Interestingly, two Urbans were very set against tobacco, banning it inside and near churches. Finally, one Urban became a saint, with two being blessed.

Urban VII, pope for 12 days

19.  St. Symmachus

Only one Symmachus, not too surprisingly. The roots of the name are “together” and “power.” So, maybe this was something like an early version of “United we stand, divided we fall.”

Symmachus was elected in 498, though not without controversy. In particular, another guy,  one Laurentius, was also elected pope on the very same day. Though Theodoric, king of Ostrogothic Italy, ruled in favor of Symmachus, Laurentius eventually took over Rome and was de facto pope until his death a few years later. Symmachus would himself die a few years after Laurentius, in 514. The whole thing is very confusing.

18.  St. Eutychian

Hmm, isn’t that the tube that connects the ear and throat?

Nope, that’s the Eustachian tube

This guy (there was only one) was pope from 275 to 283. Very little is known about him unfortunately. He may have buried 300-some martyrs and be the first pope to bless grapes and beans (?!?!), though these may very well be pious legends as well.

17.  St. Hippolytus

“Hippo” is an inherently funny word, though it actually simply means “horse” in Greek. Interestingly, “lytus” means “rain,” so I guess this guy’s name comes out as “horse rain”?!?!

Hippolytus is another one-off, as well as another controversial one. In fact, he had three other possible pontiffs to contend with.

As with other early popes, who he was and what he did is all a bit vague. We do know that he was a Roman citizen of Greek descent, and reigned roughly from 217 to 235.

16.  Celestine

Sorry, these guys have nothing whatsoever to do with this: 

There are actually five Celestines, with the first coming in 422 and the last in 1294. Celestine I was notable for being pope during the very important Council of Ephesus. Other than that, Celestines seem to have had particularly short reigns, with one abdicating a day after being elected and another dying 16 days after his coronation. On a final note, Celestine V was the last pope to abdicate (in 1294) before Benedict did so just 14 years ago. Two Celestines have been made saints.

 

15. Conon

Probably not known as Conon the Barbarian.

In fact, we don’t know much about this guy at all. It seems he was a Roman citizen of Greek origin and was from Thracia. He was a compromise candidate, and ruled for less than a year, during the years 686 and 687.

 

14. St. Sisinnius

Undoubtedly our most sibilant pontiff.

Sisinnius was another short-lived pope, lasting for 20 days in 708 before succumbing to gout. He was a Syrian. And, yes, that’s about all we know about him.

He does, nevertheless, have his own holy medal

13. St. Telesphorus

What is this, a combination of telephone and phosphorous? How do you even pronounce it?

St T (I’m not typing in that again) is our earliest pope, being number eight in line. A Greek who was born in Italy, he reigned from 126 to 137. Sounds like he was a former hermit. He was also the first pope to be martyred since Peter.

St T (at least according to Google Images)

12. Boniface

“Bony face”?  “Bonny face”?  “Benefice”?!?!

Actually, it’s closest to that last one: “BAHN -i-fuhs”

Would you believe we’ve got nine of these guys? They reigned between the years 42 and 1404. Bonifaces were behind the ideas of AD (anno domini) and the papal jubilee. On the less illustrious hand, one was kidnapped and beaten by the French, and another was rumored to have killed a rival. Bonifaces account for two saints (and probably not including that last guy).

The purported murderer

11. St. Hormisdas

Only one Hormisdas, I’m afraid.

That rather interesting name just so happens to be Persian. Hormidz was a Persian martyr, who may have been related to his namesake pontiff. Or not. Things get pretty obscure way back when.

Our guy ruled from 514 to 523. He’s known for defeating the Acacian schism and reuniting Constantinople and Rome.

Perhaps most interestingly, Hormisdas fathered a son (before he became a deacon, that is) who in turn became a pope, one St. Silverius.

10. Formosus

Would you believe his name means “beautiful”?

Which is a little ironic when you consider that he was the guy whose corpse was exhumed and put on trial. Yup, it’s called the Cadaver Synod.

What did he do to deserve such brutal treatment? Well, Wikipedia says that he “sided with Arnulf of Carinthia against Lambert of Spoleto.” Seems the next pope, Stephen VI, was on the side of Lambert. Hey, the papacy could be very political back in the day.

9.  Lando

Another one-off. In fact, Lando was the last pope to take a name never used before until Pope John Paul I in 1978.

Poor Lando served less than a year, broken up between 913 and 914. Not a lot happened in those few months. In fact, pontifically, the 900s were called the Saeculum obscurum (literally, the “dark age”).

That period is also called the Pornocracy, or the Rule of the Harlots. Seems the popes were particularly immoral during this time, as well as being under the control of a couple of scheming families. Will Durant called it “the nadir of the papacy.”

For some reason, this guy keeps popping up

8.  Innocent

No shortage of innocence here. Would you believe there’s no less than 13 of these guys?

The first came in 401, and the last in 1721. Innocent highlights include a sacking of Rome, councils, crusades, the Inquisition, and fighting the Ottomans and Jesuits.

Innocents include one saint and two blesseds.

Innocent X, by Velazquez (left) and Francis Bacon (right)

7. Sylvester

Suffering succotash!

Looks like we’ve got four of these guys, reigning from 313 to 1111. Sylvester I called the first ecumenical council, the First Coucil of Nicaea (Nicean Creed anybody?). On the other hand, two Sylvesters were forced to leave their thrones.

Sylvester I, the only saint

6. St. Zephyrinus

Zounds!

A “zephyr” is a gentle breeze. So, I guess, this guy must have been something of a breath of fresh air.

Zephyrinus reigned almost 20 years, from 119 to 217. Sounds like he kept busy fighting heresies, including those from Marcion, Praxeas, Valentine the Montanists, and the “two Theodotuses.”

5. Eugene

Well, there’s O’Neill, and Levy, and that guy from the Walking Dead. And four popes as well!

Those four reigned between the years 75 and 1447. They were involved in crusades, anti-slavery actions, and some other stuff. Eugenes account for one saint and one blessed.

Numero quattro

4. St. Hyginus

Well, cleanliness is next to godliness.

Remember Telesphorus? Well, this guy came right after him.

Like his predecessor, Hyginus was also a martyr. A Greek, Hyginus reigned from 136 to 140. His main accomplishment in his short reign appears to be organizing the church hierarchy. He was the ninth pope.

Honestly, who knows what these guys looked like from way back when?

3. St. Simplicius

And simplicity is next to …

Simplicius was a Roman who reigned for 15 years, from 468 to 483. He combated the Eutychian heresy (see above), ended the practice of consecrating bishops only in December, and was on the throne when the last Roman emperor was deposed.

2. St. Zosimus

Zounds again!  Or should I say zoicks!

Zosimus ruled for little over a year, during 417 and 418. He was a Greek, with possibly some Jewish blood. His short time in office was taken up mostly with Pelagianism (with a little Priscillanism on the side). Various decrees touched on the wearing of the maniple by deacons, the dedication of Easter candles in country parishes, and forbidding clerics to visit taverns. Wikipedia says he had a “fractious temper.”

 

1. St. Hilarius

Well, it’s nice to see a supreme pontiff with a sense of humor.

Other than that fine quality, it sounds like Hilarius was involved in a number of theological disputes, as well as several construction projects.

He reigned from 461 to 468, and was succeeded by Simplicius. He was a Sardinian.

I dunno – looks kinda angry to me

NFL Draft 2025 – Funny Names

It’s that time of the year again. Yup, the NFL draft. And you know what that means. Funny names.

Here are my 18 faves, from least odd to most odd. Enjoy!

18.  Fadil Diggs

Draft:  #254, NO

Pos:  Edge

College:  Syracuse

Fun fact:  3 picks away from being Mr. Irrelevant

17. Isaac TeSlaa

Draft:  #70, Detroit

Pos:  WR

College:  Arkansas 

Fun fact:  Started at Div II Hillsdale

16. Azareye'h Thomas

Draft:  #73, NYJ

Pos:  CB

College:  FSY  

Fun fact:  Hometown is Niceville (FL)

15. Tonka Hemingway

Draft:  #135, Las Vegas

Pos:  DT

College:  South Carolina  

Fun fact:  Real name is Terrell

14.  Trikweze Bridges

Draft:  #256, LAC

Pos:  CB

College:  Florida  

Fun fact:  1 pick away from being Mr. Irrelevant

13.  Armand Membou

Draft:  #7, NYJ

Pos:  OT

College:  Mizzou

Fun fact:  Parents are from Cameroon

12.  Ruben Hyppolite II

Draft:  #132, Chicago

Pos:  LB

College:  Maryland

Fun fact:  Graduated early from high school

11.  Ozzy Trapilo

Draft:  #56, Chicago

Pos:  OT

College:  Boston College  

Fun fact:  Went to Boston College High School

10.  Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Draft:  #425, Wash

Pos:  RB

College:  Auburn  

Fun fact:  “A slippery runner with explosive feet” (Athletic)

9,  Chimere Dike

Draft:  #103, Tenn

Pos:  WR

College:  Florida 

Fun fact:  Pronounced “CHIM-ray DEE-kay”

8.  Oluwafemi Oladejo

Draft:  #52, Tenn

Pos:  Edge

College:  UCLA

Fun fact:  Was born in Nigeria

7.  Aeneas Peebles

Draft:  #210, Balt

Pos:  DT

College:  VT

Fun fact:  Nickname is “Fub”

6.  Smael Mondon Jr.

Draft:  #151, Phil

Pos:  LB

College:  Georgia  

Fun fact:  First name is pronounced “smile”

5.  Grey Zabel

Draft:  #18, Seattle

Pos:  C

College:  ND State

Fun fact:  “Graduated with a degree in agribusiness (May 2024) and recently rented 250 acres near his family’s farm to plant corn” (Athletic)

4.  Cam Skattebo

Draft:  #105, NYG

Pos:  RB

College:  Arizona St  

Fun fact:  “According to his mother, at age 6, he would wear his brother’s pads and run into telephone poles at football fields while the older kids were playing.” (Athletic)

3.  Bhayshul Tuten

Draft:  #104, JAX

Pos:  RB

College:  VT  

Fun fact:  “A balanced runner with the giddy-up burst to gash the defense when he finds the crease” (Athletic)

2.  Konata Mumpfield

Draft:  #242, LAR

Pos:  WR

College:  Pitt 

Fun fact:  Has lived in Japan and Korea

1.  Aireontae Ersery

Draft:  #48, Houston

Pos:  DT

College:  Minn  

Fun fact:  Didn’t ply football until 10th grade

Presidential Trivia

How good are you?  All 45 presidents are represented. 1 question for each 1 (and vice versa). Write down your answers, then scroll down to see the answers.

Only prez with 3 marriages

Only bachelor president

Was born only 5 miles from the Canadian border

Became a college president at age 26

His daughter married Jeff Davis

Only prez from Delaware

Died 3 months after leaving office

Died on the same day as Jefferson

Only prez to be an Eagle Scout

Youngest elected prez

Was a failed haberdasher

Fathered an illegitimate child while in office

Was part of the first graduating class at Stanford

Was the grandson of a prez

Only president born in Hawaii

Initials at birth were HUG

Only prez to learn English as a 2nd language

Only prez to lead a labor union

Lived with a bullet in his body from a duel

Shortest-serving prez

Longest-serving pres

Only prez married in office

Was president of Columbia Univ,

Never attended school

Only prez from NH 

Once owned a MLB team

Only prez who was part of the Confederate government

Only prez with a PhD

Was sworn in as prez aboard a plane

Only prez who went to Duke

Ran as a prez candidate for the Know Nothing Party

Refused to serve alcohol in the White House

Only prez who was a Rhodes scholar

1st prez to ride in an automobile

After his term was up, served as a US representative

Our shortest prez

Fathered a child with a slave

Only prez with a state named after him

Went on to become Supreme Court Justice

Was sworn in by his father

Our tallest prez

Only prez who went to the USNA

Wanted to be addressed as His Highness

Played in the College World Series

Our youngest prez  

Only prez with 3 marriages – Donald Trump (Reagan had 2)

Only bachelor president – James Buchanan (Cleveland married in the White House)

Was born only 5 miles from the Canadian border – Chester Arthur (in Fairfield VT)

Became a college president at age 26 – James Garfield (of Western Reserve Eclectic Institute, now Hiram College)

His daughter married Jeff Davis – Zachary Taylor (his only son was a Confederate general)

Only prez from Delaware – Joe Biden (though born in PA)

Died 3 months after leaving office – James Knox Polk (of cholera)

Only prez to be an Eagle Scout – Gerald Ford 

Youngest elected prez – JFK (43)

Was a failed haberdasher – Harry Truman

Fathered an illegitimate child while in office – Warren G Harding (proven by DNA testing in 2015)

Was part of the first graduating class at Stanford – Herbert Hoover (was also class treasurer and manager of the baseball & football teams)

Was the grandson of a prez – Benjamin Harrison (William Henry, that is)

Only prez born in Hawaii – Barack Obama (only prez born outside the contiguous USA)

Initials at birth were HUG – Ulysses S Grant (named inadvertently changed by sponsor to  West Point)

Only prez to learn English as a 2nd language – Martin Van Buren (1st language was Dutch)

Only prez to lead a labor union – Ronald Reagan (Screen Actors Guild)

Lived with a bullet in his body from a duel – Andrew Jackson

Shortest-serving prez – William Henry Harrison (1 month)

Longest-serving pres – FDR (4+ terms)

Only prez married in office – Grover Cleveland (she was his ward, and he had 28 years on her)

Was president of Columbia  – Dwight D Eisenhower (never served in elected office before becoming prez) 

Never attended school – Andrew Johnson (he was apprenticed to a tailor instead)

Only prez from NH – Franklin Pierce (his father was the governor)

Once owned a MLB team – George W Bush (co-owned, actually)

Only prez who was part of the Confederate government – John Tyler (Confederate congressman)

Only prez with a PhD – Woodrow Wilson (in history & government)

Was sworn in as prez aboard a plane – Lyndon Johnson (en route to DC after JFK’s assassination)

Only prez who went to Duke – Richard Nixon (law school)

Ran as a prez candidate for the Know Nothing Party – Millard Fillmore (AKA the American Party)

Refused to serve alcohol in the White House – Rutherford B Hayes (his wife was known as Lemonade Lucy)

Only prez who was a Rhodes scholar – Bill Cllnton (he attended, but did not graduate from, Oxford)

1st prez to ride in an automobile – William McKinley (it was steam-powered)

After his term was up, served as a US representative – John Quincy Adams (suffered a stroke on the floor of Congress, dying 2 days later)

Our shortest prez – James Madison (5’4”, never weighed over 100 lbs)

Fathered a child with a slave – Thomas Jefferson (actually 6 of them) 

Only prez with a state named after him – George Washington 

Went on to become Supreme Court Justice – William Howard Taft (actually a Chief Justice)

Was sworn in by his father – Calvin Coolidge (in tiny Plymouth Notch, VT)

Our tallest prez – Abaham Lincoln (6’4”)

Only prez who went to the USNA – Jimmy Carter (where he was a cross-country runner)

Wanted to be addressed as His Highness – John Adams

Played in the College World Series – George HW Bush (for Yale)

Our youngest prez – Teddy Roosevelt (42)

How did you do

• 40+ - presidential scholar
• 30-39 – winning candidate
• 20-29 – losing candidate
• 10-19 – couldn’t get out of the primaries
• 0-9 -  failed civics class