1782 – George Washington creates the Purple Heart medal (original name Badge of Military Merit) as commander of the Continental Army.
1882 – Hatfields of south West Virginia and McCoys of east Kentucky feud, 100 wounded or die.
1907 – MLB Washington Senators legendary pitcher Walter Johnson wins first of his 416 career wins, 7-2 v Cleveland.
1927 – Peace Bridge between US and Canada dedicated.
1938 – 2,000th Brooklyn Dodgers home run: legendary shortstop Leo Durocher homers off Reds hurler Preaches Davis in 8th inning of a 6-3 win.
1939 – Millionaire Howard Hughes is presented with a Congressional Gold Medal.
1946 – 1st US commemorative coin of an African American, Booker T. Washington (half dollar)
1953 – Eastern Airlines enters jet age, uses Electra prop-jet.
1957 – Congress passes the Civil Rights Act of 1957.
1960 – Arnold Palmer’s 20th PGA Tour win; rallies from a 5-stroke deficit to enter a playoff, then beats Jack Fleck and Bill Collins to win the Insurance City Open.
1971 – Apollo 15 returns to earth.
1977 – “Shenandoah” closes at Alvin Theater NYC after 1,050 performances.
1981 – “The Washington Star” ceases all operations after 128 years of publication.
1989 – U.S. Congressman Mickey Leland (D-TX) and 15 others die in a plane crash in Ethiopia.
1992 – The Orlando Magic signs NBA No. 1 draft pick, Shaquille O’Neal.
2000 – Los Angeles Lakers announce retirement of former star player and Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Jerry West; name Mitch Kupchak to succeed him.
2004 – Cubs pitcher Greg Maddux enters the history books with his 300th career win in the Chicago’s 8-4 triumph vs San Francisco at SBC Park.
2007 – San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds his his 756th career home run to break Hank Aaron’s long-standing MLB record.
2016 – United States men’s 4X100m freestyles relay team wins the final in 3:09.92 at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics; Michael Phelps’ record 19th Olympic gold medal.
2019 – Largest single-state immigration raid in Mississippi as nearly 700 people arrested.
About Author
