1865 – Munitions magazine explodes at Fort Fisher, North Carolina, killing or injuring 200 soldiers, carelessness of drunken soldiers blamed.
1919 – The 18th Amendment to the US Constitution, authorizing the prohibition of alcohol, is ratified by a majority of US states.
1936 – 1st photo finish camera installed at Hialeah Race track in Hialeah, Florida.
1938 – 1st jazz concert held at Carnegie Hall (Benny Goodman)
1939 – Daily newspaper comic strip “Superman” debuts.
1944 – General Eisenhower takes command of Allied Invasion Force in London.
1951 – World’s largest gas pipeline opens (Brownsville, Texas, to 134th St, New York City)
1952 – US Standard Board clears Stan Musial to get an $85,000 salary.
1954 – “South Pacific” closes at Majestic Theater NYC after 1928 performances.
1962 – 12th NBA All-Stars Game, St. Louis Arena, St. Louis, Mo: West beats East, 150-130; MVP: Bob Petit, St. Louis Hawks, C; All-Star record 27 rebounds.
1964 – “Hello, Dolly!” opens at St. James Theater NYC for 2,844 performances.
1970 – Curt Flood files a civil lawsuit challenging baseball’s reserve clause.
1978 – 5th American Music Awards: Stevie Wonder, Fleetwood Mac & Conway Twitty winners.
1988 – Jimmy “the Greek” Snyder fired from CBS for racial remarks.
2001 – US President Bill Clinton awards former President Theodore Roosevelt a posthumous Medal of Honor for his service in the Spanish-American War.
2003 – The Space Shuttle Columbia takes off for mission STS-107 which would be its final one. Columbia disintegrates 16 days later on re-entry.
2019 – Golden State guard Stephen Curry first player in NBA history to hit 8+ three-point FGs in 3 consecutive games; goes 9 of 17 three’s in Warriors’ 147-140 win over New Orleans; teams combine for NBA record 43 3-pointers.
2020 – Impeachment trial of US President Donald Trump begins in the Senate.
2020 – Newly appointed manager Carlos Beltran and New York Mets mutually agree to part ways because of his role in Houston Astros sign stealing scandal; third manager forced out of a job as a result of the allegations.
