TODAY'S HISTORY JULY 31

THE HISTORY OF JULY 31

WORLD EVENTS

Today is National Raspberry Cake Day and National Cotton Candy Day

1790  The first patent in the U.S. was granted – a method of manufacturing potash was given to Samuel Hopkins

1875  The 17^th President Andrew Jackson died at age 66

1919  Sportscaster Curt Gowdy was born

1928  MGM released the first talking movie – “White Shadow on the South Seas” – the MGM lion roared for the 1^st time

1932  The George Washington quarter went into circulation – commemorated Washington’s birth 200 years ago

1945  Musician Gary Lewis was born – Gary Lewis & the Playboys

1962  Actor Wesley Snipes was born

1965  J.K. Rowling was born – Harry Potter author

1968  The Beatles record “Hey Jude”

1971  Apollo astronaut David Scott took a drive on the Moon in the land rover

1988  The last Playboy Club in the country closed in Michigan

1991  The U.S. and the Soviet Union signed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty in Moscow

1991  The U.S Senate voted to allow women to fly combat air missions

1995  Walt Disney Co. acquired Capital-Cities-ABC for $19 billion – the deal also included ESPN

1998  Nicholas Cage received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

2000  The Republican National Convention opened in Philadelphia – George Bush’s name was put in nomination

2001  The U.S. House of Representatives voted 265-102 to criminalize all human cloning

2008  Exxon-Mobil reported a 2^nd quarter profit of $11.68 billion – short of Wall Street expectations

SPORTS HISTORY on JULY 31

2005  Bengi and Jose Melina each hit a HR off Randy Johnson

2005  Ryne Sandberg and Wade Boggs inducted into the Hall of Fame

2004  Ichuro Suzuki gets his 50^th hit of the month – 1^st player since Joe Medwick (1936) to have two 50 hits months in the same season – 1^st player since Pete Rose to have three 50 hit months in a career

2004  The Red Sox trade Nomar Garciaparra to the Cubs

1999  Barry Bonds hits a HR in his first two at bats for the second day in a row

1998  Chicago’s Albert Belle hits his 16^th HR of the month – MLB record for July

1998  Losing by 9 runs to Oakland in the 8^th, Cleveland sends outfielder Mark 

Whiten in to pitch – gave up a double, hit by a pitch, and 2 walks, but struck out 3 batters – only player in MLB history with at least one inning pitched to get every out with a strike

1997  Oakland trades Mark McGwire to St. Louis

1997  Red Sox trade for Jason Vatriek and Derek Lowe

1994  Giants Matt Williams hits his 40^th HR of the year – NL mark for HRs through July – MLB record is 41 (Ruth in 1928 and Jimmie Foxx in 1932)

1994  Steve Carlton, Leo Durocher, and Phil Rizzuto inducted into the Hall of Fame

1988  Jose Canseco becomes the first player to have 30 or more HRs in his first three seasons in the league

1987  Eddie Murray hits his 300^th HR – ends with 504

1983  Brooks Robinson, Juan Marichal, and Walter Alston are inducted into the Hall of Fame

1981  50 days after the strike began, MLB players and owners reach an agreement

1978  Pete Rose ties Willie Keeler’s 81 year old record of hitting in 44 consecutive games

1972  Chicago’s Dick Allen hits 2 inside the park HRs in the game – 1^st since 1950 and only the 7^th in MLB history

#1 SONGS on JULY 31

1960  I’m Sorry – Brenda Lee

1964  A Hard Day’s Night – The Beatles

1965  (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones

1967  Light My Fire – The Doors

1969  In the Year 2525 – Zager & Evans

1970  (They Long to Be) Close to You – The Carpenters

1971  You’ve Got a Friend – James Taylor

1972  Alone Again (Naturally) – Gilbert O’Sullivan

1973  The Morning After – Maureen McGovern

1975  One of These Nights – The Eagles

1977  I Just Want to Be Your Everything – Andy Gibb

1978  Miss You – The Rolling Stones

1979  Bad Girls – Donna Summer

1980  Magic – Olivia Newton-John

1981  Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield

1982  Eye of the Tiger - Survivor

1983  Every Breathe You Take – The Police

1984  When Doves Cry – Prince

1990  Vision of Love – Mariah Carey

1992  Baby Got Back – Sir Mix-a-Lot

1996  Macarena – Los Del Rio

1999  Genie in a Bottle – Christina Aguilera