TODAY IN HISTORY AUGUST 17

THE HISTORY OF AUGUST 17

WORLD EVENTS

Today is National Vanilla Custard Day

1786  Frontiersman Davy Crockett was born

1807  Robert Fulton’s steamship began moving up the Hudson River on a round trip to Albany

1863  The attack on Fort Sumter began during the Civil War

1893  Actress/sex symbol Mae West was born

1896  Gold was discovered in Alaska starting the Klondike gold rush

1903  Pulitzer prizes began with a $1 million donation from Joseph Pulitzer

1943  Actor Robert DeNiro was born

1943  U.S. and British forces complete their conquest of Sicily during WWII

1960  Actor Sean Penn was born

1962  The Beatles replace drummer Peter Best with Ringo Starr

1969  Singer Donnie Wahlberg was born – “New Kids on the Block”

1969  Hurricane Camille hit the Gulf coast killing 248 - $3.8 billion in damages

1978  Three men completed the first trans Atlantic balloon flight – 3,107 miles in 137 hours

1979  Vivian Vance died – Ethel Mertz on “I Love Lucy”

1985  Meat packers went on strike at Hormel – lasted a year

1988  Rudolf Hess, last member of Hitler’s inner circle, died at age 93 in prison from an apparent suicide

1988  Vice President George Bush was nominated for President by the Republican Party

1990  Singer Pearl Bailey died at age 72

1998  In a broadcast on TV, President Clinton finally admits to having had an affair with Monica Lewinsky

2000  Al Gore accepted the nomination for President at the Democratic National Convention

SPORTS HISTORY on AUGUST 17

2008  R.A. Dickey of Seattle throws 4 wild pitches in an inning – 5^th to ever do so

2004  Rangers Mark Texeira hits for the cycle and drives in 7 runs in a 16-4 win over Cleveland

2002  NYY beat Seattle 8-3 – Alfonso Soriano hits a HR and is only the second baseman in MLB history to have 30 HRs and 30 steals in a season, also Bernie Williams did not get a hit in his 2^nd at bat, prior to that he had 11 consecutive hits

2002  Alex Rodriguez hits 3 HRs – 6^th player ever with 5 straight 40 HR seasons

2000  White Sox pitcher James Baldwin ties AL record – hit 4 batters

1996  Thomas Howard of Cincinnati gets 3 hits – 4^th straight game he has done so

1992  Kevin Gross of Dodgers pitches the only 9 inning no hitter of the season

1986  Steve Carlton of the White Sox gets his 1^st AL win – it is his 320^th

1986  Pete Rose plays in his final game – strikes out as a pinch hitter

1984  Pete Rose returns to the Reds as a player/manager

1982  Reds Cesar Cedeno steals his 500^th base – ends with 550             

1982  Dodgers beat the Cubs 2-1 in 21 innings

1980  In a doubleheader vs. Tigers, Rangers Al Oliver of Texas hits 4 HRs, a double, and a triple – 21 total bases is a two game record

1973  Willie Mays hits his 660^th and last HR

1972  Steve Carlton wins his 15^th straight game – now has 20-6 record

1944  NYY Johnny Lindell ties record with 4 consecutive doubles in the game

1933  Lou Gehrig breaks the record playing in his 1,309^th consecutive game

#1 SONGS on AUGUST 17

1960  It’s Now or Never – Elvis Presley

1964  Where Did Our Love Go – The Supremes

1965  I Got You Babe – Sonny & Cher

1966  Summer in the City – The Lovin’ Spoonful

1967  All You Need is Love – The Beatles

1968  People Got to Be Free – The Rascals

1969  Honky Tonk Woman – The Rolling Stones

1970  Make It With You - Bread

1971  How Can You Mend a Broken Heart – The Bee Gees

1972  Alone Again Naturally – Gilbert O’Sullivan

1973  The Morning After – Maureen McGovern

1974  The Night Chicago Died – Paper Lace

1976  Don’t Go Breaking My Heart – Elton John & Kiki Dee

1977  Best of My Love – The Emotions

1978  Three Times a Lady – The Commodores

1980  Magic – Olivia Newton-John

1981  Endless Love – Diana Ross & Lionel Richie

1982  Eye of the Tiger - Survivor

1983  Every Breathe You Take – The Police

1984  Ghostbusters – Ray Parker Jr.

1985  Shout – Tears for Fears

1986  Papa Don’t Preach - Madonna

1987  Who’s That Girl - Madonna

1990  Vision of Love – Mariah Carey

1991  Every Thing I Do – Bryan Adams

1992  End of the Road – Boyz II Men

1993  Can’t Help Falling in Love – UB40

1995  Waterfalls - TLC

1996  Macarena – Los Del Rio

1998  The Boy is Mine – Brandy & Monica

1999  Genie in a Bottle – Christina Aguilera