TODAY IN HISTORY JULY 4

THE HISTORY of JULY 4

WORLD EVENTS

Today is National Barbecued Spareribs Day

1636  The city of Providence, Rhode Island was formed

1776  The Continental Congress approved adoption of the Declaration of Independence – signed by two future Presidents (Adams and Jefferson)

1785  The first 4^th of July parade was held in Bristol, Rhode Island

1802  The U.S. Military Academy was opened in West Point – 10 cadets entered

1804  Nathaniel Hawthorne was born – wrote “The Scarlet Letter”

1826  Thomas Jefferson, 3^rd President of the U.S., died at age 83 at one o’clock – original signer of the Declaration of Independence

1826  John Adams, 2^nd President of the U.S., died at age 90 just hours after Jefferson – 50 years to the day he signed the Declaration of Independence

1831  James Monroe, the 5^th President of the U.S., died at age 73

1832  The song “America” was sung publicly for the first time at a 4^th of July celebration in Boston

1848  The cornerstone of the Washington Monument was laid by President Polk in Washington, DC – would not be completed until 1884

1865  The first edition of “Alice in Wonderland” was published

1872  John Calvin Coolidge, 30^th President of the U.S., was born in Vermont

1884  The Statue of Liberty was presented to the U.S. in ceremonies in Paris – installed in U.S. in 1885 and dedicated in 1886

1895  The words to “America the Beautiful” first appeared in a Boston magazine

1902  The notorious mobster Meyer Lansky was born

1916  Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs opened a stand in Coney Island and held a hot dog eating contest that lasts to today

1943  TV host Geraldo Rivera was born in NYC

1946  The Philippines became independent of U.S. sovereignty

1949  Joyce Brothers, psychologist, author, was born

1954  Marilyn Shepard was killed at her home by her husband Dr. Sam Shepard – inspired the series and movie “The Fugitive”

1995  Actress Eva Gabor, star of “Green Acres”, died in Los Angeles

2007  Joey Chestnut won Nathan’s hot dog eating contest beating 6 time winner Takero Kobayashi – 66 hot dogs in 12 minutes

SPORTS HISTORY on JULY 4

1929  Al Davis, LA and Oakland Raiders owner, was born

1930  George Steinbrenner, principal owner of the NY Yankees, was born

1934  Boxer Joe Louis had his first professional fight

1939  A tearful Lou Gehrig gave his “luckiest man on the face of the earth” speech as 61,808 NY Yankees fans bid him goodbye – his #4 was retired

1964  Manny Jimenez of KC hit 3 HRs – did not hit one in 1963 and only 26 in 7 seasons – game ended in a 6-6 tie as a fireworks show had to run

1970  Cardinals send 3 pinch hitters to the plate in the 8^th – all 3 strikeout

1977  The Red Sox hit MLB record tying 8 HRs to beat Toronto 9-6 – 7 of the 8 were solo HRs

1980  Nolan Ryan strikes out his 3,000^th batter – ends career with 5,714

1981  John McEnroe wins the 95^th Men’s Wimbledon Open

1982  Jimmy Connors wins the 96^th Men’s Wimbledon Open

1983  NYY Dave Righetti pitches a no-hitter vs. the Red Sox – 1^st Yankee no hitter since Don Larsen’s perfect game in 1956 World Series

1984  Phil Niekro is the 9^th pitcher to record 3,000 strikeouts – ends with 3,342

1999  Jose Canseco of the Devil Rays gets his 30^th HR of the season – only player in MLB history with 30 HRs with 4 different teams – Oakland, Texas, Toronto

2003  NY Yankees give up 7 HRs to the Red Sox – most HRs given up by the Yankees in their history

2005  Hank Stram died – Super Bowl winning football coach

#1 SONGS on JULY 4

1955  Rock Around the Clock – Bill Haley & his Comets

1961  Tossin’ and Turnin’ – Bobby Lewis

1964  I Get Around – The Beach Boys

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

1966  Paperback Writer – The Beatles

1968  This Guy’s in Love with You – Herb Alpert

1969  Love Theme from “Romeo and Juliet” – Henry Mancini

1972  Lean on Me – Bill Withers

1974  Rock the Boat – The Hues Corporation

1975  Love Will Keep Us Together – The Captain & Tennille

1976  Afternoon Delight – The Starland Vocal Band

1979  Ring My Bell – Anita Ward

1981  Bette Davis Eyes – Kim Carnes

1982  Don’t You Want Me – The Human League

1983  Every Breath You Take – The Police

1984  When Doves Cry – Prince

1987  I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) – Whitney Houston

1990  Step by Step – New Kids on the Block

1991  Rush Rush – Paula Abdul

1992  Baby Got Back – Sir Mix-a-Lot

1994  I Swear – All-4-One

1995  Waterfalls - TLC

1999  If You Had My Love – Jennifer Lopez