TODAY IN HISTORY JULY 8

THE HISTORY OF JULY 8

WORLD EVENTS

Today is National Chocolate with Almonds Day

1776  The first public reading of the Declaration of Independence was conducted in Philadelphia – the reading was announced by the ringing of the Liberty Bell

1835  The Liberty Bell in Philadelphia cracked – it was being rung to mourn the death of Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall

1839  Industrialist John D. Rockefeller was born

1865  The machine gun was patented by C. E. Barnes

1881  The Sundae was introduced by Edward Berner

1889  The Wall Street Journal was first published

1896  William Jennings Bryant delivered his “Cross of Gold” speech

1932  The Dow Jones Average hit an intra-day low of 40.56 – the lowest level of the Depression

1947  A Roswell New Mexico newspaper claimed that the military had captured a flying saucer – the government claimed it was not true

1949  Celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck was born

1950  President Truman named General Douglas MacArthur as commander in chief of UN forces in Korea

1958  Actor Kevin Bacon was born – “Footloose”

1960  The Soviet Union charged U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers with espionage after his plane had been shot down

1961  Country singer Toby Keith was born

1963  All Cuban assets in the U.S. were frozen

1975  President Ford announced he would seek the nomination in 1976

1987  The Kiwanis Club voted to admit women for the first time

1994  OJ Simpson ordered to stand trial for the murder of his ex-wife and Ron Goldman

2006  New Jersey casinos reopen after one week of a government shutdown

SPORTS HISTORY on JULY 8

2001  Venus Williams wins Wimbledon

2000  Venus Williams wins the Women’s Wimbledon Open – first black woman since 1957 to do so – Althea Gibson

2000  It is the 1^st time since 1903 that 2 teams played in a doubleheader in 2 different parks (Shea and Yankee Stadium) – Clemens beans Piazza

2000  Toronto becomes the 1^st team in MLB history to have 4 batters with 20 or more HRs before the All-Star break

1997  AL beats NL 3-1 in All-Star game – Sandy Alomar MVP – brother Rob

win it in 1998

1994  In a game vs. Seattle, Red Sox shortstop John Valentin makes the 10^th unassisted triple play in MLB history – in the same game an 18 year old made his MLB debut and went 0-3 – Alex Rodriguez

1990  West Germany wins World Cup

1990  After spotting the Angels a 8-0 lead, the Brewers score 20 unanswered runs (13 in the 5^th) to win the game

1988  Indians’ pitcher Bud Black ties MLB record by hitting 4 batters in the 4^th inning

1984  John McEnroe wins the 98^th Men’s Wimbledon Open

1982  Billy Martin gets his 1,000^th career win as manager – his A’s beat NYY

1980  NL wins its 9^th consecutive All-Star game – Ken Griffey MVP

1970  Giants’ Jim Ray Hart is the 1^st player in 59 years to have six RBI in one inning – tied MLB record

1962  41 year old Stan Musial hits a HR in his 1^st 3 at bats – hit one in his last at bat yesterday to win the game – four in a row ties MLB record

1941  Hitting .405 at the All-Star break, Ted Williams hits a 3 run HR in the 9^th with 2 out as AL beats the NL 7-5

1939  Bobby Riggs wins the 59^th Men’s Wimbledon Open

#1 SONGS on JULY 8

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  In the Year 2525 – Zager & Evans

1970  Mama Told Me Not to Come – Three Dog Night

1971  It’s Too Late/I Feel the Earth Move – Carole King

1972  Lean on Me – Bill Withers

1973  Will It Go Round in Circles – Billy Preston

1975  Love Will Keep Us Together – The Captain & Tennille

1976  Afternoon Delight – The Standard Vocal Band

1979  Bad Girls – Donna Summer

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

1986  Holding Back the Years – Simply Red

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