TODAY IN HISTORY SEPTEMBER 20

THE HISTORY OF SEPTEMBER 20

WORLD EVENTS

Today is National Rum Punch Day

1797  The first U.S. frigate, Constitution (Old Ironsides) was launched in Boston

1850  The slave trade in Washington, DC was abolished as part of the Compromise of 1850

1859  A patent was granted to George Simpson for the electric range

1860  King Edward VII became the first member of the British royalty to visit the U.S.

1881  Chester A. Arthur was sworn in as the 21^st President – President Garfield died the day before

1929  Comedian Anne Meara was born – “Stiller & Meara”

1934  Actress Sophia Loren was born

1946  The first Cannes Film Festival was held

1951  The first North Pole jet crossing took place

1958  Martin Luther King Jr. was stabbed in the chest by a deranged woman in NYC

1962  James Meredith was blocked from entering Mississippi University as its first black student

1967  The ocean liner QEII was launched – 963 feet long

1973  Singer Jim Croce died in an airplane crash

1976  Playboy released the interview with Jimmy Carter in which he said he had “lusted in his heart”

1984  “The Cosby Show” premiered on NBC

1995  AT&T announced the biggest corporate breakup ever as it will split into 3 separate companies

2004  CBS News apologized for its story on President Bush’s National Guard service – said it would not vouch for the authenticity of the documents it sired

2009  The 61^st Emmy Awards – winners were “Mad Men” and “30 Rock”

SPORTS HISTORY ON SEPTEMBER 20

2003  Marcus Giles of Braves hits his 20^th HR of the season – Braves have 6 players with 20 or more

2002  Orioles Mike Bordick sets a MLB record with his 102^nd consecutive game without an error at shortstop

1998  Cal Ripken ends his record 2,632 consecutive game streak – started 5/30/82

1992  Philadelphia second baseman Mickey Morandi gets an unassisted triple play – 9^th in MLB history

1988  Wade Boggs gets his 200^th hit in 6 straight seasons

1987  Walter Payton sets NFL record with his 107^th rushing TD

1986  Tony Gwynn steals 5 bases – ties NL record

1983  Detroit gets 10 consecutive hits in the first inning – ties AL record

1980  Spectacular Bid wins the Woodward – his only 3 rivals pulled out of the race

1978  Red Sox lose to Detroit 12-2 – Boston only had 6 hits – 4 by Jerry Remy

1973  Billie Jean King beats Bobby Riggs in “The Battle of the Sexes” tennis match

1972  Atlanta beats Houston 13-6 – scored all 13 in the 2^nd inning

1970  Jim Palmer wins his 20^th game – Orioles now have three 20 game winners for the season

1968  Mickey Mantle hits his final HR #536 – hit his 1^st 5/1/51

1967  Johnny Bench hits his 1^st MLB HR – ends with 389

1965  812 fans see Philadelphia beat the Braves

1965  547 fans see KC beat Minnesota

1961  Roger Maris hits his 59^th HR in 155 games

1965  Willie Mays hits his 50^th HR – only 7^th to do so

1954  Warren Spahn wins his 20^th game – 6^th time he has done so  

1919  Babe Ruth is honored at “Babe Ruth Day” in a double header at Fenway – he wins the 1^st game with a HR in the 9^th and scores the winning run in the 2^nd (over)

1917  NBA Hall of Fame coach Red Auerbach was born

#1 SONGS ON SEPTEMBER 20

1961  Take Good Care of My Baby – Bobby Vee

1963  Blue Velvet – Bobby Vinton

1964  Oh, Pretty Woman – Roy Orbison

1966  Cherish – The Association

1967  The Letter – The Box Tops

1968  Harper Valley PTA – Jeannie C. Riley

1970  Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Diana Ross

1971  Go Away Little Girl – Donny Osmond

1972  Don’t Get Hooked on Me – Mac Davis

1974  Can’t Get Enough of Your Love – Barry White

1975  Fame – David Bowie

1976  Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry

1977  I Just Want to be Your Everything – Andy Gibb

1979  My Sharona – The Knack

1980  Upside Down – Diana Ross

1981  Endless Love – Diana Ross & Lionel Richie

1983  Tell Her About It – Billy Joel

1985  Money for Nothing – Dire Straights

1988  Don’t Worry Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin

1992  End of the Road – Boyz II Men

1993  Dream Lover – Mariah Carey

1994  I’ll Make Love to You – Boyz II Men

1996  Macarena – Los Del Rio

1998  I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing – Aerosmith