Today in 1954, Hank Aaron hit the first of his record 755 major league home runs, leading his team, the Milwaukee Braves, to a 7 to 5 win against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Today in 1969, Sirhan Sirhan was formally sentenced to death for the assassination of N.Y. Senator Robert Kennedy. Three years later, his sentence was commuted to life in prison. He remains incarcerated.
Today in 1970, the first “Earth Day,” – a nationwide observance to promote awareness and activism concerning environmental issues – was held.
Today in 1985, Coca-Cola announced it was changing the almost century-old secret formula for Coke. Later, public outcry forced the company to resume sales of the original product.
Today in 1989, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played his last regular season game in the NBA.
Today in 1996, a Bronx civil-court jury ordered Bernhard Goetz to pay $43-million to Darrell Cabey, one of four young men he'd shot on a subway car in 1984. While he’d been acquitted of murder in the initial shooting – which he said was in self-defense – it was the second shot the one he gave Cabey, which sealed the $43-million decision. As Cabey laid there bleeding from the first shot, Goetz said, "You don't look so bad, here's another."
Today in 1998, James Earl Ray died in prison at the age of 70. While he had confessed to assassinating the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, he recanted in his later years. Dr. King’s family has said that they believe him.
Today in 2005, the ‘recently created’ video-sharing website, YouTube, uploaded its first clip, “Me at the Zoo.” In it, YouTube co-founder Jawed Karim is seen standing in front of an elephant enclosure at the San Diego Zoo.
Today in 2013, a 1% flash crash hit the stock market after a news agency was hacked and claimed injury to President Obama. Once it was revealed as fake, the market quickly recovered.
Today in 2020, President Donald Trump suggested COVID-19 might be treated by injecting disinfectant or UV lights into the human body at a White House press briefing. Government officials and disinfectant companies quickly state doing so is not only extremely dangerous but potentially deadly.