Today In History: June 19

Here are some significant events that took place on June 19.....

Sports
1846: The first ever baseball game under modern rules from Alexander Cartwright is played as the New York Nines beat the Knickerbockers 23-1. The Knickerbockers team was founded by Cartwright the year before.

1867: In the inaugural Belmont Stakes horse race, Ruthless wins by a head with jockey Gilbert Patrick. It is now the third and final leg of the Triple Crown of horse racing.

1936: In boxing, the first ever match-up between Heavyweight Champion Joe Louis and German fighter Max Schmeling takes place. Schmeling won the title with a 12th Round knockout. Louis would win the title back in 1938 in a boxing rivalry that was ignited by political indifference between Nazi Germany and the United States.

1986: Less than 48 hours after being the No. 2 overall pick in the NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics, Maryland basketball star Len Bias dies of a cocaine overdose. His death was very significant because of college athletics changing their drug policies as a result.

U.S. News
1910: In Spokane, Washington, the first ever observance of Father's Day takes place.

1934: The Federal Communications Commission under the Communications Act of 1934 is established.

1978: The popular comic strip Garfield debuts which is created by Jim Davis. It was an immediate success, and is currently the world's most syndicated comic strip.

World News
1944: The largest aircraft battle in world history begins in the Battle of the Philippine Sea as the United States won a very decisive victory the following day over the Empire of Japan. The more experienced American airmen took down some 600 Japanese aircraft which was very costly to Japan in World War II. It is also known as the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot.

1961: Kuwait officially declares independence from the United Kingdom.

Posted in: events, June 19, sports, Today In History, world history

Reactions: