ON THIS DAY IN 1910, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “Brooklyn Institute astronomers had a fine view of the stars from the observatory on the Academy of Music roof last evening. They saw Jupiter and his four satellites and a double star in Cor Caroli, in the constellation of the hunting dogs. Of these the larger star was a brilliant lilac while the smaller was a pale orange in tint. Among those assembled no one had as yet seen Halley’s comet. Albert J. Brooks, secretary of the department of astronomy, was in charge of the telescope.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1926, the Eagle said, “Indications point toward a reversion to old baseball tactics. Throughout the American League one hears talk of perfecting defense play, the hit-and-run play, base stealing, bunting and sacrifice hitting which, since Babe Ruth made his home run record two years ago, has been resting unused in a cell in the brain of most managers. They knew these things existed, but to please the spectators permitted overindulgence in Ruthian swinging. The managers of teams without hitters of the Bambino’s class are going out to win games, for it has been proven that fans will not crowd the ball parks of losing teams.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1939, the Eagle reported, “In making test bores for an addition to the city garage at Dock and Water Sts., on the Brooklyn end of the Brooklyn Bridge, sections of hard bored wood water mains were recently unearthed by WPA forces. The wooden water mains were found lying in a horizontal position, and the clean tapering bore holes, according to the veterans of the Water Department, indicate they were used for water distribution. They estimate its installation prior to 1840. This is the first time wooden water pipes have been found in the borough. A few years ago WPA workers in Manhattan dug up wooden mains along Canal St.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1951, the Eagle reported, “The sales tax hearing opened in City Hall in a packed City Council chamber today before a partisan audience that cheered opponents of the proposal and booed those favoring it. Walter Hoving, leader of the drive against a 1 percent increase, branded the administration plan an ‘iron curtain tax’ laid down against the best interests of the residents and businessmen of New York. Hoving’s denunciation came after an opening squabble over location of the loudspeaker microphone, which developed immediately after the presiding officer, Councilman Walter Schick of Staten Island, chairman of the Council’s Finance Committee, called the meeting to order. That was at 11:11 a.m. As the mild-mannered, low-voiced chairman recognized Mr. Hoving, chairman of the Anti-Sales Tax Committee, as the first speaker, Hoving grasped the microphone and proceeded to move the mike some 15 feet up the aisle away from the platform where the Finance Committee were seated. The audience clapped, cheered and otherwise showed its anti-sales tax preference. The chairman said there must be no demonstrations. Councilman Hugh Quinn, Queens Democrat, said the mike must return to where it originally was, about six feet in front of the platform. The audience booed him. ‘There’s nobody here bigger than New York City,’ Mr. Quinn shouted, adding that anyone who wants to be heard will be heard, but any talking must be to the committee, not the audience, and ‘if anyone wants to make a hero of himself I suggest that he be barred.’”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1963, the Eagle reported, “AUGUSTA, GA. (UPI) — Mike Souchak sank an eight-foot pressure putt for a birdie on the 18th hole yesterday to give him a one-stroke lead over the field at the halfway mark in the Masters Golf Tournament despite a brilliant six under par 66 by young Jack Nicklaus. That birdie gave Souchak a two under par 70 and a total of 139, one stroke better than Nicklaus and former P.G.A. champion Jay Hebert. They were sitting in the clubhouse as Souchak came up to the final hole needing a birdie to stay in the lead. He and Bo Wininger had tied for the first round lead Thursday with three under par 69s. Nicklaus had carded one of the most brilliant rounds in Masters history to tie Hebert, the older of the two famous Louisiana golfing brothers. He went out in 34, two under par for the 6,980-yard Masters course, and came home in 32, four under as he failed to card a single bogey. He had six birdies and 12 pars. The U.S. Open Champion, only 23, had a first round of 74.”
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Billy Dee Williams. Photo: Joel C. Ryan/Invision/AP
NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include “The Empire Strikes Back” star Billy Dee Williams, who was born in 1937; Oscar-winning director Barry Levinson, who was born in 1942; “Cheers” star John Ratzenberger, who was born in 1947; Baseball Hall of Famer Bert Blyleven, who was born in 1951; “Taxi” star Marilu Henner, who was born in 1952; football player and sportscaster Sterling Sharpe, who was born in 1965; “Ant-Man” star Paul Rudd,
John Ratzenberger. Photo: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
who was born in 1969; “Scrubs” star Zach Braff, who was born in 1975; actress and TV personality Candace Cameron Bure, who was born in 1976; football player and sportscaster Tim Hasselbeck, who was born in 1978; model Hilary Rhoda, who was born in 1987; World Cup-winning soccer player Julie Ertz, who was born in 1992; and “Jessie” star Peyton List, who was born in 1998.
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MARCHING ON: The Grand Army of the Republic was established on this day in 1866. The fraternal organization, founded by Union veterans of the Civil War, grew to more than 400,000 members at hundreds of posts by 1890. Politically, the group advocated for voting rights for blacks, veterans’ pensions and the creation of Memorial Day as a national holiday. It was disbanded after the death of its last member in 1956.
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NOW BATTING: Baseball’s first designated hitter stepped up to the plate on this day in 1973 when Ron Blomberg of the N.Y.
Marilu Henner. Photo: Brent N. Clarke/Invision/AP
Yankees squared off against Luis Tiant of the Boston Red Sox. Blomberg drew a walk. The DH rule applied only to the American League until the shortened 2020 season but is now used in both leagues.
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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.
Quotable:
“Watching National League pitchers trying to hit or even bunt is depressing.” — former N.Y. Yankee Ron Blomberg, who became baseball’s first DH on this day in 1973.
SUNSET PARK — “As a resident of Marine Park, one of the great surprises I found biking around Industry City and visiting Japan Village was to discover Bush Terminal Park. I continue to be amazed at the serene hideaways that the city offers in some of the busiest places — and, still, with an iconic view.”
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — ‘A miracle that no one was killed …’ That’s what neighbors are saying about the collapse of the Hotel St. George marquee. Shown in this photograph are workmen beginning the removal and repair of the historic, old neon sign at the corner, referencing a relic of Brooklyn Heights’ past: the St. George Hotel.
ATLANTIC AVENUE — Exhausted shopper with cluster of bags and goods from mall at Boerum Place stops to look at huge construction site across the street. “Is that REALLY going to be a jail??” Her male companion is reassuring, “Nothing like Rikers … this is 21st Century.”
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — Overheard in line at one of most popular pastry outlets on Montague Street: “Hope I can get them into a camp …” A mother with two pre-schoolers in tow was showing a friend the Dodge Y flyer for Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, April 18.
