ON THIS DAY IN 1910, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle said, “What’s the matter with the Boston Red Sox? That is the question that the Boston writers and fans are asking. A team composed of youngsters as is the Boston outfit is supposed to shine in the spring, when the clubs that are loaded up with more veterans are not supposed to be at their best. Boston was right up in the race all last season and there seemed to be no good reason to find themselves elsewhere this spring. But here they are down in the second division. Left-handers have baffled them considerably, but that is not all. They seem to have lost their knack of scoring They hit Walter Johnson safely sixteen times, yet scored only one run. They made twelve hits off Tommy Atkins and produced but two runs and lost the game. It may be that the managerial shifts have not worked just right.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1927, the Eagle reported, “Appropriate exercises to celebrate Mother’s Day, next Sunday, were held in special assemblies at all Brooklyn and city public schools today.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1929, the Eagle reported, “Brooklyn is well represented in the concert of the Associated Glee Clubs of America, which is to take place at Madison Square Garden on May 24. The University Glee Club, the Apollo Club and Central Y.M.C.A. Glee Club will be among the singers, and Andrew Reims of the University Glee Club is treasurer of the Associated Glee Clubs. Dr. S. Parkes Cadman, in his capacity as chaplain, will make the address of welcome. Four thousand men from various parts of the country will travel, at their own expense, to take part in this musical event. Glee clubs from Maine on the East, Toronto on the North, Denver on the West and Baltimore on the South will be represented. This is the sixth year of activity for the Associated Glee Clubs of America. The first association concert in the metropolitan district was held in Carnegie Hall in 1924, with 540 singers. The Metropolitan Opera House stage was barely large enough to accommodate the chorus of 1,200 at the next concert at the 71st Regiment Armoy. Two thousand and seven hundred singers filled the great stage of the Sesqui-Centennial auditorium at Philadelphia in 1926, and the only building in New York which could accommodate the huge chorus for the gala concert on May 24, next, is Madison Square Garden.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1937, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON (U.P.) — Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes made a plea for ‘the processes of reason as opposed to the tyranny of force’ today in a speech before the American Law Institute. His address appeared to be directed at President Roosevelt’s court reorganization program, but he did not mention the plan specifically. The jurist’s plea came at the end of a speech he has made each Spring for eight years. In it he described the Supreme Court’s work for the current term. Hughes defended the progress of procedure in the courts generally and cited instances of improvement in the administration of justice by reform from time to time. Now, he said, the court can devote itself almost exclusively to questions of great public importance, even though many of the cases it decides are of little surface significance in the minds of the public.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1948, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON (U.P.) — The White House today called leaders of the three strike-threatening railroad unions to a conference here tomorrow. The union chiefs will meet with John R. Steelman, assistant to President Truman. Mr. Steelman is in charge of last-ditch Government efforts to mediate the dispute. The unions have called a strike for next Tuesday. Mr. Steelman will confer with the union leaders and then report the results of his conversations to the Chief Executive. The Pennsylvania, Long Island Rail Road, Southern Railway, Atlantic Coastline, Seaboard, New Haven, Central Railroad of New Jersey, Florida East Coast and the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac announced they will shut down if the strike goes on as scheduled. The White House summoned the three union leaders after a high official said that the Government will seize the railroads if a settlement of the wage dispute is not reached before the strike deadline. Meanwhile, some railroads prepared to clamp embargoes tomorrow on perishable food shipments and notified employees that they would be forced to shut down if the strike goes on as scheduled.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1951, the Eagle reported, “Newest of the Simon and Schuster ‘Golden Books’ for children is ‘Bugs Bunny’s Book,’ by Warner Bros. Cartoons Inc. It has stories told by Annie North Bedford and the pictures are adapted by Jack Bradbury and Campbell Grant.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1963, the Eagle reported, “Prospect Park was the scene of flying vehicles Saturday, when Brooklyn youngsters ranging in age from three to 15 gathered for the Kite Flying Contest sponsored by Abraham and Straus in cooperation with the New York City Department of Parks.”
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Bob Seger. Photo: Paul Sancya/AP
NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include former U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, who was born in 1934; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Bob Seger, who was born in 1945; “The O.C.” star Alan Dale, who was born in 1947; “Touched by an Angel” star Roma Downey, who was born in 1960; two-time Oscar-winner George Clooney, who was born in 1961; Olympic gold medalist and Hockey Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur, who was born in 1972; former N.Y. Jets Pro Bowler John Abraham, who was born in 1978; Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer Brooke Bennett, who was born in 1980; “Empire” star Gabourey Sidibe, who was born in Brooklyn in 1983; Olympic gold medalist
Roma Downey. Photo: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
and NBA All-Star Chris Paul, who was born in 1985; Tony-winning actress Adrienne Warren, who was born in 1987; and Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese, who was born in 2002.
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“OH, THE HUMANITY!”:The Hindenburg went down in flames on this day in 1937. The dirigible exploded at 7:20 p.m. as it approached the mooring mast at Lakehurst, N.J., after a transatlantic voyage. Of its 97 passengers and crew, 36 died in the accident, which ended the dream of mass transportation via dirigible.
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HOPE OF A NATION: Bob Hope performed his first USO show on this day in 1941. The beloved
Gabourey Sidibe. Photo: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
entertainer made 57 tours for the organization over the next 50 years and was declared an honorary veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces in 1997. He received the Congressional Gold Medal in 1963 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969. He died in 2003, two months after his 100th birthday.
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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.
Quotable:
“Maybe I was born to play ball. Maybe I truly was.” — Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays, who was born on this day in 1931.
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.
