October 1: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

October 1, 2021 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1921, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “POLO GROUNDS — New York captured the American League championship this afternoon — its first in its history — when they defeated the Philadelphia Americans by a score of 5 to 3 before 25,000 people. The victory of the Yankees ended the tightest fought race ever made in the history of major league baseball. The New Yorkers needed one victory in their three games, the last of which was to be played on the closing day of the season tomorrow. Carl Mays had one bad inning when Philadelphia scored their three runs. After that he was invincible. The recent invalid [Babe] Ruth returned to the game but went hitless at the bat.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1923, the Eagle reported, “OKLAHOMA CITY (A.P.) — Instructions to jail every person attempting to interfere with the special state election tomorrow were sent early today to all county election officials by the state Election Board. ‘If anyone attempts to interfere with you in the conduct of this election, have him thrown in jail at once,’ the telegrams ordered. The sheriffs in every county of the state were urged by the state board to study the laws on elections and to ‘provide a safe ballot.’ The office of Attorney General George F. Short was being deluged with inquiries as to the legality of the election. All inquirers were told it was valid. Sheriff Tom Cavnar of Oklahoma County announced he was ‘ready to deputize every man in the county’ to prevent disturbances at the polls. He said he would make no effort either to insure or prevent the election, but that he was prepared to stop any violence. Sheriff Cavnar said: ‘I have received written instructions from the governor ordering me to stop the election in Oklahoma County, but I have also received instructions from George Short, attorney general, and J.K. Wright, county attorney, that I have no authority to stop any election and that my duty is to see that the people have a peaceable election. I will do my duty and enforce the law, regardless of any orders from the governor. The people are bigger than any one man.”’

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ON THIS DAY IN 1950, the Eagle reported, “TOKYO (U.P.) — Gen. Douglas MacArthur demanded tonight that the North Koreans lay down their arms immediately or face ‘further useless shedding of blood and destruction of property.’ The commander of victorious United Nations forces in Korea told the Communist aggressors that their early defeat and complete destruction of armed forces and war-making potential ‘is now inevitable.’ This was a clear threat that the U.N. forces would carry the war to the North Koreans until they are forced to capitulate. MacArthur made it clear that he expected an early decision by the North Koreans, whose armies have been defeated in the South and whose factories have been bombed into flaming ruins in the North. His demand that the Communists lay down their arms and cease hostilities forthwith came as six Allied divisions raced toward the 38th parallel, prepared to invade if necessary.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1951, the Eagle reported, “The eyes of the nation turned to Ebbets Field today as the Dodgers and Giants moved in for a last-ditch playoff series which will settle the National League pennant race in a best-of-three-game set. The weary, exuberant Dodgers, who were forced to fight a long uphill battle with Philadelphia to clinch a tie after leading the league for most of the season, sent Ralph Branca to the mound. Jim Hearn, third ranking Giant hurler, took over the hurling chores for the Giants, who climaxed a sensational six-week drive to erase a 13 1/2-game deficit and move into a first place tie in the last two days of the season. Long lines surrounded the park by 9 a.m., when tickets went on sale, and a capacity, howling crowd of 34,000 was a certainty by the 1:30 game time. The New York team was a slight favorite to win the series, which will shift to the Polo Grounds for the second game and a third, if necessary. Manager Chuck Dressen, heartened by the comeback yesterday when Brooklyn rallied to win in the 14th inning after the Giants knocked off Boston, wasn’t making any predictions.”

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NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who was born in 1924; Oscar-winning actress Julie Andrews, who was born in 1935; Peaches & Herb member Herb Fame, who was born in 1942; Baseball Hall of Famer Rod Carew, who was born in 1945; “Independence Day” star Randy Quaid, who was born in 1950; former N.Y. Mets pitcher Pete Falcone, who was born in Brooklyn in 1953; Shalamar singer Howard Hewett, who was born in 1955; singer-songwriter Youssou N’Dour, who was born in 1959; “NYPD Blue” star Esai Morales, who was born in 1962; baseball player Mark McGwire, who was born in 1963; “Between Two Ferns” host Zach Galifianakis, who was born in 1969; “Grey’s Anatomy” star Sarah Drew, who was born in 1980; and Oscar-winning actress Brie Larson, who was born in 1989.

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FOR THE RECORD: N.Y. Yankees outfielder Roger Maris broke the single-season home run record on this day in 1961. Maris hit a drive over the right-field fence in Yankee Stadium for his 61st home run, passing Babe Ruth, who hit 60 in 1927. Maris’ record was broken by St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Mark McGwire, who hit 70 in 1998.

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OH MICKEY, YOU’RE SO FINE: Walt Disney World opened near Orlando, Fla., on this day in 1971. In 2018 it was the most visited vacation resort in the world, with 58 million guests. The resort’s theme parks include Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, Epcot Center and the Magic Kingdom.

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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.

Quotable:

“The love of liberty is a common blood that flows in our American veins.”

— U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who was born on this day in 1924