Milestones: April 8, 2024

April 8, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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L’ENTENTE CORDIALE — BRITAIN AND FRANCE ON APRIL 8, 1904 SIGNED AN AGREEMENT, later known as the Entente Cordiale, a document expressing friendship and mutual diplomatic understanding, particularly on how to handle ongoing colonial disputes in North Africa. Formally titled, “A Declaration between the United Kingdom and France Respecting Egypt and Morocco,” the Entente Cordiale of April 1904 was essentially a declaration of friendship between these two great European powers. According to the agreement’s terms, France promised not to challenge British control over Egypt. And Britain recognized France’s jurisdiction in Morocco, pledging to act in that country to preserve order and to provide assistance in effecting government reforms.

The agreement did not, at this point, require the two nations to provide military support to each other.

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JOMO KENYATTA — KENYA’S BRITISH RULERS ON APRIL 8, 1953, IN A HIGHLY POLITICIZED TRIAL, CONVICTED JOMO KENYATTA, leader of the Kenyan independence movement, of spearheading violence against white settlers and the colonial government. The rulers were convinced that the Mau Mau were violent extremists. But in convicting Kenyatta, they had disregarded Kenyatta’s non-violent and conservative approach and conservatism. Kenyatta was an outspoken advocate for Kenyan and African culture, writing eloquently on the plight of Kenyans under colonial rule. Although he had played minimally in the Mau Mau uprising of 1952, Kenyatta was imprisoned for nine years along with other nationalist leaders.

Kenyatta was released in 1961, soon becoming president of the Kenya African National Union and leading negotiations with the British for self-rule, which was finally achieved in 1981. When Kenya won independence, Kenyatta was elected president.

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BROKE BABE RUTH’S RECORD — BASEBALL LEGEND HANK AARON OF THE ATLANTA BRAVES HIT HIS 715TH CAREER HOME RUN ON APRIL 8, 1974, before a crowd of 53,775 people, breaking Babe Ruth’s legendary record of 714 homers. About two decades earlier, the right-fielder was in 1957 named the National League’s Most Valuable Player as the Milwaukee Braves won the pennant. His three home runs in the World Series helped his team triumph over the heavily favored New York Yankees. An immensely dependable batter, Aaron had by the end of his career, batted in 2,297.

However, Hank Aaron, being African American, regularly received death threats and racist hate mail during his pursuit of one of baseball’s most distinguished records.

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FIRST BLACK MLB MANAGER — THE CLEVELAND THEN-NAMED INDIANS’ FRANK ROBINSON ON APRIL 8, 1975, BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TO MANAGE a game in Major League Baseball, becoming both manager and player, in a deal that was kept under wraps for several months after the close of the 1974 season, according to the Society for American Baseball Research. Although Robinson was fired midway through the 1977 season for failing to produce wins, he later became the first Black manager in the National League when the San Francisco Giants hired him to replace Dave Bristol. He also managed the Orioles, Montreal Expos and Washington Nationals. Robinson had a full resume of prior baseball achievements before joining the Indians (now called the Guardians). He is the only player in baseball history to win the Most Valuable Player Award in each league (Cincinnati, 1961; Baltimore, 1966). He was also the Rookie of the Year (1956), World Series MVP (1966), All-Star Game MVP (1971), a Gold Glove winner (1958), and the Triple Crown (1966). By the time he joined Cleveland, he had already amassed 572 home runs and 1,773 RBIs.

Robinson was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1982. A statue was dedicated to him outside MLB stadiums in Baltimore, Cleveland and Cincinnati.

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BORN WITHOUT A RIGHT HAND — CALIFORNIA ANGELS ROOKIE PITCHER JIM ABBOTT, WHO WAS BORN WITHOUT A RIGHT HAND, made his Major League Baseball debut on April 8, 1989. Even though his first time on that mound resulted in a 7-0 loss to the Seattle Mariners, his debut as a disabled player still generated much excitement, as he had played well during his high school and collegiate careers. Two seasons later, by the end of 1991, Abbott had become one of MLB’s better starting pitchers, with his career zenith on September 4, 1993, when he pitched a no-hitter for the New York Yankees against the Cleveland Indians at Yankee Stadium.

The Toronto Blue Jays scouted Abbott right out of high school (Flint, in Michigan), but the young player chose to attend college, achieving a name for himself in baseball there as well. Abbott attended the University of Michigan, where he led Wolverines to two Big Ten championships.

See previous milestones, here.