Pitcher Ray Caldwell Was Struck By Lightning During A Game But Won Anyway
Today in 1919, one of the strangest moments in the history of baseball: a pitcher won a game in which he was struck by lightning!
That Time Some Dude Drove A Van Dressed As A Car Seat
It was around this time in 2017 that people in Arlington, Virginia spotted what looked like a grey Ford passenger van with no driver. And then things got even weirder.
The Time Pittsburgh Lost Its H – And Then Got It Back
Today in 1911, a big day for the city of Pittsburgh: after an effort that lasted decades, the city won back the H at the end of its name!
How Did U.S. Dollars Get Their Name?
Today in 1785, the US Congress decided that the name of our country’s currency would be the dollar. Getting to that point was kind of a trek.
Wat Misaka Was A Pro Basketball Pioneer (And A Pretty Impressive Bowler, Too)
Today in 1947, Wat Misaka became the first non-white player to be drafted into what is now the NBA. Here's some of his story.
Billy Mills Pulled Off One Of The Greatest Upsets In Olympic History
Today in 1938, the birthday of Billy Mills, a Marine veteran, activist and runner who won an Olympic gold medal in what’s been called the biggest upset in the history of the Games.
Two Tennis Greats Played A Match On A Half-Grass, Half-Clay Court
Today in 2007, the king of grass court tennis, Roger Federer, played an exhibition match against his rival, clay court great Rafael Nadal. Not their only matchup, but for this one, the court was half grass and half clay, making it a so-called "battle of the surfaces."
William Mumler, The Photographer Who Had “Spirits” In His Pictures
Today in 1865, Abraham Lincoln went to Ford's Theater, and we all know how badly that ended. But five years later, William Mumler "photographed" the spirit of Honest Abe comforting his widow Mary Todd Lincoln. Here's the story of Mumler and his very controversial "spirit photography."
“The Fastest Cyclist In The World,” Major Taylor, Was A Black Sports Pioneer
There's a new exhibit at the Indiana State Museum about Marshall "Major" Taylor, a Black cycling star who became famous before Jack Johnson, Joe Louis or Jackie Robinson. Here's some of his story.
Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 Point Game Was Truly One Of A Kind
Today in 1962 one of the most stunning performances in the history of basketball, or really in all of pro sports: Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a game.