Jackie Robinson breaks baseball’s color line, debuts with Dodgers this hour 70 years ago#OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 15 1947)

1940s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'April 15, 1947 Jackie Robinson makes His MLB Debut'

(Tuesday, April 15, 1947, 2:00 p.m. EST) — Jack Roosevelt “Jackie” Robinson, 28, became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the modern era today when he made his official debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers on opening day at Ebbets Field before a crowd of 26,623 spectators, more than 14,000 of whom were black. Continue reading Jackie Robinson breaks baseball’s color line, debuts with Dodgers this hour 70 years ago#OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 15 1947) →

Massive anti-Vietnam war protests held in New York and San Francisco 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 15 1967)

1960s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Peace March. Thousands Oppose Vietnam War, April 18, 1967 (Universal Newsreel)'

(Saturday, April 15, 1967; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — An estimated 100,000 to 125,000 anti-war demonstrators marched through the streets of Manhattan today and then massed in front of the United Nations building to hear U.S. policy in Vietnam denounced in speeches by Martin Luther King, Jr., Floyd McKissick, Stokely Carmichael and Dr. Benjamin Spock. Continue reading Massive anti-Vietnam war protests held in New York and San Francisco 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 15 1967) →

‘Somethin’ Stupid’ by Nancy Sinatra and Frank Sinatra peaks at #1 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 15 1967)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s

(Saturday, April 15, 1967) — “Somethin’ Stupid” by Nancy Sinatra and Frank Sinatra peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for four consecutive weeks (Apr. 15/22/29, May 6, 1967).

‘This Is My Song’ by Petula Clark peaks at #3 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 15 1967)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s

(Saturday, April 15, 1967) — “This Is My Song” by Petula Clark peaked at #3 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for one week. Continue reading ‘This Is My Song’ by Petula Clark peaks at #3 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 15 1967) →

‘I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)’ by Aretha Franklin peaks at #9 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 15 1967)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s

(Saturday, April 15, 1967) — “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)” by Aretha Franklin peaked at #9 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks and ranked #189 on Rolling Stone‘s list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”

Joseph Kennedy becomes Maritime Commission chairman 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 14 1937)

1930s


Video: 'American Experience The Kennedys 1' (Kennedy becomes Maritime Commission chair at 17:59)

(Wednesday, April 14, 1937, morning EST) — Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., the first chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, was sworn in today as the first chairman of the United States Maritime Commission, one day after confirmation by the Senate. Continue reading Joseph Kennedy becomes Maritime Commission chairman 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 14 1937) →

Tiger Woods becomes youngest and first non-white player to win Masters Tournament 20 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 13 1997)

1990s


Video: 'Tiger Woods wins the US Masters 1997'

(Sunday, April 13, 1997) — Tiger Woods, at age 21 years and 3 1/2 months, became both the youngest and the first non-white player to win the Masters Tournament today by a record 12 strokes at Augusta National Golf Club. Continue reading Tiger Woods becomes youngest and first non-white player to win Masters Tournament 20 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 13 1997) →