It was today in 1924 that the streets of New York City saw its first Macy’s Day Parade. Employees and professional entertainers marched from Harlem to Macy’s flagship store on 34th Street. There were floats, bands and animals borrowed from the Central Park Zoo. The first parade, and everyone after, ended with Santa Claus entering Herald Square.
Today in 1978, San Francisco mayor George Moscone and openly gay city supervisor Harvey Milk were shot to death at city hall by former supervisor Dan White.
Joe DiMaggio won the closest MVP voting of all time today in 1947, edging Ted Williams 202-201 in the American League vote. Williams was not happy and the numbers bear him out. Williams had already lost the 1941 MVP award to DiMaggio, when Joltin’ Joe’s 56-game hitting streak trumped Teddy Ballgame’s triple crown. Here were their respective numbers for 1947:
DiMaggio: .315 20 HR 97 RBI .913 OPS 4.5 WAR
Williams: .343 32 HR 114 RBI 1.133 OPS 9.6 WAR
DiMaggio received eight first place votes to Williams’ three. More galling to Williams was that Yankees reliever Joe Page, received seven first place votes. Page was 14-8 with 17 saves.
Today in 1966 the 5-6 Washington Redskins hosted the 1-8-1 New York Giants at D.C. Stadium in a game that was supposed to be playing out the string in a down year for both teams. What transpired was the highest scoring game in NFL history, with the Redskins winning 72-41.
The Redskins led 34-14 in a first half that would seem tame only if compared to the second half. Giants QB Gary Wood threw a 41-yard TD pass to Joe Morrison early in the third quarter to cut the lead to 34-21. It was the first of six consecutive touchdowns that were over 30 yards. The final tally of the game was perhaps the most bizarre– Giants rookie quarterback Tom Kennedy (of Los Angeles State fame) rushed a third down pass out of bounds in order to get one more shot at a long ball from deep in his own territory. The problem was that it was already fourth down. Instead of just taking a knee, the Redskins kicked a last second field goal to go over 70 points. Skins coach Otto Graham claimed that it was to get rookie kicker Charlie Gogolak his confidence back after missing two field goals the week before. Many thought it was Redskin linebacker Sam Huff, a former Giant, calling the shot to rub it in the Giants nose. Believe it or not, Sonny Jurgensen finished just 10 of 16 for 145 yards and three touchdowns.
Today in 1980 ABC debuted “Bosom Buddies”…. you know, that show that launched the career of Peter Scolari.
— Bill Hubbell