April 4th
1996 RYNE SANDBERG’s 1st hit after returning to baseball, a homerun at Wrigley Field.
1996 Some of Grateful Dead founder JERRY GARCIA’s ashes were spread on the Ganges River in India. (The rest of his remains were later spread near the Golden Gate Bridge)
1995 The Dow-Jones Industrial Average closed above 4,200 for the first time. (+33 points to 4,201.61)
1995 DUSTIN HOFFMAN and LAUREN BACALL were inducted into the French Order of the Arts and Letters in Paris.
1994 Knuckleballer CHARLIE HOUGH of the Florida Marlins became the oldest pitcher since 1931 to start an opening-day game. (Hough’s age: 46 years, 3 months)
1988 Arizona Governor EVAN MEACHAM was convicted of official misconduct, and removed from office.
1975 STEVE MILLER was arrested for setting fire to his girlfriend’s clothes.
1974 HANK AARON of the Atlanta Braves tied Babe Ruth’s home run record by hitting his 714th in Cincinnati.
1968 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. was killed in Memphis at age 39. JAMES EARL RAY was convicted of the murder.
1964 The BEATLES held the top 5 positions on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. “CAN’T BUY ME LOVE” began a run of 5 weeks at number 1!
1818 Congress decided the U.S. flag should consist of 13 red & white stripes, and 1 star for each state.
Celebrity Birthdays April 4th
Actress NANCY MCKEON (1966)
Actor ROBERT DOWNEY JR. (1965)
Singer STEVE GATLIN (1951)
Actress CHRISTINE LAHTI (1950)
MLB catcher RAY FOSSE (1947)
Actor CRAIG T. NELSON (1946)
American singer MAJOR LANCE (1941)
South African trumpeter HUGH MASAKELA (1939)
Former commissioner of baseball A. BARTLET GIAMATTI (1938)
American actor ANTHONY PERKINS (1932)
Senator RICHARD LUGAR (1932)
Poet MAYA ANGELOU (1928)
American journalist & author KITTY KELLEY (1922)
Singer/songwriter MUDDY WATERS (1915)
French novelist MARGUERITE DURAS (1914)
TV’s JOHN CAMERON SWAYZE (1906)
Dancer & businessman ARTHUR MURRAY (1895)
April 5
1996 MARLON BRANDO made remarks some considered to be anti-Jewish on the “LARRY KING” show on CNN.
1985 “WE ARE THE WORLD” was played simultaneously on 8,000 radio stations around the world.
1984 KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR became the N-B-A’s all-time leading scorer when he scored his 31,421st point.
1974 Coldest Opening Day at Comiskey Park: 37 degrees.
1614 POCAHONTES married John Rolfe.
Celebrity Birthdays April 5
1944 English singer & songwriter CRISPIAN ST. PETER
1943 American actor MAX GAIL
1942 English singer ALAN CLARKE
1941 English singer/songwriter ERIC BURDON
1941 Actor MICHAEL MORIARTY
1937 Retired General COLIN POWELL
1934 Actor FRANK GORSHIN
1928 Singer TONY WILLIAMS
1916 Actor GREGORY PECK
1908 Actress BETTE DAVIS
1900 Actor SPENCER TRACY
April 6
1994 Quarterback JIM EVERETT scuffled on-air with ESPN2’s JIM ROME after the host taunted him.
1973 1st designated hitter: RON BLOMBERG of the New York Yankees.
1961 Cubs owner P.K. WRIGLEY named Vedie Himsl as the 1st manager of his screwey “College of Coaches” plan. (Himsl 10-W, 21-L, and rotated with other coaches for each series of the season, ’61 team record: 64-90)
Born On This Date April 6th
1976 Actress CANDICE CAMERON
1965 Football’s STERLING SHARPE
1947 Actor JOHN RATZENBERGER
1937 Actor BILLY DEE WILLIAMS
1930 Doctor LONNIE BRISTOW
1927 Musician/composer GERRY MULLIGAN
1903 Baseball’s MICKEY COCHRANE
1892 Broadcaster LOWELL THOMAS