One-Handed Pitcher Throws a No-Hitter

September 4, 1993

Despite being born missing his right hand, Jim Abbott pitches a no-hitter for the New York Yankees against Cleveland (4-0).

Mark Spitz

September 4, 1972

Swimmer Mark Spitz wins his seventh gold medal in the 1972 Olympics. Seven was the most Olympic gold medals ever won by a single athlete in a single Olympiad up to that time. That record was broken by Michael Phelps in 2008.

Little Rock Crisis

September 4, 1957

Under orders from Governor Orval Faubus, the Arkansas National Guard was called in to prevent nine blacks from entering all-white Central High School in Little Rock, in what became known as the Little Rock Crisis. Three weeks later, President Dwight D. Eisenhower federalized the Arkansas National Guard removing them from Faubus' control and then sent in elements of the 101st Airborne Division to protect the black students. In retaliation, Faubus shut down all four Little Rock public high schools for the 1958-59 school year, in what is referred to as "The Lost Year."
The students became known as "The Little Rock Nine," and in 1999 were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by U.S. President Bill Clinton.

Captain Midnight/Jet Jackson, Flying Commando

September 4, 1954

The TV show Captain Midnight debuts on CBS, starring Richard Webb. Captain Midnight led a mysterious secret squadron that traveled the globe fighting evil. Viewers could become members of the secret squadron and receive a decoder device by sending in the inner wax seal from a jar of Ovaltine.
It started as a radio show that ran from 1938 to 1949 and also ran as a newspaper comic strip starting in 1942.
The show was renamed Jet Jackson, Flying Commando when it went into syndication in 1958.

First Transcontinental U.S. TV Broadcast

September 4, 1951

U.S. President Harry S. Truman's address at the signing of the Japanese Peace Treaty is broadcast across the nation. It was the first time a television program was broadcast from coast to coast.

Beetle Bailey

September 4, 1950

Mort Walker's Beetle Bailey comic strip debuts. It would eventually have a circulation of 1,800 newspapers in more than 50 countries for a combined readership of 200 million daily.

Typhoid Mary

September 4, 1900

First known case of typhoid attributed to Typhoid Mary (Mary Mallon). Mallon was the first recorded U.S. case of a healthy carrier of typhoid. She is suspected of directly infecting 51 people with typhoid while working as a cook, three of whom died. She herself remained healthy. Outbreaks of typhoid followed her wherever she worked. She was put in quarantine for three years, but released when she promised not to work as a cook. However, after release she resumed working as a cook causing several more typhoid outbreaks. She was then put in quarantine for the remainder of her life.

Peter Rabbit Created

September 4, 1893

The fictional foe of Mr. McGregor is created when Beatrix Potter writes a letter to a friend about four little rabbits named Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail, and Peter. She later expanded the letter into the book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, which was rejected by several publishers. It has now become one of the best-selling books of all time.

Geronimo Surrenders

September 4, 1886

Apache Indian Chief Geronimo surrenders to General Nelson A. Miles in Arizona after fighting for his homeland for almost 30 years. He was the last Indian warrior to formally surrender to U.S. forces, thereby signaling the end of the Indian Wars in the Southwest. Geronimo and the Chiricahua Apaches were then forced to resettle in Florida until 1888 when they were relocated to Alabama until 1894 when they were relocated to Oklahoma.

Massachusetts Bans Drinking Toasts

September 4, 1639

Massachusetts bans drinking toasts as it was deemed a useless ceremony, stating, "The common custom of drinking to one another is a mere useless ceremony, and draweth on the abominable practice of drinking healths."
Authorities were unable to enforce the law and it was repealed in 1645.

Convicted Killer Electrocutes Himself

Michael Anderson Godwin

Born September 4, 1960 d. 1989

American criminal. He accidentally electrocuted himself to death while sitting naked on a metal toilet repairing a set of earphones connected to a plugged-in TV set. He was electrocuted when he bit into the electric cord.
Sentenced to the electric chair for murder, Godwin got his sentence overturned on appeal and commuted to life imprisonment.

Paul Harvey (Paul Harvey Aurandt)

Born September 4, 1918 d. 2009

American radio commentator. "Hello Americans, I'm Paul Harvey… And now for the rest of the story" (1952-2008). Known for his conservative views, Harvey was a friend and supporter of J. Edgar Hoover and Senator Joseph McCarthy.

Father of the Submarine

Simon Lake

Born September 4, 1866 d. 1945

American engineer, father of the modern submarine. He built his first sub in 1894. Named the Argonaut Junior, it had a length of 14 ft (4.3 m), beam 4 ft (1.2 m), and a depth of 5 ft (1.5 m). It was made of wood (yellow pine), and had three wheels to move along the sea bottom.
The USS Simon Lake (AS-33) was named in his honor and was in operation from 1964 to 1999.

Joan Rivers (Joan Alexandra Molinsky)

Died September 4, 2014 b. 1933

American Emmy-Grammy-winning comedienne, talk-show host. She was the first woman to host a late night network television talk show (1986, The Late Show with Joan Rivers).
Rivers died after complications from a minor throat procedure at an outpatient clinic.