May 8
1541 - Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto reached the Mississippi River.
1794 - Antoine Lavoisier, the father of modern chemistry, was executed on the guillotine during France's Reign of Terror.
1846 - The first major battle of the Mexican War was fought at Palo Alto, Texas, resulting in a victory for Gen. Zachary Taylor's forces.
1877 - The first Westminster Dog Show was held.
1884 - Harry S. Truman, the 33rd president of the United States, was born.
1886 - Atlanta pharmacist John Styth Pemberton invented the flavor syrup for Coca-Cola.
1902 - Mount Pelee on Martinique erupted, destroying the town of St. Pierre and killing more than 40,000 people.
1944 - The first "eye bank" was established, in New York City.
1945 - President Harry S. Truman announced in a radio address that World War II had ended in Europe, marking V-E Day.
1958 - Vice President Richard Nixon was shoved, stoned, booed and spat upon by anti-American protesters in Lima, Peru.
1970 - Construction workers broke up an anti-war protest on New York City's Wall Street.
1970 - The album "Let It Be" by the Beatles was released.
1973 - Militant American Indians who had held the South Dakota hamlet of Wounded Knee for 10 weeks surrendered.
1978 - David Berkowitz pleaded guilty in Brooklyn to the "Son of Sam" killings.
1987 - Gary Hart, dodged by questions about his personal life, withdrew from the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.
1999 - The Citadel, South Carolina's formerly all-male military school, graduated its first female cadet.
Birthdays
23 - Olivia Culpo (model)
25 - Kemba Walker (basketball player)
26 - Katy B (R&B singer)
33 - Adrian Gonzalez (baseball player)
34 - Stephen Amell (actor)
37 - Josie Maran (model)
40 - Enrique Iglesias (singer)
51 - Melissa Gilbert (actress)
54 - Bill de Blasio (mayor of New York City)
56 - Ronnie Lott (football player)
57 - Lovie Smith (football coach)
62 - Alex Van Halen (drummer)
===================================
Today in Sports History - May 8
1866 - Australian Rules Football was created.
1878 - Paul Hines made baseball's first unassisted triple play while playing for the Providence Greys.
1909 - Chief Bender of the Philadelphia Athletics hit two inside-the-park home runs against the Boston Red Sox.
1915 - Regret became the first filly to win the Kentucky Derby.
1929 - Carl Hubbell of the New York Giants became the first lefty in 13 years to throw a no-hitter, doing so in an 11-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
1935 - Ernie Lombardi of the Cincinnati Reds hit four consecutive doubles off four different pitchers against the Philadelphia Phillies.
1937 - War Admiral won the Kentucky Derby.
1954 - Parry O'Brien became the first person to throw a shot put over 60 feet, recording a mark of 60' 5.25".
1961 - The New York Metropolitan Baseball Club Inc. announced that the new New York National League franchise would be called the Mets.
1968 - Jim "Catfish" Hunter of the Oakland A's pitched a perfect game against the Minnesota Twins.
1970 - The New York Knicks won their first NBA championship, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in seven games.
1971 - Joe Frazier defeated Muhammad Ali at Madison Square Garden, handing Ali the first loss of his professional career.
1973 - Bob Gibson of the St. Louis Cardinals set a major league record with his 242nd consecutive start.
1973 - In Cincinnati, Ralph Miller, the last of the 19th century baseball players, died at the age of 100.
1984 - In his major league debut, rookie Kirby Puckett of the Minnesota Twins recorded four hits.
1984 - The Soviet Union announced they would not participate in the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
1998 - Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals hit his 400th career home run.
2012 - Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers became the 16th player in major league history to hit four home runs in one game.
2013 - The Atlantic-10 Conference announced that Davidson would join the league in the 2014-15 season.
2014 - The Houston Texans selected South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney with the first pick in the NFL Draft.
2014 - The following Huskers were selected in the 2014 NFL Draft: CB Stanley Jean-Baptiste (2nd round, New Orleans); OG Spencer Long (3rd round, Washington); and WR Quincy Enunwa (6th round, New York Jets)
1541 - Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto reached the Mississippi River.
1794 - Antoine Lavoisier, the father of modern chemistry, was executed on the guillotine during France's Reign of Terror.
1846 - The first major battle of the Mexican War was fought at Palo Alto, Texas, resulting in a victory for Gen. Zachary Taylor's forces.
1877 - The first Westminster Dog Show was held.
1884 - Harry S. Truman, the 33rd president of the United States, was born.
1886 - Atlanta pharmacist John Styth Pemberton invented the flavor syrup for Coca-Cola.
1902 - Mount Pelee on Martinique erupted, destroying the town of St. Pierre and killing more than 40,000 people.
1944 - The first "eye bank" was established, in New York City.
1945 - President Harry S. Truman announced in a radio address that World War II had ended in Europe, marking V-E Day.
1958 - Vice President Richard Nixon was shoved, stoned, booed and spat upon by anti-American protesters in Lima, Peru.
1970 - Construction workers broke up an anti-war protest on New York City's Wall Street.
1970 - The album "Let It Be" by the Beatles was released.
1973 - Militant American Indians who had held the South Dakota hamlet of Wounded Knee for 10 weeks surrendered.
1978 - David Berkowitz pleaded guilty in Brooklyn to the "Son of Sam" killings.
1987 - Gary Hart, dodged by questions about his personal life, withdrew from the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.
1999 - The Citadel, South Carolina's formerly all-male military school, graduated its first female cadet.
Birthdays
23 - Olivia Culpo (model)
25 - Kemba Walker (basketball player)
26 - Katy B (R&B singer)
33 - Adrian Gonzalez (baseball player)
34 - Stephen Amell (actor)
37 - Josie Maran (model)
40 - Enrique Iglesias (singer)
51 - Melissa Gilbert (actress)
54 - Bill de Blasio (mayor of New York City)
56 - Ronnie Lott (football player)
57 - Lovie Smith (football coach)
62 - Alex Van Halen (drummer)
===================================
Today in Sports History - May 8
1866 - Australian Rules Football was created.
1878 - Paul Hines made baseball's first unassisted triple play while playing for the Providence Greys.
1909 - Chief Bender of the Philadelphia Athletics hit two inside-the-park home runs against the Boston Red Sox.
1915 - Regret became the first filly to win the Kentucky Derby.
1929 - Carl Hubbell of the New York Giants became the first lefty in 13 years to throw a no-hitter, doing so in an 11-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
1935 - Ernie Lombardi of the Cincinnati Reds hit four consecutive doubles off four different pitchers against the Philadelphia Phillies.
1937 - War Admiral won the Kentucky Derby.
1954 - Parry O'Brien became the first person to throw a shot put over 60 feet, recording a mark of 60' 5.25".
1961 - The New York Metropolitan Baseball Club Inc. announced that the new New York National League franchise would be called the Mets.
1968 - Jim "Catfish" Hunter of the Oakland A's pitched a perfect game against the Minnesota Twins.
1970 - The New York Knicks won their first NBA championship, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in seven games.
1971 - Joe Frazier defeated Muhammad Ali at Madison Square Garden, handing Ali the first loss of his professional career.
1973 - Bob Gibson of the St. Louis Cardinals set a major league record with his 242nd consecutive start.
1973 - In Cincinnati, Ralph Miller, the last of the 19th century baseball players, died at the age of 100.
1984 - In his major league debut, rookie Kirby Puckett of the Minnesota Twins recorded four hits.
1984 - The Soviet Union announced they would not participate in the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
1998 - Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals hit his 400th career home run.
2012 - Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers became the 16th player in major league history to hit four home runs in one game.
2013 - The Atlantic-10 Conference announced that Davidson would join the league in the 2014-15 season.
2014 - The Houston Texans selected South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney with the first pick in the NFL Draft.
2014 - The following Huskers were selected in the 2014 NFL Draft: CB Stanley Jean-Baptiste (2nd round, New Orleans); OG Spencer Long (3rd round, Washington); and WR Quincy Enunwa (6th round, New York Jets)
