On This Day September 4

2002
American Idol: Kelly Clarkson becomes the first winner of the hit American TV show.

1993
Baseball: Despite being born missing his right hand, Jim Abbott pitches a no-hitter for the New York Yankees against Cleveland (4-0).

1972
Mark Spitz wins his seventh gold medal in the 1972 Olympics, the record for any one Olympiad.

1957
Edsel: E-Day, the official release of the automobile that would come to symbolize a flop in popular culture.

1957
Civil Rights: Under orders from the governor, the Arkansas National Guard prevents nine blacks from entering all-white Central High School in Little Rock.

1951
First transcontinental U.S. TV broadcast: Pres. Truman's address at the signing of the Japanese Peace Treaty is broadcast.

1893
Peter Rabbit created: 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.

1886
Apache Indian chief Geronimo surrenders to General Nelson A. Miles in Arizona. The Chiricahua Apaches were then forced to resettle in Florida.

1833
First U.S. newsboy: 10-year-old Barney Flaherty is hired by the New York Sun.

1639
Massachusetts makes it illegal to drink toasts, claiming it was a useless ceremony, the law was repealed in 1645.

1949
Tom Watson, American golfer, winner of the British Open (1975, 77, 80, 82-83), Masters (1977, 81), U.S. Open (1982), and six-time PGA Player of the Year (1977-80, 82, 84).

1944
Jennifer Salt, American actress. TV: Soap (1977-81, Eunice Tate-Leitner). Film: Midnight Cowboy (1969, Joe Buck's hometown lover Crazy Annie).

1942
Merald Knight, American singer, one of Gladys Knight's Pips. Music: Midnight Train to Georgia (1973, #1).

1937
Dawn Fraser, Australian swimmer, Olympic gold medal winner in the 100-meter freestyle (1956, 60, 64), first woman to break the 1-minute barrier at 100 meters (1962).

1931
Mitzi Gaynor (Mitzi Gerber), American actress. Film: Anything Goes (1956) and The Joker is Wild (1957).

1919 d. 2005
Howard Morris, American comedian. TV: Sid Caesar's sidekick and the rock-throwing Ernest T. Bass of The Andy Griffith Show.

1918
Paul Harvey, American radio commentator, "And now for the rest of the story."

1866 d. 1945
Simon Lake, American engineer, father of the modern submarine. He built his first sub in 1894.

2006 b. 1962
Steve Irwin (Stephen Robert Irwin), Australian naturalist, wildlife expert. TV: The Crocodile Hunter (1996-2006, title role). Film: The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course (2002). He died after being fatally pierced in the heart by a stingray barb while diving off Queensland's Great Barrier Reef. He was filming a shallow-water segment for his daughter's upcoming television series.

1993 b. 1943
Herve Villechaize, 3-foot, 10-inch tall French actor. TV: Fantasy Island (Tatoo, with his famous opening "Boss, da plane, da plane").

1990 b. 1898
Irene Dunne, American actress. Film: Show Boat (1936) and I Remember Mama (1948).

1988 b. 1913
Gert Frobe (Karl-Gerhard Frobe), actor. Film: Goldfinger (1964, Auric Goldfinger).

1965 b. 1875
Albert Schweitzer, German Nobel-winning medical missionary, philosopher.

422 b. ????
Saint Boniface I, Italian religious leader, 42nd Pope (418-422).

September 4

Events

Birthdays

Deaths