October 4 - What happened today?

Home What happened today in history? Blamepro's Almanac for October 4
In the headlines today:

2001		Barry Bonds hits his 70th home run of the season, tying the single-season record set by Mark McGuire in 1998. (photo credit: Majestic Athletic)
1994	Grammy®-nominated country guitarist Danny Gatton dies at age 49.
1978	The Vatican holds funeral services for Pope John Paul I.
1976	Barbara Walters becomes the first woman to anchor a network TV newscast, teaming up with Harry Reasoner for the ABC Evening News.
1976	US Agriculture secretary Earl Butz resigns over controversy arising from a joke he made about African-Americans. Uncle Woody sez: With a name like his, I wouldn't go looking for trouble!
1970	Rock vocalist Janis Joplin dies from a drug overdose at age 27.
1963	Gambia, the smallest country in Africa, gains its independence from Great Britain.
1958	British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) begins the first scheduled passenger jet service between London and New York. (photo credit: Tempus Publishing)
1957	Leave It to Beaver, starring Jerry Mathers, debuts on ABC-TV.
1957	Russia launches the world's first satellite into orbit. Sputnik I stayed aloft for nearly 3 months.
1933	The men's magazine Esquire debuts.
1905	US president Calvin Coolidge marries Grace Goodhue.
1895	The first US Open golf tournament is held (Newport Country Club - Newport, RI).
1777	Colonial troops suffer heavy casualties after attacking the British at Germantown, PA, during the American Revolution.