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April 8 in History: Hank Aaron Breaks Record, Times Square Named, and COBOL Developed

Scott Winters April 8, 2026 0 Comments

Discover what happened on April 8 in history, along with notable events that shaped sports, technology, and American culture.

What Happened on April 8 in History?

Important events on this day include Hank Aaron breaking Babe Ruth’s home run record, Times Square being named, and the development of COBOL.

APRIL 8 – TODAY IN HISTORY:

1789 – The U.S. House of Representatives held its first meeting.

1820 – In the ancient city ruins of Milos, an armless marble statue from 100 B.C. — The Venus de Milo — was found.

1834 – In New York, NY, Cornelius Lawrence became the first mayor to be elected by popular vote in a city election.

1864 – The U.S. Senate passed the 13th Amendment by a vote of 38 to 6.

1873 – Alfred Paraf patented the first successful oleomargarine.

1904 – Longacre Square in Midtown Manhattan was renamed Times Square after The New York Times.

1906 – Auguste Deter, the first person to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, died.

1911 – The first squash tournament was played at the Harvard Club in New York, NY.

1913 – The Seventeenth amendment was ratified, requiring direct election of Senators.

1931 – The robin became Michigan’s official state bird. The robin was voted on by the state’s 4th graders.

1935 – The Works Progress Administration was approved by the U.S. Congress.

1943 – President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in an attempt to check inflation, froze wages and prices, prohibited workers from changing jobs unless the war effort would be aided thereby, and barred rate increases by common carriers and public utilities.

1947 – The first illustrated insurance policy was issued by the Allstate Insurance Company.

1952 – President Harry Truman seized steel mills to prevent a nationwide strike.

1953 – The bones of Sitting Bull were moved from North Dakota to South Dakota.

1959 – A team of computer manufacturers, users and university people led by Grace Hopper met to discuss the creation of a new programming language that would be called COBOL.

1964 – Gemini 1 (an unmanned test flight) was launched.

1974 – At Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, Hank Aaron hit his 715th home run against the L.A. Dodgers, breaking Babe Ruth’s 39 year old record.

1975 – Frank Robinson of the Cleveland Indians became first black manager of a major league baseball team.

1983 – Magician David Copperfield made the Statue of Liberty disappear.

1986 – Clint Eastwood was elected mayor of Carmel, CA.

1987 – Los Angeles Dodgers executive Al Campanis resigned over remarks he had made. While on ABC’s “Nightline”, Campanis said that blacks “may not have some of the necessities” to hold managerial jobs in major-league baseball.

1988 – Former President Ronald Reagan aid, Lyn Nofzinger, was sentenced to prison for illegal lobbying for Wedtech Corp.

1990 – The television show “Twin Peaks” premiered on ABC. It ran for two seasons until it was cancellation in 1991.

1990 – AIDS activist Ryan White died of the disease at age 18.

1991 – An unsuccessful lawsuit filed against Virgin Records claimed that Paula Abdul did not do all the singing on her album, “Forever Your Girl”.

1994 – Smoking was banned in the Pentagon and all U.S. military bases.

1994 – The RIAA announced that Pink Floyd’s 1973 album “Dark Side of the Moon” had become the fourth biggest-selling album in U.S. history. It had passed the 13 million mark in sales.

2001 – Microsoft Corp. released Internet Explorer 6.0.

2002 – Ed McMahon filed a $20 million lawsuit against his insurance company, two insurance adjusters, and several environmental cleanup contractors. The suit alleged breach of contract, negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress concerning a toxic mold that had spread through McMahon’s Beverly Hills home.

2004 – National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice testified that President George Bush was warned of suspicious activity by terrorists located in the U.S. about a month before the 9/11 attacks occurred.

2005 – Over four million people attended the funeral of Pope John Paul II.

2007 – An iPod saved a soldier’s life in Iraq. The MP3 player stopped a bullet from an insurgent’s AK-47. Kevin Garrad (3rd Infantry Division) was on a street patrol in Iraq. As he rounded the corner of a building an armed insurgent came from the other side. The two of them were within just a few feet of each other when they opened fire. The insurgent was killed and Kevin was hit in the left chest where his iPod was in his jacket pocket. It slowed the bullet down enough that it did not completely penetrate his body armor.

2008 – The Roman Catholic priest accused of stalking Conan O’Brien pleaded guilty to two counts of disorderly conduct and was ordered to stay away from the talk show host for two years.

2014 – Windows XP reached its standard End Of Life and is no longer supported.

2024 – A total solar eclipse was visible across parts of North America (including Michigan)

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON APRIL 8:

Seymour Hersh – 89 years old (1937) – Journalist and author

Mary W. Gray – 88 years old (1938) – Mathematician, statistician, and lawyer

Martin J. Schreiber – 87 years old (1939) – Politician, 39th Governor of Wisconsin

Tim Thomerson – 80 years old (1946) – Actor and producer

Tom DeLay – 79 years old (1947) – Lawyer and politician

Brenda Russell – 77 years old (1949) – African-American-Canadian singer-songwriter and keyboard player

Mel Schacher – 75 years old (1951) – Bass player

Ron Johnson – 71 years old (1955) – Businessman and politician

Barbara Kingsolver – 71 years old (1955) – Novelist, essayist and poet

David Wu – 71 years old (1955) – Taiwanese-American lawyer and politician

Tom Petranoff – 68 years old (1958) – Javelin thrower and coach

John Schneider – 66 years old (1960) – Actor and country singer

Richard Hatch – 65 years old (1961) – Reality contestant

Izzy Stradlin – 64 years old (1962) – Guitarist and songwriter

Dean Norris – 63 years old (1963) – Actor

Terry Porter – 63 years old (1963) – Basketball player and coach

Donita Sparks – 63 years old (1963) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist

Robin Wright – 60 years old (1966) – Actress, director, producer

Patricia Arquette – 58 years old (1968) – Actress and director

Tracy Grammer – 58 years old (1968) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist

Darren Jessee – 55 years old (1971) – Singer-songwriter and drummer

Emma Caulfield – 53 years old (1973) – Actress

Nnedi Okorafor – 52 years old (1974) – Nigerian-American author and educator

Timo Pérez – 51 years old (1975) – Dominican-American baseball player

Mark Spencer – 49 years old (1977) – Computer programmer and engineer

Katee Sackhoff – 46 years old (1980) – Actress

Ezra Koenig – 42 years old (1984) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist

Taran Noah Smith – 42 years old (1984) – Actor

Jeremy Hellickson – 39 years old (1987) – Baseball player

Jeff McNeil – 34 years old (1992) – Baseball player

Forrest Frank – 31 years old (1995) – Singer-songwriter

Roquan Smith – 29 years old (1997) – Football player

CeeDee Lamb – 27 years old (1999) – Football player

Skai Jackson – 24 years old (2002) – Actress

Big Justice – 13 years old (2013) – Social media personality

DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR APRIL 8:

National Healthy Schools Day: National Healthy Schools Day celebrates the work it takes to make schools healthier places for students, educators, and staff. It shines a bright (and pleasantly practical) spotlight on the everyday building basics that shape learning, like clean air, safe surfaces, comfortable temperatures, and drinking water that people can trust. The idea...
Draw a Picture of a Bird Day: From chickens to penguins to sparrows, from pens to pencils to watercolors, you have plenty of artistic options on Draw a Picture of a Bird Day.
International Pageant Day: International Pageant Day celebrates the women and girls around the world who step into pageantry, not only for the sparkle and stage lights, but for the discipline, training, and nerve it takes to be judged in public. A pageant contestant is often part performer, part athlete, part public speaker, and...
International Day of Pink: This day uses the color pink to raise awareness and fight against bullying, discrimination, homophobia, transphobia, and transmisogyny across the world.
National All is Ours Day: National All is Ours Day is celebrated on April 8 every year. It's a time for everyone to pause and appreciate the beauty and abundance in our lives and the world around us. This special day reminds us of the things we share and the importance of caring for them...
National Dog Fighting Awareness Day: April 8 marks National Dog Fighting Awareness Day, a vital observance aimed at ending the cruel and secretive world of dog fighting. Despite the strict laws against it in all 50 states, dog fighting persists, hidden from the public eye but causing immense suffering. This day brings the issue into...
National Zoo Lovers Day: Gather some friends and family and appreciate the incredible animals of the world by visiting, donating to, or volunteering at your local Zoological Garden.
Step Into the Spotlight Day: Step Into the Spotlight Day is a gentle nudge to stop playing small. It’s that little voice saying, “Hey, you’ve got something amazing—let the world see it.” This day isn’t just for performers or public speakers. It’s for anyone ready to share their spark, even if it’s just a flicker...
International Romani Day: International Romani Day both honors and celebrates the Romani people's rich culture, history, and contributions. But the day also intends to raise awareness about the challenges and the discrimination that their people still face today. So, while the occasion marks significant moments in Romani culture and history, it is also a...
International Feng Shui Awareness Day: Picture a home where every corner feels peaceful, and every space seems to breathe. That’s the heart of feng shui, the ancient Chinese art of arranging surroundings to boost harmony. International Feng Shui Awareness Day invites everyone to see how the spaces we live and work in can change how...
National Empanada Day: Making a prominent appearance as a culinary figure in the Spanish-speaking world, empanadas offer a delicious foray into a wide array of flavors that are wrapped in a delightful pastry shell. National Empanada Day brings the perfect opportunity to show appreciation for and celebrate this small, convenient meal that packs...
Baby Massage Day: Baby Massage Day highlights the simple yet profound act of massaging infants. This special day promotes a deeper connection between parents and their little ones through gentle touch. The practice of baby massage offers numerous health benefits, such as improved sleep, better digestion, and a stronger immune system. Parents who...
National Pygmy Hippo Day: Learn about the adorable, but tragically endangered Pygmy Hippo. Raise awareness, donate or volunteer to help preserve these wonderful miniature creatures.
Trading Cards for Grown-ups Day: Trading Cards for Grown‑ups Day honors adult collectors who still find joy in trading and displaying collectible cards. It highlights how these cards, with colorful pictures and fun facts, bring more than just childhood memories—they spark pride and a sense of belonging. Adults swap tales about rare finds, trade duplicates, and...
National Public Health Week: The well-being of communities — disease prevention, and better living through knowledge and action, towards a healthier world.
Discover National Parks Fortnight: Discover National Parks Fortnight invites everyone to join in on an adventure - exploring the stunning landscapes and rich biodiversity of national parks. This fantastic outdoor-themed event spans two weeks each year. This period is the ideal opportunity to reconnect with the great outdoors and appreciate the environmental treasures within...
FOP Awareness Month: Raising awareness for a rare condition, efforts unite to support those facing the challenges of Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva.
Bee Active Bee Healthy Bee Happy Week: "Bee Active Bee Healthy Bee Happy Week is so much more than just a catchphrase. Indeed, it is a call to action. This week, founded by The Running Bee Foundation in Manchester, United Kingdom, is an effort to help reduce childhood obesity. Their goal is to help children learn the...
National Robotics Week: National Robotics Week is a vibrant celebration of robots and the people who build them. It invites everyone—from young students to curious grown-ups—to explore how robots shape our world. It sparks curiosity with simple, hands‑on fun. Robots become friends that move, talk, and solve puzzles. The energy of discovery is...
Community Garden Week: Community Garden Week comes around each year vibrant spring flowers begin to light up the landscape. This special week-long observation highlights the many worthy community and school gardens that dot our landscapes. These gardening efforts do more than add beauty (although they undoubtedly do!). Indeed, they serve as hubs for...
Be Kind to Spiders Week: Be Kind to Spiders Week encourages people to change their perspective on these misunderstood creatures. Despite their reputation for being creepy or scary, spiders play a vital role in controlling insect populations. This annual event asks people to pause before squashing a spider, instead suggesting relocating them safely outdoors. It's...
National Wildlife Week: Nature's tapestry, harmonious ecosystems, where diverse creatures coexist, weaving a story of survival and interconnected existence.
Parkinson’s Awareness Week: Parkinson's Awareness Week is a significant annual health week dedicated to increasing public understanding and support for Parkinson's disease, a neurological condition that affects movement. Some people only recently learned more about Parkinson’s Disease for about the past twenty to thirty years. That new public awareness of those who have...
Blue Ribbon Week: Blue Ribbon Week is a time dedicated to raising awareness about child abuse, symbolized by the blue ribbon. Across communities, people come together to support efforts that protect children from harm. During this week, the focus shifts to understanding the serious impact of abuse and neglect, which often goes unnoticed...
National Bake Week: The art of baking brings people together like little else can. During National Bake Week, kitchens fill with life—flour on counters, laughter in the air, something delicious in the oven. It’s not about fancy skills or perfect results. It’s about mixing, tasting, and creating with your own hands. Even the...
Orthodox Holy Week: Orthodox Holy Week is a deep and meaningful journey leading up to Easter, which celebrates Christ's resurrection. This sacred week starts with Palm Sunday, marking Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, greeted as a king. Each day then carries unique themes and moments of reflection. Early in the week, the parable of...
The Masters Tournament: Golf's elite gather, showcasing unparalleled skill and sportsmanship in a prestigious event that captivates fans worldwide.
Passover Begins: Among the most solemn and meaningful observances in the Jewish calendar, Passover marks the beginning of an eight-day journey. This holiday, known as Pesach in Hebrew, commemorates the Israelites' liberation from slavery in ancient Egypt. The term "Passover" refers to the divine act of sparing the Israelites during the final plague...