- 1871] We didn't start the fire: The Great Fire of Chicago kills 250 and leaves 90,000 homeless. Four square miles of the Windy City (named for loud-mouthed politicians not the gusty winds) is destroyed...
- 1918] This is a hero: Sgt. Alvin C. York almost single-handedly kills 25 German soldiers and captures 132 more in the Argonne Forest in France. York is awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor...
- 1938] Turning the tables: The cover of "The Saturday Evening Post" has a portrait of Norman Rockwell...
- 1944] Premiered on this date: The radio show, "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" debuts...
- 1956] Perfecto: Yankees pitcher Don Larsen becomes the 1st and only pitcher to throw not only a no-hitter but a perfect game in the World Series, over Brooklyn 2-0 at Yankee Stadium. It was never done before or since...
- 1967] Gotcha: Guerrilla leader Che Guevara of Cuba, and his men are captured in Bolivia...
- 1973] Basebrawl: A brawl erupts in Game 3 of the National League playoffs between the Mets and Reds as Pete Rose and Bud Harrelson duke it out at second base. The Mets win the game 9-2 to take a 3-2 edge in games. They will win the series and move on to the World Series against Oakland. This they lose...
- 1991] Hallowed ground: A slave burial site is found by construction workers in lower Manhattan. The 'Negro Burial Ground' had been closed in 1790. Over a dozen skeletons were found...
- 2003] Wedding Bells: Vivendi Universal and General Electric announce an agreement to merge into NBC Universal...
- 2004] Not a good thing: Martha Stewart begins her 5-month jail sentence for lying about a stock sale...For more on October 8th: