Day Tripping: April 17

Ponies, Pool, and Proclamations

Unleash The Horses

It’s hard to believe that this iconic symbol of the American roadster began as a compact car, but the Ford Mustang which debuted in 1964 was initially designed to fill that market. The first models rolled off the assembly lines on this day with an MSRP of US$2,368.

The Mustang smashed sales records in its first year of production, selling over 400,000 units. The marque went on to usher in the Pony Car era and has become one of Ford’s longest standing production models, and now it’s going electric.

Rack ’Em Up

Already recognized as a legend of the game, the great Willie Mosconi set another billiards record. Sinking 150 consecutive balls, Mosconi scored a perfect game of pocket billiards during a tournament in 1956. The master pool player went on to become an author, and technical advisor for the film, The Hustler starring Paul Newman.

This day in sports also saw the first professional baseball game played in 1869, Jackie Robinson bunting for his first Major League hit in 1947, and Mickey Mantle hitting a mammoth, 565-foot moonshot home run out of Griffith Stadium in Washington DC in 1953.

The New York Mets also played their first-ever home game at Shea Stadium in 1964 which of course, the hapless Mets lost to Pittsburgh.

Signed And Sealed

On this day in 1982, Queen Elizabeth II, as monarch of the Commonwealth, signed the Proclamation of the Canada Constitution Act. With the accompanying document of The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the nation was finally able to amend its own constitution, the final step toward total independence from monarchal approval.

Since its existence as a Dominion of the realm in 1867, an official document of this nature was the only stumbling block toward total autonomy. The peaceable and official signing by the Queen and then Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau, the father of today’s PM. Ink smudges from raindrops are still evident on the original document.

Musical Milestones

Paul McCartney’s wife and first love of 29 years, Linda Eastman-McCartney died at the age of 56 from breast cancer. Paul and Linda met while she was working at a photo session for The Rolling Stones in the 60s.

Though female fans were outraged by losing dreamy Paul in 1969, Linda was an integral participant in rock photography during the sixties and seventies, photographing huge stars like Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, and The Doors. She was also responsible for Eric Clapton’s cover photo in Rolling Stone Magazine.

Narratives

Reported to be Europe’s oldest intact book in 2012, the British Library paid 9 million pounds for the purchase of the St. Cuthbert Gospel from the eighth century.

Remembrance

Among his list of accomplishments are writer, printer, humorist, inventor, scientist, diplomat, and oh yes… one other the founding fathers of the United States of America, Benjamin Franklin died in 1790.

Notable Births

1934 — A major force in music production and management, Don Kirshner brought us The Monkees, The Archies, and Kansas.

1959 — Best known for his role as Eddard ‘Ned’ Stark on Game Of Thrones, Sean Bean

1972 — Jennifer Garner burst onto the scene as Sydney Bristow, CIA operative on Alias.

K. Barrett Katie Wallace Maria Rattray Maryam Merchant Dr Mehmet Yildiz Tree Langdon Myriam Ben Salem Phil Truman Chelsea Mandler MAT Terry Mansfield Hollie Petit, PhD. Terry Trueman Dr Preeti Singh John Gruber Bill Abbate James G Brennan ScienceDuuude Marcus Liam Ireland Claire Kelly Noorain Hassan, BMS Amy Pierovich David Acaster Nora

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