Historical Events
- Aug 1 Johan Witteveen appointed as the 5th managing director of the International Monetary Fund
- Aug 1 MLB All Star catchers Thurman Munson of the NY Yankees and Boston Red Sox' Carlton Fisk brawl at home plate Fenway Park; Red Sox win, 3-2
Sports History
Aug 1 Struggling ABA club Virginia Squires trades star forward Julius Erving to New York Nets for George Carter and cash
American Graffiti
Aug 2 "American Graffiti", directed by George Lucas and starring Richard Dreyfuss and Ron Howard premieres at the Locarno International Film Festival, Switzerland
Sports History
Aug 2 Future Baseball Hall of Fame 3rd baseman George Brett gets his 1st MLB hit on debut for the Kansas City Royals in 3-1 win over Chicago White Sox
- Aug 3 Flash fire kills 51 at amusement park (Isle of Man, UK)
- Aug 3 National People's party wins Dutch Antilles National elections
- Aug 4 NY Yankees pitcher Lindy McDaniel puts in one of the best relief stints in MLB history, entering in 2nd inning, allows only 1 run in 13 innings in 3-2 win v Detroit Tigers
- Aug 5 15-year-old Australian swimmer Stephen Holland smashes Mike Burton's 1,500m world record by a massive 14.78 seconds (15:37.8) in Brisbane
- Aug 5 Arab terrorists open fire at Athens airport, kill 3 injure 55
Sports History
Aug 5 Atlanta Braves pitcher Phil Niekro no-hits San Diego Padres, 9-0; first no-hitter for franchise in Atlanta
- Aug 5 USSR launches Mars 6
Baseball Hall of Fame
Aug 6 Roberto Clemente, Warren Spahn, Billy Evans, Monte Irvin, Mickey Welch and George "High Pockets" Kelly are inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, NY
Music History
Aug 6 Stevie Wonder involved (as a passenger) in car crash in North Carolina, goes into a 4 day coma
Contract of Interest
Aug 8 US Vice President Spiro Agnew says reports he took kickbacks are "damned lies" from government contracts in Maryland. Vowed not to resign.
Music History
Aug 9 Northern Irish guitarist Henry McCullough quits rock band Wings, founded by Paul McCartney
- Aug 9 USSR launches Mars 7
- Aug 10 1st BART train travels thru transbay tube to Montgomery St Station
- Aug 11 "American Graffiti", directed by George Lucas, opens in cinemas across the United States
- Aug 11 The birth of hip-hop: DJ Kool Herc uses two turntables, playing the same record simultaneously to create the “merry-go-round” technique, at a party in the Bronx [1]
PGA Championship
Aug 12 PGA Championship Men's Golf, Canterbury GC: Jack Nicklaus wins 3rd of 5 PGA C'ships by 4 from Bruce Crampton of Australia
- Aug 12 WPBA National Championship won by Betty Morris
Sports History
Aug 14 Johnny Unitas files $725,000 suit against Baltimore Colts
Sports History
Aug 17 Lee Trevino's 1st hole-in-one
Baseball Record
Aug 17 Mets first baseman Willie Mays hits 660th & last career home run. off Don Gullett of Cincinnati Reds, in 2-1 loss at Shea Stadium, in New York
Music History
Aug 18 Drummer Gene Krupa plays for the final time, appearing with the Benny Goodman Quartet in Saratoga Springs, New York
Sports History
Aug 18 Hank Aaron's record 1,378 extra base hit surpasses Stan Musial record
Cricket History
Aug 24 Garfield Sobers scores 26th and last Test Cricket ton 150 vs England at Lord's
- Aug 24 John Adams & his bass drum become a right-field fixture in Cleveland Stadium
- Aug 25 Butch Trucks, drummer of the Allman Brothers, breaks a leg in a car crash
- Aug 25 France performs nuclear test at Mururoa atoll
- Aug 25 Zambia adopts constitution
- Aug 26 10-year-old Mary Boitano is 1st woman to win 6.8-mile Dipsea Race in Marin County, CA, beating a field of 1,500 runners
- Aug 26 David Eisenhower writes his last sports column
- Aug 26 University of Texas (Arlington) is first accredited school to offer belly dancing
- Aug 28 "Smoke on the Water" single by British rock band Deep Purple goes gold
- Aug 28 6.8 quake centered in Oaxaca State in Mexico kills 527
- Aug 28 Bobby "Boris" Pickett's song "Monster Mash" goes gold
- Aug 28 France performs nuclear test at Mururoa atoll
- Aug 28 India & Pakistan sign POW accord
Let's Get It On
Aug 28 Tamla/Motown Records releases "Let's Get It On", the 13th studio album by Marvin Gaye
- Aug 28 USSR performs underground nuclear test
- Aug 30 Drummer Danny Seiwell quits rock band Wings, which he co-founded with Paul McCartney
Event of Interest
Aug 30 Wang Hongwen takes office as Vice Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party under Mao Zedong
Event of Interest
Aug 31 PBA National Championship Won by Earl Anthony
Famous Birthdays
- Aug 1 Ben Johnson, Australian cricketer (promising South Australian opening batsman), born in Naracoorte, South Australia
- Aug 1 Eduardo Noriega, Spanish actor (Open Your Eyes), born in Santander, Cantabria, Spain
- Aug 1 Gregg Berhalter, American soccer defender (Olympic gold 1996), born in Englewood, New Jersey
- Aug 1 Les Hill, Australian actor (Underbelly), born in Randwick, Australia
- Aug 1 Mario Bennett, American NBA forward (LA Lakers, Phoenix Suns), born in Denton, Texas
- Aug 1 Tempestt Bledsoe, American actress (Vanessa Huxtable-Cosby Show), born in Chicago, Illinois
- Aug 1 Veerle Dejaeghere, Belgian athlete, born in Izegem, Belgium
- Aug 2 Brendan Dolan, Irish darts player (2011 - played perfect 9 dart game), born in Enniskillen, United Kingdom
- Aug 2 Danie Keulder, Namibian cricketer, born in Keetmanshoop, Namibia
- Aug 2 Karina Habsudova, Slovak tennis player (1995 Futures Czech), born in Bojnice, Slovakia
- Aug 2 Kia Goodwin, American actress (Tiffany Holloway-227), born in Livingston, New Jersey
- Aug 2 Nancy Drolet, Canadian ice hockey forward (Canada, Olympics 1998), born in Drummondville, Canada
- Aug 2 Susie O'Neill, Australian swimmer (Olympic gold 200m butterfly 1992; 200m freestyle 1996), born in Mackay, Queensland
- Aug 3 Chris Murphy, American politician (Senator-D-Connecticut 2013-, Rep-D-Connecticut 2007-13), born in White Plains, New York
- Aug 3 Jay Cutler, American bodybuilder (4x Mr. Olympia winner - 2006, 2007, 2009, and 2010), born in Sterling, Massachusetts
- Aug 3 Kurt Grote, American swimmer (Olympic gold 4×100m medley 1996; World C'ship gold 200m breaststroke 1998), born in Palo Alto, California
- Aug 3 Michael Ealy, American actor (Think Like a Man), born in Washington D.C.
- Aug 3 Nikos Dabizas, Greek footballer, born in Amyntaio, Greece
- Aug 3 Stephen Graham, English actor (This is England, Boiling Point), born in Kirby, England
- Aug 4 Alex Molden, cornerback (New Orleans Saints)
- Aug 4 Peter Tsekenis, Australian soccer midfielder (Olyroos, Olympics 1996)
- Aug 4 Xavier Marchand, French swimmer
- Aug 5 Sanwar Hossain, Bangladeshi cricketer
- Aug 5 Sean Sherk, American mixed martial artist
- Aug 6 Max Kellerman, American sportscaster (ESPN), born in The Bronx, NYC
- Aug 6 Robert Lee, NFL cornerback (Atlanta Falcons)
- Aug 6 Stuart O'Grady, Australian cyclist
- Aug 6 Vera Farmiga, American actress
- Aug 7 Bo Hanson, Australian rower (Olympics 3 x bronze 1996, 2000, 04), born in Port Kembla, Australia
- Aug 7 Danny Graves, American baseball player, born in South Vietnam
- Aug 7 Kevin Muscat, Australian soccer defender (Olyroos, Olympics 1996), born in Crawley, United Kingdom
- Aug 7 Kimmo Rinatnen, Finnish hockey forward (Team Finland Olympic bronze 1998), born in Rauma, Finland
- Aug 8 Scott Stapp, American rock singer and lyricist (Creed), born in Orlando, Florida
- Aug 8 Senta Moses, American actress
- Aug 8 Shane Lee, Australian cricketer (NSW, Somerset and Australian), born in Wollongong, Australia
- Aug 9 Denard Walker, American NFL cornerback, 1997-2005 (Tennessee Oilers/Titans, and 3 other teams), born in Dallas, Texas
- Aug 9 Filippo Inzaghi, Italian footballer and manager, born in Piacenza, Italy
- Aug 9 Jimmy King, American NBA guard (Toronto Raptors, University of Michigan Wolverines Fab Five), born in South Bend, Indiana
- Aug 9 Kevin McKidd, Scottish actor Trainspotting; Grey's Anatomy -"Owen Hunt", born in Elgin, Moray, Scotland
- Aug 10 Javier Zanetti, Argentinian footballer (Inter Milan), born in Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Aug 10 Lisa Raymond, American tennis star (11 Grand Slam double titles), born in Norristown, Pennsylvania
- Aug 11 Edgardo Alfonzo, Venezualan MLB infielder, 1995-2006 (NY Mets; San Francisco Giants, and 2 other teams), born in Miranda, Venezuela
- Aug 11 Nigel Harman, British actor (Eastenders), born in London
- Aug 12 Grey DeLisle, American country singer-songwriter, autoharp player, voice actress (The Fairly OddParents; The Loud House), and comedienne, born in Fort Ord, California
- Aug 12 Jonathan Coachman, American professional wrestler and executive, born in McPherson, Kansas
- Aug 12 Joseba Beloki, Spanish professional bicycle racer, born in Lazkao, Spain
- Aug 12 Latasha Byears, American WNBA player (Sacramento Monarchs), born in Memphis, Tennessee
- Aug 12 Richard Reid, British terrorist, referred to as the "shoe bomber" - attempted to detonate explosives hidden in his shoe while flying from Paris to Miami in 2001
- Aug 12 Sayyed Muqtada al-Sadr, Iranian Shia cleric, son of Ayatollah Mohammad al-Sadr, born in Najaf, Iran
- Aug 13 Armon Williams, American football safety & linebacker (Tennessee Oilers), born in Chandler, Arizona
- Aug 13 Eric Medlen, American NHRA drag racer, born in Oakdale, California (d. 2007)
- Aug 13 Kamila Shamsie, Pakistani British writer (Home Fire), born in Karachi, Pakistan
- Aug 13 Molly Henneberg, American journalist (Fox News Channel)
- Aug 13 Sherman Williams, American NFL running back (Dallas Cowboys), born in Mobile, Alabama
- Aug 14 Daisuke Ishiwatari, Japanese game developer and composer, born in Johannesburg, South Africa
- Aug 14 Jared Borgetti, Mexican footballer, born in Culiacancito, Mexico
- Aug 14 Jay-Jay Okocha, Nigerian footballer, born in Enugu, Nigeria
- Aug 14 Kieren Perkins, Australian swimmer (Olympic gold 1,500m 1992, 96), born in Brisbane, Australia
- Aug 14 Mike Mamula, American NFL player (Philadelphia Eagles), born in Lackawanna, New York
- Aug 14 Romane Bohringer, French actress (Savage Nights), born in Pont-Sainte-Maxence, France
- Aug 14 Wayne Chrebet, American NFL wide receiver (NY Jets), born in Garfield, New Jersey
- Aug 15 Marcus Jones, American Mixed Martial Artist and defensive tackle (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), born in Jacksonville, North Carolina
- Aug 16 Damian Jackson, American baseball player
- Aug 17 A. J. Wood, American soccer forward (Olympic gold 1996), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Aug 18 Clarence Benford, American football tight end (Seattle Seahawks), born in Windsor Forest, Georgia
- Aug 18 Luke Fickell, American football defensive tackle (New Orleans Saints), born in Columbus, Ohio
- Aug 19 Marco Materazzi, Italian footballer and manager (Inter Milan, Itay), born in Lecce, Italy
- Aug 19 Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway, married to Crown prince Haakon, born in Kristiansand, Norway
- Aug 19 Roy Rogers, American NBA player and coach (Boston Celtics), born in Linden, Alabama
- Aug 20 Todd Helton, American baseball first baseman (5 × MLB All-Star; 3 × Gold Glove Award; MLB batting champion & RBI leader 2000 Colorado Rockies), born in Knoxville, Tennessee
- Aug 21 Ismael Valdes, Mexican baseball pitcher (LA Dodgers), born in Ciudad Victoria, Mexico
Sergey Brin (50 years old)
Aug 21 Russian-born American computer scientist and businessman (co-founded Google with Larry Page), born in Moscow, Soviet Union
- Aug 22 Howie Dorough, American singer (Backstreet Boys - "I Want It That Way"), born in Orlando, Florida
- Aug 22 Kristen Wiig, American comedian and actress (Bridesmaids, Ghostbusters), born in Canandaigua, New York
- Aug 23 Casey Blake, American baseball player, born in Des Moines, Iowa
- Aug 23 James Roe, American football wide receiver (ArenaBowl C'ship 2002, 04, 07; 3 x AFL All-Ironman Team, San Jose SaberCats; Baltimore Ravens), born in Richmond, Virginia
- Aug 23 Jason Clemett, CFL linebacker (Calgary Stampeders)
- Aug 23 Malaika Arora Khan, Indian actress and model, born in Thane, India
- Aug 24 Andrew Brunette, Canadian NHL left wing (Washington Capitals), born in Greater Sudbury, Canada
- Aug 24 Barret Oliver, American actor (The Neverending Story; The Secret Garden), born in Los Angeles, California
- Aug 24 Carmine Giovinazzo, American actor, born in Port Richmond, New York
Dave Chappelle (50 years old)
Aug 24 American actor and comedian (Chappelle's Show), born in Washington, D.C.
- Aug 24 Inge de Bruijn, Dutch swimmer (Olympic gold 50m freestyle 2000, 04; 100m freestyle & 100m butterfly 2000; World C'ship gold x 5), born in Barendrecht, Netherlands
- Aug 25 Fatih Akin, Turkish-German film director
- Aug 26 Barret Robbins, American NFL center (Oakland Raiders), born in Houston, Texas
- Aug 27 Carlene Begnaud, American professional wrestler
- Aug 27 Cory Bowles, Canadian actor (Trailer Park Boys), born in Montreal, Quebec
- Aug 27 Danny Coyne, Welsh footballer
- Aug 27 Dietmar Hamann, German footballer
- Aug 28 Matthew John Armstrong, American actor (American Dreams), born in Chicago, Illinois
- Aug 28 Theaster Gates, American installation artist, born in Chicago, Illinois
- Aug 29 Adam Sessler, American TV show host, born in Berkeley, California,
- Aug 29 Jermane Mayberry, American football offensive lineman (Philadelphia Eagles), born in Floresville, Texas
- Aug 29 Olivier Jacque, French motorcyclist, born in Villerupt, France
- Aug 29 Vincent Cavanagh, English rock musician (Anathema), born in Liverpool, England
- Aug 30 Amy Sherald, American painter (portrait of Michelle Obama), born in Columbus, Georgia
- Aug 30 Lisa Ling, American journalist (CNN), born in Sacramento, California
- Aug 31 Mary Peltola, American politician (1st Alaskan Native elected to Congress), born in Anchorage, Alaska
- Aug 31 Reggie Geary, American NBA guard (San Antonio Spurs) and coach, born in Trenton, New Jersey
- Aug 31 Scott Niedermayer, Canadian NHL defenseman (NJ Devils) and coach, born in Edmonton, Alberta
Famous Weddings
Anthony Perkins
Aug 9 American Actor Anthony Perkins (40) weds American photographer and actress Berinthia "Berry" Berenson (25) in Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Kris Kristofferson
Aug 19 American singer and actor Kris Kristofferson (37) weds fellow singer Rita Coolidge (28); divorce in 1980
Famous Deaths
- Aug 1 Gian Francesco Malipiero, Italian composer, pedagogue (Venice Liceo Musicale, 1932-52), and musicologist (Claudio Monteverdi, Antonio Vivaldi). s at 91
Walter Ulbricht (1893-1973)
Aug 1 German politician (Head Of State, German Democratic Republic), dies at 80
Fulgencio Batista (1901-1973)
Aug 6 Dictator and President of Cuba (1933-44, 1952-59), dies of a heart attack at 72
- Aug 6 James Beck, British actor (Dad's Army), dies from pancreatitis at 44
- Aug 6 Memphis Minnie [Lizzie Douglas], American blues musician, dies at 76
- Aug 7 Jack Gregory, Australian cricket all-rounder (24 Tests, 2 x 100, 7 x 50, 85 wickets, BB 7/69; NSW CA), dies at 77
- Aug 8 Vilhelm Moberg, Swedish author (The Emigrants) and historian, dies at 74
- Aug 9 Charlie Daniels, American swimmer (Olympic gold 220yd, 440yd, 4x50yd freestyle 1904, 100m freestyle 1908), dies at 88
- Aug 9 Dean Corll, American serial killer (Houston mass murders), fatally shot by an accomplice at 33
- Aug 10 Douglas Kennedy, American actor (Dark Passage, The Lone Ranger & the Lost City of Gold), dies of cancer at 57
- Aug 11 Peggy Castle, American actress (Lily Merrill-Lawman), dies of cirrhosis at 46
Karl Ziegler (1898-1973)
Aug 12 German chemist and Nobel Laureate (polymers), dies at 74
- Aug 12 Perry Botkin, American jazz and session guitarist, banjo player, composer, and musical director (Bing Crosby), dies at 66
- Aug 12 Walter Rudolf Hess, Swiss physiologist (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, 1949), dies of heart failure at 92
- Aug 13 Ben van Eysselsteijn, Dutch writer and playwright (Arid Earth), dies at 75
- Aug 16 Selman Waksman, Ukrainian-American microbiologist (Nobel 1951-ingenious, systematic and successful studies of the soil microbes that led to the discovery of streptomycin), dies at 85 [1]
- Aug 16 Veda Ann Borg, American model and actress (Kid Galahad, Avalanche, Accomplice), dies of cancer at 58
- Aug 17 Conrad Aiken, American poet (Pulitzer Prize, US Poet Laureate 1950-52), dies at 74
- Aug 17 Jean Barraqué, French composer, dies at 44
- Aug 17 Paul Williams, American baritone singer and choreographer (The Temptations - "Cloud Nine"), commits suicide at 32
- Aug 22 Louise Huff, American actress (Sea Waif, Caprice, Disraeli), dies at 77
- Aug 24 Billy Greene, American actor (Single Room Furnished, One Man's Family), dies at 76
- Aug 24 Sláva Vorlová [Miroslava Johnová], Czech composer (Bílá oblaka (White Clouds)), dies at 79
- Aug 29 (James) Stringer Davis, British stage and screen character actor (Murder Most Foul), and veteran of both World Wars, dies at 74
- Aug 29 Michael Dunn, American short actor (Justine, Boom, Madigan), dies at 38
- Aug 29 Stringer Davis, English actress (Mouse on the Moon; Miranda), dies at about 77
John Ford (1895-1973)
Aug 31 American director (Stagecoach, Air Mail, Quiet Man), dies at 78
- Aug 31 Raymond Keane, American actor (Midnight Sun, Love Eagle), dies at 66
- Aug 31 Stan Worthington, English cricket all-rounder (9 Tests, 1 x 100, HS 128, 8 wickets, BB 2/19; Derbyshire CCC, Northumberland CCC), dies at 68
