Today in History for Sept. 23, 2014

Historical marker in downtown Fulton, Ala. 

Sept. 23, 1641 – The Merchant Royal, carrying a treasure worth over a billion US dollars, was lost at sea off Land's End.

Sept. 23, 1845 - The Knickerbocker Base Ball Club of New York, the first baseball team to play under modern rules, was formed by Alexander Joy Cartwright.

Sept. 23, 1863 – During the Civil War, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln met with Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, several cabinet members and military planners to discuss the situation in Chattanooga, Tenn. The decision was made to ship General Joseph Hooker and his men to relieve General William Rosecrans' army.

Sept. 23, 1864 – During the Civil War, a skirmish occurred at Athens, Ala. that involved Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest.

Sept. 23, 1896 – The name of the Behrman Post Office in Clarke County was changed to Fulton, supposedly after Fulton, N.Y.

Sept. 23, 1908 - A game between the New York Giants and Chicago Cubs ended in 1-1 tie after a controversial call at second base that resulted in the Cubs winning the National League penant. The officials ruled that Giants first baseman Fred Merkle was out because he failed to touch second base, and the game was called with the score 1-1 due to darkness. Because the game could not end in a tie, it was replayed on October 8, 1908. In the makeup game, the Cubs beat their rivals to secure the National League pennant and went on to beat the Detroit Tigers for their third consecutive World Series.

Sept. 23, 1909 – “The Phantom of the Opera,” a novel by French writer Gaston Leroux, was first published as a serialization in Le Gaulois.

Sept. 23, 1946 – Construction began on new bridge over Murder Creek on the Loree Road in Conecuh County.

Sept. 23, 1952 - Hank Williams did his last recording session.

Sept. 23, 1986 – Jim Deshaies of the Houston Astros set a major-league record by striking out the first eight batters of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. This record was tied by Jacob deGrom of the New York Mets on September 15, 2014 against the Miami Marlins.

Sept. 23, 1988 – José Canseco of the Oakland Athletics became the first member of the 40–40 club.

Sept. 23, 1996 – Thomas Booker served his final day as Evergreen’s police chief before taking another job in Spanish Fort.

Sept. 23, 2001 - Barry Bonds hit his 65th and 66th home run of the season to tie Sammy Sosa for the second most home runs in a season.

Sept. 23, 2001 - In Brookwood, Ala., 13 miners were killed in two explosions at the Blue Creek No. 5 mine.