Today in History for Sept. 5, 2014

Sept. 5, 1824 – During his tour of the United States, the Marquis de Lafayette arrived in New York, N.Y.

Sept. 5, 1863 - United States Foreign Minister to Great Britain, Charles Francis Adams, sent an angry letter to British Foreign Secretary Lord Russell warning that war between the two nations may erupt if it allowed two powerful ironclad ships to set sail. The two ships were designed to help the Confederates break the Union naval blockade. The letter ended with the words: "It would be superfluous in me to point out to your Lordship that this is war."

Sept. 5, 1863 – During the Civil War, a skirmish occurred at Lebanon in DeKalb County, Ala.

Sept. 5, 1863 – During the Civil War, the Confederate salt works at Rawlingsville in DeKalb County, Ala. were destroyed.

Sept. 5, 1863 - Federals conducted a reconnaissance mission from Winston’s Valley into Broomtown Valley in Cherokee County, Ala.

Sept. 5, 1888 – John S. Harrington was commissioned as Monroe County, Alabama’s Sheriff.

Sept. 5, 1901 - John D. Platt, a blind Confederate veteran, died at his home near Gravella in Conecuh County at the age of 64. Born on Jan. 4, 1937, he was buried in the Olive Branch Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery in Butler County.

Sept. 5, 1901 – The first organized baseball league, the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, was formed in Chicago, Ill.

Sept. 5, 1906 – A violent hurricane struck the Alabama coast and wiped out the community of Navy Cove, three miles east of Fort Morgan in Baldwin County, killing six.

Sept. 5, 1906 - Bradbury Robinson executed the first legal forward pass in football when he threw the ball to Jack Schneider of St. Louis University in a game against Carroll College.

Sept. 5, 1914 - Babe Ruth hit his first home run as a professional player in the International League.

Sept. 5, 1918 - Babe Ruth of the Boston Red Sox threw a six-hitter in the opening game of the World Series.

Sept. 5, 1925 - Centreville in Bibb County reached the highest ever recorded temperature in Alabama when thermometers hit 112°. The Labor Day weekend was a scorcher with cities and towns across the state, recording several days of 100°+ temperatures.

Sept. 5, 1931 – The Second Annual International Terrapin Race, sponsored by the Evergreen Lions Club, was held in Evergreen, and “Tarheel,” a “big, homegrown gopher” owned and entered by Newton E. Johnson, came in first and received a $59.50 prize. In all, there were 119 entrants, including six from different states and one from a foreign country.

Sept. 5, 1955 - Don Newcombe of the Brooklyn Dodgers hit his seventh home run of the season, setting a National League record for home runs by a pitcher.

Sept. 5, 1957 - Jack Kerouac's classic “On the Road” was first published.

Sept. 5, 1971 - J.R. Richard of the Houston Astros tied Karl Spooner’s record when he struck out 15 batters in his major-league baseball debut.

Sept. 5, 1976 – Former Monroe Academy football standout and Alabama offensive tackle K.J. Lazenby received the Charlie Compton Award during a ceremony at Cavalry Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa. The award was presented annually to a “senior athlete who has demonstrated outstanding Christian character and leadership.”

Sept. 5, 1983 - "Sports Illustrated" became the first national weekly magazine to use four-color process illustrations on every page.

Sept. 5, 1990 – Monroeville native Mark Childress’ third novel, “Tender,” was released by Harmony.

Sept. 5, 1997 - The FOX group announced a deal to purchase the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Sept. 5, 1998 - Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals hit his 60th home run of the season, tying himself with Babe Ruth.

Sept. 5, 1998 - Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs hit his 58th home run of the season.

Sept. 5, 1999 - The Cincinnati Reds set a major league team record for home runs in two consecutive games. The team hit 14 home runs over the two games at Veterans Stadium.