Other Notable Birthdays
Mickey Cochrane (Baseball)
April 6, 1903 - June 28, 1962
Passed Away at Age 59 From Lymphatic Cancer (Heavy Smoker)
* Considered One of the Best Catchers of All-Time
Won AL MVP With 2 Separate Teams
Philadelphia A’s (1928)
Detroit Tigers (1934)
Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1947 (6th Ballot)
_______________________________
Passed Away
(On This Day)
Tammy Wynette (Country Singer)
May 5, 1942 - April 6, 1998
Passed Away at Age 55 From a Blood Clot in the Lung
One of Country Music's Best Selling Artists of All-Time
Mickey Rooney (Actor)
September 23, 1920 - April 6, 2014
Passed Away at Age 93 From Natural Causes (Suffered From Diabetes)
The Top Box Office Attraction From 1939 to 1941
* Played the Role of Andy Hardy in 16 Films in the 1930's and 1940's
Don Rickles (Actor and Comedian)
May 8, 1926 - April 6, 2017
Passed Away at Age 90 From Kidney Failure
Played the Casino Manager Bill Sherbert in the 1995 Film Casino
_______________________________
80s Movies
(On This Day)
1984 - Moscow on the Hudson
Director: Paul Mazersky
Starring: Robin Williams, María Conchita Alonso and Cleavant Derricks
Budget: $13 Million
Box Office: $25 Million
1984 - Up the Creek
Director: Robert Butler
Starring: Tim Matheson, Dan Monahan, Stephen Furst, Jeff East, Sandy Helberg, Blaine Novak, James B. Sikking, Jennifer Runyon and John Hillerman
Budget: $7 Million
Box Office: $11.7 Million
1984 - Where the Boys are 84’
Director: Hy Averback
Starring: Lisa Hartman, Lorna Luft, Wendy Schaal and Lynn-Holly Johnson
Budget: N/A
Box Office: $10.5 Million
* First Movie Released by Tri-Star Pictures, Joint Venture of Columbia Pictures, HBO and CBS
_______________________________
80s Television
(On This Day)
1981 - Private Benjamin Premiered on CBS
Seasons: 3
Episodes: 39
1983 - Zorro and Son Premiered on ABC
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 5
1985 - Christopher Reeve hosted Saturday Night Live
Musical Guest: Santana
1986 - Fathers and Sons Premiered on NBC
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 4
1987 - The 22nd Country Music Awards Aired
Entertainer of the Year: Hank Williams, Jr.
Song of the Year: “Forever and Ever, Amen” (Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz)
Album of the Year: Always and Forever (Randy Travis)
1988 - Just in Time Premiered on ABC
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 6
_______________________________
80s Music
(On This Day)
1981 - Fun in Space
Roger Taylor (Debut Solo Album)
* Reached #18 in the UK
Roger Taylor is the Drummer for Queen
1981 - The DeBarges
DeBarge (Debut Album)
1981 - Prayers on Fire
The Birthday Party (Debut Album)
1982 - All Four One
The Motels (3rd Album)
Billboard Charts: #16
1984 - Lament
Ultravox (7th Album)
Billboard Charts: #115
1987 - Electric
The Cult (3rd Album)
Billboard Charts: #38
1987 - Meet Danny Wilson
Danny Wilson (Debut Album)
* Reached #65 in the UK
Singles Released
1988 - “Fast Car”
Tracy Chapman
Reached #6 on the US Billboard Charts
* Hit #1 in Canada, Ireland and Belgium
_______________________________
80s Sports
(On This Day)
1980 - Gordie Howe Finished an NHL Record 26th Season
1986 - Gary Gaetti Hit 2 Home Runs on Opening Day
* The Twins lost 11 - 7 to the Mariners
1986 - Rick Mayler Pitched a Complete Game Shutout on Opening Day
* The Braves Beat the Padres 1 - 0
1986 - A Soccer Ball Was Juggled Non-Stop for 14:14 Hours by Mikael Palmquist (Sweden)
* World Record at the Time
1987 - Sugar Ray Leonard Beat Marvelous Marvin Hagler to Win the WBC Middleweight Title
_______________________________
In Other News
(On April 6th)
1841 - John Tyler Was Sworn In as the President of the United States 2 Days After President William Henry Harrison's Died of Septic Shock
* The First US President to Die While In Office
1896 - The First Modern Olympic Games Opened in Athens, Greece
* 1,500 Years After the Original Games Were Banned by Roman Emperor Theodosius I
1917 - The United States Declared War on Germany, Officially Entering World War I
1947 - The First Tony Awards Were Held (Broadway Excellence)
1973 - The American League Began Using the Designated Hitter
Fun Fact!
Ron Blomberg (Yankees) Was the First Designated Hitter in American League History
* Tony Oliva (Twins) Hit the First Home Run as a DH
___________________________
April 6th in 80s History
___________________________
#1 Songs in America
(April 6th)
1980 - "Another Brick in the Wall, Part II
Pink Floyd
3/22 - 4/18
1981 - "Rapture"
Blondie
3/28 - 4/10
1982 - "I Love Rock 'n' Roll"
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
3/20 - 5/7
1983 - "Billie Jean"
Michael Jackson
3/5 - 4/22
1984 - "Footloose
Kenny Loggins
3/31 - 4/20
1985 - "One More Night"
Phil Collins
3/30 - 4/12
1986 - "Rock Me Amadeus"
Falco
3/28 - 4/18
1987 - "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now"
Starship
4/4 - 4/17
1988 - "Man in the Mirror"
Michael Jackson
3/26 - 4/8
1989 - "Eternal Flame"
The Bangles
4/1 - 4/7c
Click Here For More Music Fun Facts and Awards
_______________________________
_______________________________
Post-it Notes Went on Sale
___________________________
Headlines
(On April 6th)
1981 - Post-it Notes Went on Sale in America
* Known as the Billion Dollar Accident
1987 - Los Angeles Dodgers General Manager Al Campanis Said Blacks Are Not be Equipped to be in Baseball Management
* He Was Fired 2 Days Later
The Team That Signed Jackie Robinson Said “No Way" to This Behavior
Happy 80s Birthdays
1937 - Billy Dee Williams (Actor) Empire Strikes Back
1938 - Roy Thinnes (Actor) Falcon Crest
1942 - Barry Levinson (Director) Rain Man
1947 - John Ratzenberger (Actor) Cheers
1949 - Patrick Hernandez (Singer)
1951 - Bert Blyleven (Baseball)
1952 - Marilu Henner (Actress) Taxi
1953 - Patrick Doyle (Composer) Henry V
1955 - Michael Rooker (Actor) Eight Men Out
1965 - Black Francis (Guitarist) Pixies
1965 - Sterling Sharpe (Football)
1969 - Ari Meyers (Actress) Kate & Allie
1971 - Alasdair Gillis (Actor) So You Think You Can Do That On Television
1972 - Jason Hervey (Actor) Wonder Years
1976 - Candace Cameron (Actress) Full House
Fun Fact!
Barry Levinson Won an Academy Award For Best Director For Rain Man (1988)
1984 - Moscow on the Hudson Premiered in Theaters
* Starring Robin Williams
On April 6, 1980 Gordie Howe Retired From the NHL After 26 Seasons (25 With the Detroit Red Wings)
* 23 x All-Star
6x MVP (Hart Trophy)
4 x Stanley Cup Champion
Hall of Fame (1972)
Came Back After Retirement in 1973
_________________________
1987 - Sugar Ray Leonard Beat Marvelous Marvin Hagler to Win the WBC Middleweight Title
* Considered One of the Most Controversial Fights in Boxing History
Gordie Howe
___________________________