Headlines
(May 15th)
1981 - Len Barker (Cleveland Indians) Pitched a Perfect Game Against the Toronto Blue Jays
* The Indians Beat the Blue Jays 3 - 0 at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland
Len Barker Led the League in Strikeouts in 1980 and 1981
1988 - The Soviet Army Began Withdrawing Troops From Afghanistan After Being Occupied For Over 8 Years
* Withdrew 115,000 Troops
The United States and Other Western Countries Boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics in the Soviet Union Because of the Invasion, In Return the Soviet Union Boycotted the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles
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May 15th in 80s History
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In Other News
(On May 15th)
1905 - Las Vegas Was Founded
* Incorporated in 1911
1919 - The Entire Working Population of Over 30,000 Workers of Winnipeg, Canada Walked Off Their Job
* Known as The Winnipeg General Strike
The Biggest Strike in Canada History
1929 - The Cleveland Clinic (Medical Center) Caught Fire in Cleveland, Ohio
* 123 People Killed
1940 - McDonald’s Was Founded In San Bernardino, California
Hamburger: $0.15
Cheeseburger: $0.19
Fries: $0.10
Soda: $0.10
1941 - Joe DiMaggio Began His 56-Game Hitting Streak
1970 - Anna Mae Hays and Elizabeth P. Hoisington Became the First Female United States Army Generals
2008 - California Became the 2nd State to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage
* Massachusetts Became the First in 2004
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1981 - The Harlem Globetrotters Appeared on Gilligan’s Island On a 2 Hour Made-For-TV-Movie
Network: NBC
Timeslot: 8:00 - 10:00
Over 15 Million Viewers
Len Barker Pitched a Perfect Game
#1 Songs in America
(May 15th)
1980 - "Call Me"
Blondie
4/19 - 5/30
1981 - "Morning Train
Sheena Easton
5/2 - 5/15
1982 - "Ebony and Ivory"
Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder
5/15 - 7/2
1983 - "Beat It"
Michael Jackson
4/30 - 5/20
1984 - "Hello"
Lionel Richie
5/12 - 5/25
1985 - "Crazy For You"
Madonna
5/11 - 5/17
1986 - "West End Girls"
Pet Shop Boys
5/10 - 5/16
1987 - "(I Just) Died in Your Arms"
Cutting Crew
5/2 - 5/15
1988 - "Anything For You"
Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine
5/14 - 5/27
1989 - "Like a Prayer"
Madonna
5/13 - 5/19
Click Here For More Music Fun Facts and Awards
1982 - "Ebony and Ivory" by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder Became the #1 Song in America
* #1 Song in America from May 15 - July 2
Also Hit #1 in the UK, Canada, Germany, Spain, Ireland, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Israel and Japan
Happy 80s Birthdays
1940 - Lainie Kazan (Actor) Beaches
1940 - Don Nelson (Basketball)
1948 - Brian Eno (Record Producer)
1953 - George Brett (Baseball)
1955 - Lee Horsley (Actor) Matt Houston
1956 - Dan Patrick (Sportscaster)
1957 - Kevin Von Erich (Wrestler)
1958 - Ron Simmons (Wrestler)
1960 - Rob Bowman (Director) Star Trek: Next Generation
1961 - Mellie Mel (Rapper)
Fun Fact!
Rob Bowman Directed 33 Episodes of The X-Files
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Other Notable Birthdays
K.T. Oslin (Country Singer)
May 15, 1942 - December 21, 2020
* Passed away at the age of 78 From COVID-19
Sang the 1987 Hit Song “80s Ladies”
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Passed Away
(On This Day)
Wayman Tisdale (Basketball)
June 9, 1964 - May 15, 2009
Passed Away at Age 44 From a Ruptured Esophagus
2nd Overall Pick in the 1985 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers
Fred Willard (Actor)
September 18, 1933 - May 15, 2020
Passed Away at Age 86 From Cardiac Arrest
Played Lt. Bob Hookstratten in This is Spinal Tap (1984)
* Also Played Buck Laughlin in Best in Show (2000)
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80s Movies
(Released On This Day)
1981 - The Fan
Director: Edward Bianchi
Starring: Lauren Bacall, Michael Biehn, Maureen Stapleton and James Garner
Budget: $9 Million
Box Office: $3.1 Million
1987 - The Gate
Director: Tibor Takács
Starring: Stephen Dorff, Kelly Rowan, Jennifer Irwin, Christa Denton and Louis Tripp
Budget: $6 Million
Box Office: $13.5 Million
1987 - Ishtar
Director: Elaine May
Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Warren Beatty, Isabelle Adjani and Charles Grodin
Budget: $51 Million
Box Office: $14.4 Million
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80s Television
(On This Day)
1982 - Danny DeVito Hosted Saturday Night Live
Musical Guest: Sparks
1985 - The Season 5 Finale of Dynasty Aired on ABC
Title: “Royal Wedding”
The Entire Wedding Party of Amanda Carrington and Prince Michael of Moldavia Were Shot by Revolutionaries
* Known as the Moldavian Massacre
1987 - The Season 10 Finale of Dallas Aired
Title: “Fall of the House of Ewing”
Pamela Ewing's Car Sped Out of Control and Crashed into a Tanker and Exploded
1987 - Final Episode of Roomies
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 8
Network: NBC
Starring Burt Young and Corey Haim
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80s Music
(Albums Released On This Day)
1981 - Long Distance Voyager
The Moody Blues (10th Album)
Hit #1 on the US Billboard 200 Charts
* Also Hit #1 Canada
1981 - East Side Story
Squeeze (4th Album)
Billboard Charts: #44
1983 - Feast
The Creatures (Debut Album)
* Reached #17 in Canada
1983 - Reach the Beach
The Fixx (2nd Album)
Billboard Charts: #8
1984 - Couldn’t We Stand Together
Stevie Ray Vaughan (2nd Album)
Billboard Charts: #31
1984 - Farewell My Summer Love (Compilation Album)
Michael Jackson
Billboard Charts: #46
* #9 in the UK
1985 - Soldiers Under Command
Stryper (2nd Album)
1985 - Unguarded
Amy Grant (6th Album)
Billboard Charts: #35
* #1 in Top Contemporary Christian
1985 - Youthquake
Wanted Dead or Alive (2nd Album)
Billboard Charts: #31
1986 - Raising Hell
Run-DMC (3rd Album)
Billboard Charts: #3
* #1 in Top R&B/Hip Hop
Featuring "My Adidas", "Walk This Way", "You Be Illin'" and "It's Tricky"
1987 - Richard Marx
Richard Marx (Debut Album)
Billboard Charts: #8
Featuring “Hold On to the Nights”
1987 - Girls, Girls, Girls
Mötley Crüe (4th Album)
Billboard Charts: #2
Over 6 Million Copies Sold in the US
1987 - Jane’s Addiction (Live Album)
Jane’s Addiction
1989 - Ten Good Reasons
Jason Donovan (Debut Album)
* Hit #1 in the UK
Singles Released
1985 - “Raspberry Beret”
Prince
#1 Song in America from May 12 - July 2
In Other 80s Music News
1981 - A Riot Broke Out at The Ritz Rock Club in New York After Public Image Ltd Played Behind a Video Screen While Different Music Played Over the Speakers
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80s Sports
(On This Day)
1981 - Cleveland Indians Pitcher Len Barker Pitched a Perfect Game Against the Toronto Blue Jays
* The Indians Beat the Blue Jays 3 - 0 at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland
Attendance: 7,290
Fun Fact!
Len Barker Played 11 Seasons in Major League Baseball
* Led the League in Strikeouts in 1980 and 1981
1982 - Jack Kaenel Won the Preakness Stakes Aboard Aloma’s Ruler
Trainer: John J. Lenzini, Jr.
Owner: Nathan Scherr
* Aloma’s Ruler Did Not Run in the Kentucky Derby and Finished 9th at Belmont
1989 - Michael Jordan Was on the Cover of Sports Illustrated
Title: “RAGING BULL”
1989 - Cito Gaston Was Name Toronto Blue Jays Manager
* Replaced Jimy Williams
Won the World Series in 1992 and 1993