80s Sports
(On This Day)
1980 - The Houston Astros Beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 7 - 1 at Dodger Stadium in a One Game Playoff For the National League West
Attendance: 51,127
* Joe Niekro (Astros) Pitched a Complete Game
Art Howe (Astros) 3 - 5 (Home Run) 4 RBI’s
1985 - Phil Niekro Recorded His 300th Career Victory
* The Yankees Beat the Blue Jays 8 - 0 at Exhibition Park on the Last Game of the Season
Phil Niekro (46) Became the Oldest Pitcher to Pitch a Complete Game Shutout
1985 - The Final Day of the Regular Season in Major League Baseball
AL West
Kansas City Royals 91 - 71
AL East
Toronto Blue Jays 99 - 62
NL West
Los Angeles Dodgers 95 - 67
NL East
St. Louis Cardinals 101 - 61
Batting Title
AL: Wade Boggs (Red Sox) .368
NL: Willie McGee (Cardinals) .353
Home Runs
AL: Darrell Evans (Red Sox) 40
NL: Dale Murphy (Braves) 37
RBI’s
AL: Don Mattingly (Yankees) 145
NL: Dave Parker (Reds) 125
Wins
AL: Ron Guidry (Yankees) 22
NL: Dwight Gooden (Mets) 24
ERA
AL: Dave Stieb (Blue Jays) 2.48
NL: Dwight Gooden (Mets) 1.53
Strikeouts
AL: Bert Blyleven (Indians & Twins) 206
NL: Dwight Gooden (Mets) 268
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In Other 80s News
(On This Day)
1981 - Egyptian President Anwar Sadat Was Murdered by Islamic Extremists
1987 - Fiji Officially Became the Republic of Fiji
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Other Notable Dates
(On October 6th)
1927 - The First Talking Movie in Cinema History The Jazz Singer Premiered in Theaters
* Marked the End of the Silent Film Era
Did You Know?
The Wizard of Oz (1939) Was the First Movie in Color
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Other Notable Birthdays
Bill King (Sportscaster)
October 6, 1927 - October 18, 2005
Birthplace: Bloomington, IL
Passed Away at Age 78 From Blockage in the Arteries (Pulmonary Embolism)
* The Voice of the Oakland A's For 25 Years
The Baseball Hall of Fame Named King the Recipient of the 2017 Ford C. Frick Award, the Highest Honor For Baseball Broadcasters
Bruno Sammartino (Wrestler)
October 6, 1935 - April 18, 2018
Birthplace: Pizzoferrato, Abruzzo, Kingdom of Italy
Passed Away at Age 82 From Organ Failure
* 2x WWE Heavyweight Champion
Held the First Reign For 2,803 Days, Longer Than Any Other WWE Champion
Ricky Berry (Basketball)
October 6, 1964 - August 14, 1989
Birthplace: Lansing, MI
Passed Away at Age 24 From a Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound
* The 18th Overall Pick in the 1988 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings
Left a Suicide Note Saying His Wife Didn’t Love Him Anymore and She Was Taking Advantage of Him
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Passed Away
(On This Day)
Bette Davis (Actress)
April 5, 1908 - October 6, 1989
Birthplace: Lowell, MA
Passed Away on October 6, 1989 at Age 81 From Breast Cancer
Personal Assistant, Kathryn Sermak Was by Her Side
Mark Belanger (Baseball)
June 8, 1944 - October 6, 1998
Birthplace: Pittsfield, MA
Passed Away at Age 54 From Lung Cancer
* A Heavy Smoker
Played 18-Seasons in Major League Baseball
Gold Gloves: 8
Gorilla Monsoon (Wrestler and Commentator)
June 4, 1937 - October 6, 1999
Birthplace: Rochester, NY
Passed Away at Age 62 From Heart Failure
Elected to the WWE Hall of Fame in 1994
Eddie Van Halen (Guitarist)
January 26, 1955 - October 6, 2020
Birthplace: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Passed Away at Age 65 From a Stroke
Considered One of the Greatest Guitarists in Rock History
* Founded Van Halen With Brother Alex
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80s Movies
(Released On This Day)
1982 - The Wizard of Oz (Animation)
Director: Fumihiko Takayama
Budget: N/A
Box Office: $612,300
1989 - An Innocent Man
Director: Peter Yates
Starring: Tom Selleck, F. Murray Abraham, Laila Robins, David Rasche, Richard Young, Badja Djola, Bruce A. Young, Dennis Burkley, Todd Graff, M.C. Gainey and Tobin Bell
Budget: N/A
Box Office: $20 Million
1989 - Drugstore Cowboy
Director: Gus Van Zant
Starring: Matt Dillon and Kelly Lynch with Heather Graham
Budget: $2.5 Million
Box Office: $4.7 Million
1989 - Henry V
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Paul Scofield, Derek Jacobi, Ian Holm, Emma Thompson, Alec McCowen, Judi Dench and Christian Bale
Budget: $9 Million
Box Office: $10.2 Million
1989 - Old Gringo
Director: Luis Puenzo
Starring: Jane Fonda, Gregory Peck, Patricio Contreras, Jenny Gago, Gabriela Roel, Anne Pitoniak, Pedro Armendáriz Jr., Pedro Damián and Jimmy Smits
Budget: $27 Million
Box Office: $3.5 Million
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80s Television
(On This Day)
1981 - Priscila Barnes Made Her Debut on Three’s Company as Terri Alden
Episode: Jack Bares All: Part I
1982 - Tucker's Witch Premiered on CBS
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 12
Did You Know?
Kim Cattrall Was in the Pilot Episode But Was Taken Off the Show After She Appeared Nude in the 1981 FIlm, Porky's
1983 - R.E.M. Made Its Television Debut on Late Night with David Letterman
1984 - Season 10 of Saturday Night Live Premiered on NBC
Host: No Host
Musical Guest: Thompson Twins
Billy Crystal and Martin Short Premiered as Cast Members
1984 - Out of Control (Sketch Comedy) Premiered on Nickelodeon
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 26
1985 - Jem (Animation)) Premiered in Syndication
Seasons: 3
Episodes: 65
Starring Dave Coulier (Uncle Joey From Full House)
1986 - My Sister Sam Premiered on CBS
Seasons: 2
Episodes: 44
Starring Pam Dawber (Mindy From Mork & Mindy)
1986 - Double Dare (Game Show) Premiered on Nickelodeon
Seasons: 8
Episodes: 482
* Returned in 2000 and Again in 2018
1988 - Dear John Premiered on NBC
Seasons: 4
Episodes: 85
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80s Music
(Albums Released On This Day)
1982 - Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie (Debut Solo Album)
Billboard Charts: #3
* Featuring “Truly"
1983 - Right or Wrong
George Strait (3rd Album)
Billboard Charts: #163
* #1 in Country
1986 - The Dark
Metal Church (2nd Album)
1986 - Scoundrel Days
A-ha (2nd Album)
Billboard Charts: #74
* #2 in the UK
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#1 Songs in America
(October 6th)
1980 - "Another One Bites the Dust"
Queen
10/4 - 10/24
1981 - "Endless Love"
Diana Ross and Lionel Richie
8/15 - 10/16
1982 - "Jack & Diane
John Cougar Mellencamp
10/2 - 10/29
1983 - "Total Eclipse of the Heart"
Bonnie Tyler
10/1 - 10/28
1984 - "Let's Go Crazy"
Prince and the Revolution
9/29 - 10/12
1985 - "Money for Nothing"
Dire Straits
9/21 - 10/11
1986 - "Stuck With You"
Huey Lewis and the News
9/20 - 10/10
1987 - "Didn't We Almost Have it All"
Whitney Houston
9/26 - 10/9
1988 - "Don't Worry Be Happy"
Bobby McFerrin
9/24 - 10/7
1989 - "Girl I'm Gonna Miss You"
Millie Vanilli
9/23 - 10/6
Click Here For More 80s Music Fun Facts and Awards
1982 - Lionel Richie Released His Debut Solo Album
* Reached #3 on the US Billboard 200 Charts and #1 in R&B
Featuring “Truly"
Did You Know?
Lionel Richie Was the Lead Singer For the Commodores From 1968 to 1982
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1985 - Phil Niekro Recorded His 300th Career Victory on the Last Game of the Season
Career Wins: 318
Seasons: 24
Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997 (5th Ballot)
Fun Fact!
At Age 46, Phil Niekro Became the Oldest Pitcher to Pitch a Complete Game Shutout
October 6th in 80s History
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1982 - Madonna Released Her Debut Single "Everybody
* Reached #3 on the US Dance Club Songs
Lionel Richie Released His Debut Solo Album
Headlines
(October 6th)
1981 - Bette Davis Passed Away at Age 81 From Breast Cancer
* Appeared in Over 100 Films
Won 2 Academy Awards For Best Actress
Dangerous (1935)
Jezebel (1938)
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1979 - Pope John Paul II Became the first Pope to Visit the White House
2010 - Instagram Was Launched
* Created by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger
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Happy 80s Birthdays
1940 - Ellen Travolta (Actress) Charles in Charge
Birthplace: Engelwood, NJ
1949 - Thomas McClary (Guitarist) The Commodores
Birthplace: Eustis, FL
1951 - Kevin Cronin (Singer) REO Speedwagon
Birthplace: Evanston, IL
1954 - David Hidalgo (Singer) Los Lobos “La Bamba”
Birthplace: Gila, AZ
1955 - Tony Dungy (Football)
Birthplace: Jackson, MI
1959 - Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd (Baseball)
Birthplace: Meridian, MI
1963 - Elisabeth Shue (Actress) Karate Kid, Adventures in Babysitting
Birthplace: Wilmington, DE
1965 - Rubén Sierra (Baseball)
Birthplace: Río Piedras, Puerto Rico
1966 - Tommy Stinson (Guitarist) The Replacements
Birthplace: Minneapolis, MN
Fun Fact!
Elisabeth Shue Got Her Start in the 80s on Burger King Commercials