CLEVELAND HISTORY
Babe Ruth Hits 500th Home Run (August 11, 1929): While playing for the New York Yankees at League Park in Cleveland, Babe Ruth became the first Major League Baseball player to hit his 500th career home run. This milestone solidified his status as one of the most legendary figures in baseball history and brought national attention to Cleveland’s historic ballpark.
Mayor Kucinich Recall Election (August 13, 1978): Cleveland held its first-ever mayoral recall election in an effort to remove Mayor Dennis Kucinich from office. The campaign stemmed from controversies surrounding Kucinich’s leadership and conflicts with local utilities. He survived the recall by a narrow margin of 236 votes, an outcome that influenced his political future and remains a notable moment in the city’s political history.
Feast of the Assumption Festival Begins (August 15, 1898 – annual): Cleveland’s Little Italy began celebrating the Feast of the Assumption around this time, marking one of the city’s longest-standing cultural and religious traditions. The multi-day event honors the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and features a procession, music, Italian cuisine, and community festivities, drawing thousands of visitors annually.
Cleveland Black Gay Pride Weekend (August 15–17, annually since 1997): Since 1997, Greater Cleveland’s African American LGBTQ community has hosted Black Gay Pride Weekend during this timeframe. The event includes health forums, performances, social gatherings, and community advocacy, highlighting the city’s growing inclusivity and support for diverse identities.
Cleveland Municipal Expressway Extension Groundbreaking (August 16, 1958): Construction began on an extension of the Cleveland Municipal Expressway, part of the city’s broader mid-century urban infrastructure expansion. The development was pivotal in reshaping transportation across Cleveland’s east and west sides and connected more neighborhoods to the downtown core.
WORLD HISTORY
Meriwether Lewis Accidentally Shot (August 11, 1806): While hunting along the Missouri River during the return from the Lewis and Clark expedition, Meriwether Lewis was accidentally shot in the thigh—an injury that, though severe, did not prove fatal and highlighted the perils encountered by early American explorers.
Weimar Constitution Adopted (August 11, 1919): Germany’s National Assembly passed the Weimar Constitution, establishing the first democratic republic in German history and marking a significant shift from imperial rule following World War I.
Sukarno Declares Indonesian Independence (August 17, 1945): In Jakarta, Sukarno (later Indonesia’s first president) proclaimed Indonesia’s independence from Dutch colonial rule—a catalyst for the Indonesian National Revolution that led to international recognition in 1949.
Pioneers of Transatlantic Balloon Flight Land (August 17, 1978): The Double Eagle II balloon, piloted by Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson, and Larry Newman, completed the first successful manned transatlantic flight, landing in France after a historic 137-hour journey from Maine.
Michael Phelps Wins Eighth Gold at Beijing Olympics (August 17, 2008): During the Beijing Summer Olympics, U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps won his record-breaking eighth gold medal, surpassing Mark Spitz’s single‑Games record and cementing his status as the most decorated Olympian of a single Olympics.
