Wednesday, September 11, 2019

How Old Are You Now? 2019 Edition

I was 7 years old when I started really noticing things that were happening in the world, and became able to remember them years later. My memory of the Bicentennial celebrations of July 4, 1976 is spotty, but I remember things that happened in 1977 fairly well.

My 12-year-old nieces only know the events of September 11, 2001 as historical fact, not as something they experienced. The same way I do for the JFK assassination, and my parents did for the attack on Pearl Harbor.

So, by that standard, if you can remember these events, then you are probably at least this age:

November 8, 2016, the stolen election that installed Donald Trump: 10.

April 19, 2013, the Boston Marathon Bombing: 13.

Events of 2012, including the Giants upsetting the New England Patriots again on February 5, the Adam Henrique Game on May 25, Hurricane Sandy on October 29, and the Sandy Hook Massacre on December 14: 14.

May 1, 2011, the execution of Osama bin Laden: 15.

January 3, 2010, the closing of Giants Stadium; and April 10, 2010, the opening of MetLife Stadium: 16.

Events of 2009, including the Inauguration of President Barack Obama on January 20, the openings of Citi Field on April 13 and the new Yankee Stadium on April 16, the death of Michael Jackson on June 25, and the Yankees' last World Series win on November 4: 17.

Events of 2008, including the Giants ruining the New England Patriots' undefeated season in Super Bowl XLII on February 3, the economic meltdown beginning on September 15, the closings of the original Yankee Stadium on September 21 and Shea Stadium on September 28, and the election of Obama on November 4: 18.

August 7, 2007, Barry Bonds' 756th home run; and October 25, 2007! The opening of the Prudential Center: 19.

August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina: 21.

October 17 to 27, 2004, the Boston Red Sox' run to ending their 86-year World Series drought: 22.

Events of 2003, including the destruction of the space shuttle Columbia on February 1, the start of the Iraq War on March 19, the Devils winning the Stanley Cup on June 9, and the Aaron Boone Game on October 16: 23.

September 11, 2001, the destruction of the World Trade Center: 25.

Events of 2000, including the Devils winning the Stanley Cup on June 10, the Yankees beating the Mets in the Subway Series from October 21 to 26; and the stolen election that installed George W. Bush from November 7 to December 13: 26.

Events of 1999, including the acquittal of President Bill Clinton in his impeachment trial on February 13, the death of Joe DiMaggio on March 8, the Columbine Massacre on April 20, and the various end-of-century celebrations and lists: 27.

Events of 1998, including the death of Frank Sinatra on May 14, the Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa home run chase that peaked with McGwire's 62nd homer on September 8, the Yankees' run to glory that ended with a World Series win on October 21, and the Monica Lewinsky scandal that began on January 21 and led to the impeachment of President Clinton on December 19: 28.

Events of 1995, including the suicide of Kurt Cobain on April 5, the Oklahoma City Bombing on April 19, the Devils' 1st Stanley Cup on June 24, the death of Mickey Mantle on August 13, and the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin on November 4: 31.

Events of 1994, including the start of the O.J. Simpson case and the New York Rangers' last Stanley Cup, both in June; and the cancellation of baseball's postseason on September 14: 32.

April 29, 1992, The South Central riot: 34.

January 16 to February 28, 1991, the Persian Gulf War; and January 27, 1991, the Giants winning Super Bowl XXV: 35.

Events of 1989, including the Tienanmen Square Massacre on June 4, the World Series Earthquake on October 17, and the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9: 37.

January 25, 1987, the Giants winning Super Bowl XXI: 39.

Events of 1986, including the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger on January 28, the Mets winning their most recent World Series on October 28, and the revelation of the Iran-Contra scandal on November 3: 40.

Events of 1983, including the airing of Motown 25 with Michael Jackson's iconic performance on March 25, the Islanders' 4th straight Stanley Cup on May 17, the Soviet shootdown of Korean Air Lines Flight 007 on September 1, the Beirut Barracks Bombing on October 23, and the invasion of Grenada on October 25: 43.

Events of 1982, including the death of John Belushi on March 5, the Islanders winning the Stanley Cup on May 16; and the debut of the New Jersey Devils on October 5: 44.

Events of 1981, including the Inauguration of President Ronald Reagan and the release of the hostages in Iran, both on January 20; the attempted assassinations of Reagan on March 30, of Pope John Paul II on May 13, and of Egyptian President Anwar Sweat on October 6 (the last of these being successful); the Islanders winning the Stanley Cup on May 21; the baseball strike of June 12 to August 9; and the opening of the Meadowlands Arena on July 2: 45.

May 24, 1980, Bobby Nystrom's goal giving the Islanders their 1st Stanley Cup; and December 8, 1980, the murder of John Lennon: 46.

Events of 1979, including the Three Mile Island crisis in late March, Disco Demolition Night on July 12, the plane crash death of Thurman Munson on August 2, and the start of the Iran Hostage Crisis on November 4: 47.

Events of 1978, including the Camp David Accord on September 17; the Bucky Dent Game on October 2, the Jonestown Massacre on November 18, and the assassinations of George Moscone and Harvey Milk on November 27: 48.

Events of 1977, including the Mets trading Tom Seaver on June 15; New York's very hot Summer of the Son of Sam and the Blackout on July 13; the death of Elvis Presley on August 16, and the Reggie Jackson Game on October 18: 49, like me.

Events of 1976, including the opening of the renovated original Yankee Stadium on April 15, the Bicentennial on July 4, the opening of Giants Stadium on October 10, and the Chris Chambliss Game on October 14: 50.

Events of 1975, including the Islanders' Playoff upset of the Rangers on April 11, the fall of Saigon on April 30, the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa on July 30, the Carlton Fisk Game on October 21, the New York fiscal crisis and the Daily News headline "FORD TO CITY DROP DEAD" on October 30, and the Eddie Giacomin Game on November 2: 51.

Events of 1974, including Hank Aaron's 715th home run on April 8, and the resignation of President Richard Nixon on August 9: 52.

Events of 1973, including the striking down of all State abortion laws on January 22, the end of U.S. combat operations in Vietnam on January 23, the death of Bruce Lee on July 20, the gasoline crisis that began on August 23, the subsequent inflation and recession it caused, the closing of the original Yankee Stadium for renovations on September 30, the Yom Kippur War of October 6 to 26, the resignation of Vice President Spiro Agnew on October 10, and the Saturday Night Massacre on October 20: 53.

Events of 1972, including the opening of the Nassau Coliseum on February 11, Nixon going to China on February 21, the attempted assassination of George Wallace on May 15, the Watergate break-in on June 17, the Islanders' debut on October 7, and the death of Jackie Robinson on October 24: 54.

July 3, 1971, the death of Jim Morrison: 55.

Events of 1970, including the Beatles breaking up on April 10, the Kent State Massacre on May 4, the Knicks winning their 1st NBA Championship on May 8, Bobby Orr's "Flying Goal" on May 10, the death of Jimi Hendrix on September 18, and the death of Janis Joplin on October 4: 56.

Events of 1969, including the Jets winning Super Bowl III on January 12, the Moon landing on July 20, the Manson Family murders on August 9 and 10, the Woodstock Festival from August 15 to 18, the Mets winning the World Series on October 16, and the Altamont Festival on December 6: 57.

Events of 1968, including the Tet Offensive on January 30, the closing of the old Madison Square Garden and the opening of the new one in February, the assassinations of Martin Luther King on April 4 and Robert F. Kennedy on June 5, the Democratic Convention riot on August 28, the Tommie Smith and John Carlos protest at the Olympics on October 16, and the election of Nixon on November 5: 58.

Events of 1967, including Super Bowl I on January 15, the release of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band on June 1, the Israeli-Arab Six-Day War of June 5 to 10, the Monterey Pop Festival from June 16 to 18, the riots in Newark and Detroit in July, the "levitation of the Pentagon" on October 21, the debut of the New Jersey Americans (forerunners of the Nets) on August 23, and the Ice Bowl on December 31: 59.

Events of 1965, including the assassination of Malcolm X on February 21; the Selma-to-Montgomery March from March 7 to 21; Bob Dylan "going electric" at the Newport Folk Festival on July 25; President Lyndon Johnson signing Medicare and Medicaid into law on July 29 and the Voting Rights Act on August 6; the Watts Riot on August 11; and the Northeastern Blackout on November 9: 61.

Events of 1964, including the start of Beatlemania at the beginning of the year, Muhammad Ali winning the Heavyweight Championship on February 25, the opening of Shea Stadium on April 17, LBJ signing the Civil Rights Act on July 2, the Gulf on Tonkin incident kickstarting the U.S. role in Vietnam on August 4, and the end of the Yankee Dynasty on October 15: 62.

Events of 1963, including George Wallace standing in the schoolhouse door on June 11, President John F. Kennedy's Berlin speech on June 26, the March On Washington with Martin Luther King's speech on August 29, the Birmingham church bombing on September 16, and the assassination of JFK on November 22: 63.

Events of 1962, including the debut of the Mets on April 11, the death of Marilyn Monroe on August 4, and the Cuban Missile Crisis from October 16 to 28: 64.

Events of 1961, including JFK's Inauguration on January 20, Yuri Gagarin becoming the 1st human in space on April 12, the Bay of Pigs invasion on April 17, and the Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris home run chase that peaked with Maris' 61st homer on October 1: 65.

Events of 1960, including the U-2 spy-plane incident in May, the debut of the New York Titans on September 11 (they became the Jets in 1963), the 1st Presidential debates in September and October, and the Bill Mazeroski Game: 66.

January 1, 1959, Fidel Castro's revolution in Cuba; and February 3, 1959, the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly: 67.

December 28, 1958, the Johnny Unitas Game: 68.

Events of 1957, including the Little Rock school integration crisis and the moves of the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants, all in September; and the launch of Sputnik 1, on October 4: 69.

Events of 1956, including the rise of Elvis Presley early in the year, the Don Larsen Game on October 8, and the Hungarian and Suez Canal crises of later in October: 70.

Events of 1955, including  "Rock Around the Clock" becoming the 1st rock and roll song to hit Number 1 on July 9, James Dean being killed in a car crash on September 30, and the Brooklyn Dodgers winning the World Series on October 4, and the Montgomery Bus Boycott beginning on December 1: 71.

May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court strikes down public school segregation; and September 29, 1954, Willie Mays makes The Catch: 72.

April 11, 1951, President Harry S Truman fires General Douglas MacArthur for insubordination; and October 3, 1951, the Bobby Thomson Game: 75.

June 24, 1950, the start of the Korean War: 76.

Events of 1948, including the independence of Israel on May 14, the death of Babe Ruth on August 16, and November 2, when Governor Thomas E. Dewey did not defeat Truman: 78.

April 15, 1947, the desegregation of baseball with the major league debut of Jackie Robinson: 79.

November 1, 1946, the debut of the Knicks: 80.

Events of 1945, including the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt on April 12, the death of Adolf Hitler on April 30, V-E Day on May 8, the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, and V-J Day ending World War II on August 14: 81.

Events of 1944, including the D-Day invasion of June 6, Liberation of Paris on August 26, the Frank Sinatra concert at the Paramount Theatre on Times Square that became known as the Columbus Day Riot, and the disappearance of Glenn Miller on December 15: 82.

Events of 1941, including Joe DiMaggio's hitting streak from May 15 to July 17, the death of Lou Gehrig on June 2, the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union on June 22, the Mickey Owen Game on October 5, and the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7: 85.

April 13, 1940, the Rangers winning their last Stanley Cup for 54 years; and June 14, 1940, the fall of Paris

July 4, 1939, Lou Gehrig Day; and September 1, 1939, the invasion of Poland and the start of World War II: 87.

June 22, 1938, Joe Louis knocking Max Schmeling out: 88.

June 7, 1937, the death of Jean Harlow; and July 11, 1937, the death of George Gershwin: 89.

March 4, 1933, the Inauguration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the start of his New Deal; and April 13, 1933, the Rangers winning the Stanley Cup: 93.

October 24 to 29, 1929, the stock market crash: 97.

April 5 to 14, 1928, the Rangers win their 1st Stanley Cup, including head coach and general manager Lester Patrick -- once a great defenseman but now 44 years old, saving the team as emergency goaltender on April 7: 98.

Events of 1927, including Charles Lindbergh's flight on May 20 and 21, the Jack Dempsey-Gene Tunney "Long Count Fight" on September 22, Babe Ruth's 60th home run on September 30, and the release of the first sound film, The Jazz Singer, on October 6: 99.

August 23, 1926, the death of Rudolph Valentino; and November 11, 1926, the Rangers' debut: 100.

September 27, 1925, the debut of the New York Giants football team; and December 6, 1925, the opening of what became known as the old Madison Square Garden: 101.

April 18, 1923, the opening of the original Yankee Stadium; and August 2, 1923, the death of President Warren G. Harding: 103.

November 11, 1918, the Armistice that ended World War I: 108. It is still possible.

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