Today in History

Today is Friday, May 2, the 122nd day of 2014. There are 243 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On May 2, 1908, the original version of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," with music by Albert Von Tilzer and lyrics by Jack Norworth, was published by Von Tilzer's York Music Co.

On this date:

In 1519, artist Leonardo da Vinci died at Cloux, France, at age 67.

In 1863, during the Civil War, Confederate Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson was accidentally wounded by his own men at Chancellorsville, Va.; he died eight days later.

In 1890, the Oklahoma Territory was organized.

In 1936, "Peter and the Wolf," a symphonic tale for children by Sergei Prokofiev, had its world premiere in Moscow.

In 1945, the Soviet Union announced the fall of Berlin, and the Allies announced the surrender of Nazi troops in Italy and parts of Austria.

In 1957, Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy, R-Wis., died at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland.

In 1963, the Children's Crusade began in Birmingham, Ala., as more than 1,000 black schoolchildren skipped classes and marched downtown to protest racial segregation; hundreds were arrested.

In 1964, American-born Nancy Astor, Viscountess Astor, the first woman to serve in the British Parliament, died in Lincolnshire, England, at age 84.

In 1972, a fire at the Sunshine silver mine in Kellogg, Idaho, claimed the lives of 91 workers who succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning. Longtime FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover died in Washington at age 77.

In 1982, the Weather Channel made its debut.

In 1994, Nelson Mandela claimed victory in the wake of South Africa's first democratic elections; President F.W. de Klerk acknowledged defeat.

In 2011, Osama bin Laden was killed by elite American forces at his Pakistan compound, then quickly buried at sea after a decade on the run.

Ten years ago: American truck driver Thomas Hamill, taken captive three weeks earlier, escaped from his kidnappers in Iraq; that same day, nine U.S. servicemen were killed across the country. Martin Torrijos, the son of a former dictator, won Panama's first presidential vote since the handover of the Panama Canal in December 1999.

Five years ago: The Dallas Cowboys' tent-like practice structure collapsed during a severe storm in Irving, Texas; a dozen people were hurt, including scouting assistant Rich Behm, who was left paralyzed from the waist down, and special teams coach Joe DeCamillis, whose neck was broken. Mine That Bird, a 50-1 shot, stunned the field by capturing the Kentucky Derby. Jack Kemp, former quarterback, congressman and vice presidential nominee, died in Bethesda, Md., at 73. Author Marilyn French ("The Women's Room") died in New York at 79.

One year ago: President Barack Obama arrived in Mexico City on his first trip to Latin America since winning re-election. Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen shot a 6-under 66 to take the first-round lead in the China Open, while 12-year-old Ye Wocheng opened with a 79 at Binhai Lake; at 12 years, 242 days, Ye became the youngest player in European Tour history, breaking Guan Tianlang's mark of 13 years, 177 days. Jeff Hanneman, 49, a founding member of heavy metal bank Slayer, died in Los Angeles.

Today's Birthdays: Actor Theodore Bikel is 90. Singer Engelbert Humperdinck is 78. Actress-activist Bianca Jagger is 69. Country singer R.C. Bannon is 69. Singer Lesley Gore is 68. Actor David Suchet is 68. Singer-songwriter Larry Gatlin is 66. Rock singer Lou Gramm (Foreigner) is 64. Actress Christine Baranski is 62. Singer Angela Bofill is 60. Actor Brian Tochi is 55. Movie director Stephen Daldry is 54. Actress Elizabeth Berridge is 52. Country singer Ty Herndon is 52. Actress Mitzi Kapture is 52. Rock musician Todd Sucherman (Styx) is 45. Wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne Johnson (AKA The Rock) is 42. Soccer player David Beckham is 39. Actress Jenna Von Oy is 37. Actress Ellie Kemper is 34. Actor Robert Buckley is 33. Actor Gaius Charles is 31. Pop singer Lily Rose Cooper is 29. Olympic gold medal figure skater Sarah Hughes is 29. Rock musician Jim Almgren (Carolina Liar) is 28. Actress Kay Panabaker is 24.

Thought for Today: "Like ships, men founder time and again." -- Henry Miller, American novelist (1891-1980).

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