Date with History: October 3

A home run heard round the world, and decades later a verdict that split a nation.

One paperback for one calendar date: what happened on October 3, and who was born on it.

What happened on October 3

1951: Bobby Thomson hits the Shot Heard 'Round the World

On October 3, 1951, New York Giants third baseman Bobby Thomson hit a pennant-winning home run against the Brooklyn Dodgers, immortalized by announcer Russ Hodges shouting, "The Giants win the pennant!" It remains one of baseball's most famous moments.

1995: A jury acquits O.J. Simpson in a trial watched by millions

On October 3, 1995, a Los Angeles jury acquitted O.J. Simpson of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, a verdict watched live by an estimated 150 million Americans. The case exposed deep divisions in the country's trust of the justice system.

Famous birthdays on October 3

1969 — Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani, born 1969, fronted No Doubt before building a solo pop and fashion career.

1925 — Gore Vidal
Gore Vidal, born 1925, skewered American politics and culture in essays and novels alike.

Nearby dates

October 2 · October 4 · All October dates

Part of Date with History, a 366-book collection with one book for every date of the year. 5″×8″ paperback, cream paper.

Historical selections are editorially researched. This is a date-specific book, not a personalized or custom-made product.