ON THIS DAY

On this date in 1621, the Dutch West India Company received a charter for New Netherlands... a place now known as New York. It's now known as New York and "don't need no fargin' charter!"

In 1888, "Casey at the Bat" was published for the first time.

• Spoiler alert -- he strikes out.
• Actually, because their name was mentioned, there was joy in Mudville, although, briefly.
• It was back when you heard about someone striking out and it didn't turn into a Cialis commercial.
• Later, the author would test positive for steroids.
• It was the classic story of a man who struck out, years before Cialis.

On this date in 1937, the Duke of Windsor gave up his throne for the woman he loved. She had been pounding on the bathroom door for over half an hour, yelling, "Aren't you done reading the newspaper yet?"

In 1942, the "Battle of Midway" began during World War II. Midway.

• What I wonder is how they knew it was the midway point of the war?
• So you know, is located between here and there, somewhere in the middle.
• I'm curious -- since they didn't know how long the war was going to last, how did they know that was Midway?

On this date in 1972, San Jan Priesand became the very first woman rabbi in the U.S. She marked the occasion by singing, "Oy to the World." Finally, women were able to walk into a bar with a catholic priest and be part of a joke.

On this date in 1992, Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton plays his saxophone on the "Arsenio Hall Show"... despite warning from his advisers, "No sax during the campaign."