On December 18, 1886, Tyrus Raymond Cobb was born. Ty Cobb had a 23-year baseball career playing all but one season with the Detroit Tigers. ‘Sporting News’ ranked Cobb as number 3 on the 100 Greatest Players list. He’s shown (left) with “Shoeless” Joe Jackson in 1913.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain in the US

An illustration of William Cullen Bryant “The poet of our woods” that appeared in Appleton’s Journal on December 18, 1869.

Image via NYPL, no known restrictions

Union General Charles Griffin was born on December 18, 1825 in Granville, Ohio.

During the American Civil War he fought at the battles of Bull Run (1st and 2nd), Antietam, Gettysburg and many others.
He was present at Appomattox during the surrender of Robert E. Lee.

He lived only a few years after the Civil War and died at the age of 41 after contracting yellow fever.

Image: General Charles Griffin in the 1860s via Wikimedia Commons, no known restrictions

New Jersey became the 3rd state on December 18, 1787. Trenton became the state’s capital three years later in 1790.

Before these events, Trenton was the capital of the United States for nearly two months at the end of 1784.

Image: Travel by Stagecoach near Trenton, New Jersey c. 1811-1813 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Born December 18, 1920, Robert Leckie’s career as a sports writer was interrupted by his three years serving as a Marine in WW2. He authored more than 40 books on America’s military from the 18th century to Desert Storm. The television series “The Pacific” was based in part on his memoir “Helmet for My Pillow.”

Image from USMC via Wikimedia Commons, public domain in the US.

The funeral and burial of George Washington at Mt. Vernon occurred on December 18, 1799.

Image c. 1880-1900: Old tomb at Mount Vernon in which Washington’s remains were first placed, and from which they were removed in 1831 to the new tomb, which was built according to directions in Washington’s will, and where they now lie.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Su-lin, the first giant panda brought from China to the US arrived in San Francisco on December 18, 1936. The 9-week-old panda came in the arms of socialite Ruth Harkness and caused a media sensation (he even met Shirley Temple!) before going to the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Edith Bolling Galt and Woodrow Wilson were married in Washington, D.C. on December 18, 1915.

After Woodrow suffered a stroke in 1919, Edith reviewed numerous letters and papers that were sent to the White House to determine what was important before it was given to the President. She did this for nearly a year and a half.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

A photograph of the light aircraft carrier USS Langley on December 18, 1944 during Typhoon Cobra in the Pacific.

The USS Langley would survive WWII, but sadly nearly 800 American sailors lost their lives and three U.S. Navy destroyers were lost at sea during the powerful storm.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

“The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by The Tokens became the #1 pop song in America on December 18, 1961.

Image of The Tokens in 1967 by Warner Bros. Records via Wikimedia Commons, PD

DePaul University basketball coach, Ray Meyer, was born on December 18, 1913 in Chicago, Illinois,

During his career Ray had 724 wins and even coached George Mikan.

Two of Meyer’s sons also became NCAA Division I men’s basketball head coaches.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On today’s date December 18, 1796: The first Sunday newspaper in the U.S., “The Monitor” of Baltimore, was published.

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Photo: Early engraving of Baltimore, Maryland from The New York Public Library. Free to use without restriction

Happy Birthday Brad Pitt
Born on December 18, 1963 in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

Image: High School Year Book photo of Brad via Alamy

On December 18, 1932, extremely frigid conditions forced the 1932 NFL Championship game between the Chicago Bears and Portsmouth Spartans to be held indoors at Chicago Stadium.

It was the first NFL playoff game held indoors.

Because the field was smaller league officials needed to “scramble” in order to modify the rules.

Image from of Chicago Stadium via Wikimedia Commons, public domain in the US.

The interestingly-named Foxhall P. Keene, born December 18, 1867, bred and owed racehorses and was part of the gold medal winning US polo team in the 1890 Summer Olympics. Keene was also a noted tennis player, excelled at golf, and competed in the early days of auto racing. He died, however in poverty.

Image from LOC via Wikimedia Commons, no known copyright, public domain in the US.