On today’s date October 18, 1950: Cornelius McGillicuddy (Connie Mack) announced his retirement after 50 seasons as manager of the Philadelphia Athletics. He was 87 years old. Mack is the longest-serving manager in Major League Baseball history. Photo: George Arents Collection, The New York Public Library. “Connie Mack, Manager, Philadelphia American League.” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1910-03-24.

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Three men standing by large tree stump, Puget Sound Navy Yard, October 18, 1897 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

“No more, America, in mournful strain Of wrongs, and grievance unredress’d complain, No longer shalt thou dread the iron chain, Which wanton Tyranny with lawless hand Had made, and with it meant t’ enslave the land. Should you, my lord, while you peruse my song, Wonder from whence my love of Freedom sprung, Whence flow these wishes for the common good, By feeling hearts alone best understood, I, young in life, by seeming cruel fate Was snatch’d from Afric’s fancy’d happy seat: What pangs excruciating must molest, What sorrows labour in my parent’s breast? Steel’d was that soul and by no misery mov’d That from a father seiz’d his babe belov’d: Such, such my case. And can I then but pray Others may never feel tyrannic sway?” – Phillis Wheatley On October 18, 1775 Phillis Wheatley was no longer enslaved. Image from Sharon Mollerus via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY SA 2.0

On October 18, 1867 the United States takes possession of Alaska from Russia Image: Alaska purchase by Emanuel Leutze via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Chuck Berry was born on October 18, 1926 in St. Louis, Missouri. Image: Chuck Berry in 1958 by Pickwick Records via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

100 years ago today Mrs. Coolidge & Campfire Girls October 18, 1923 Image via LOC, no known restrictions

View of the crossing in connection with 8th Ave. and 96th St. – the construction of Central Park in New York City – October 18, 1862 via New York Public Library, no known restrictions

American actor George C. Scott was born on October 18, 1927 in the town of Wise, Virginia. During his final days, George C. Scott resided about 13 miles from the area of Los Angeles County where George S. Patton was born. Image: George C. Scott as George S. Patton from the movie Patton in 1970 from 20th Century Fox via Alamy

Erin Moran, who played the role of Joanie Cunningham on “Happy Days” and later on “Joanie Loves Chachi,” was born on October 18, 1960 image via 1982 via Alamy

Professional football player and coach, Mike Ditka, was born on October 18, 1939 In Carnegie, PA. Image of Chicago Bears tight end Mike Ditka on the far left with teammates during a workout at Soldier Field in 1961 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.