February 20th
1792
President George Washington signed the Post Office Act, establishing a permanent Post Office Department.
1809
The Supreme Court ruled the power of the federal government is greater than that of any individual state.
1887
The first minor league baseball association was organized in Pittsburgh.
1895
Frederick Douglass, abolitionist, author, and orator, died.
1929
The Boston Red Sox announced that they would begin playing games on Sunday.
1943
Phil Wrigley and Branch Rickey chartered the All-American Girls Softball League.
1962
John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth.
1974
Gordie Howe came out of retirement to play for the Houston Aeros with his two sons.
1998
Tara Lipinski won the Olympic figure skating gold medal.
1999
Film critic Gene Siskel died at age 53.
2000
Garth Brooks began training with the New York Mets.
2003
Fire broke out during a Great White rock concert at a nightclub in West Warwick, R.I., killing 100 people and injuring about 200 others.
Birthdays
82 Sidney Poitier Actor
75 Bobby Unser Race car driver
72 Roger Penske Race car driver, race team owner and entrepreneur
67 Phil Esposito Hockey Hall of Famer
63 J. Geils Rock musician
62 Peter Strauss Actor
60 Ivana Trump Czech-born American socialite
59 Walter Becker Rock musician (Steely Dan)
55 Anthony Stewart Head Actor ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer")
46 Charles Barkley Basketball Hall of Famer
45 French Stewart Actor ("3rd Rock from the Sun")
43 Cindy Crawford Model
32 Stephon Marbury Basketball player
31 Lauren Ambrose Actress ("Six Feet Under")
21 Rihanna Singer
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dmoby Cigar Asylum Inmate
93 Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney 2/20/1899 - 12/13/1992 American businessman
82 Ansel Adams 2/20/1902 - 4/22/1984 American photographer
27 Kurt Cobain 2/20/1967 - 4/5/1994 Lead singer, guitarist, songwriter and frontman for the grunge band Nirvana