Flashback: August 23, 1938
On August 23, 1938, Soldier Field in Chicago was flooded with over 100,000 dancers, mainly teenagers, who gathered for a night of free entertainment featuring several bands. The gates were opened by the eager crowd even an hour before the event began, marking what was known as the ‘Jitterbug riot.’
Weather Data for August 23 in Chicago
- High temperature: 98 degrees in 2023
- Low temperature: 48 degrees in 1904
- Precipitation: 2.35 inches in 2007
- Snowfall: None recorded
August 23, 1982: Legislation on Sports Events
The Illinois Governor, James R. Thompson, signed a law banning night games at Wrigley Field. He emphasized the disturbance that nighttime baseball could cause to the nearly 60,000 residents within the vicinity. This law targeted events that exceeded 45 decibels after 10 p.m., but stadiums like Soldier Field and Comiskey Park were exempt due to playing night games before July 1, 1982. However, the Chicago Cubs eventually received permission for night games six years later.
August 23, 1983: A Historic Appointment in Chicago Police
Fred Rice became the first Black superintendent of the Chicago police, marking a significant moment in the city’s history.
August 23, 1992: The Tammy Zywicki Case
Tammy Zywicki, a college student, vanished while traveling on Interstate 80 in Illinois. Her 1985 Pontiac was found abandoned, and her body was discovered nine days later in Missouri, wrapped in a blanket. She had been stabbed and sexually assaulted. The case remains unsolved with no arrests.
August 23, 2002: Conviction of Betty Loren-Maltese
The former mayor of Cicero, Betty Loren-Maltese, was convicted of racketeering and fraud, stealing more than $12 million from public funds. She served six years of an eight-year sentence. Her administration was marked by ties to organized crime, which allegedly influenced her rise to power.
August 23, 2020: José Abreu’s Baseball Feat
Chicago White Sox’s José Abreu achieved a rare milestone by hitting four home runs in four consecutive at-bats during a game against the Cubs. This placed him among a small group of MLB players to accomplish this feat.