July 28, 1914: Outbreak of World War I
On July 28, 1914, the Chicago Tribune documented the fervor in Chicago’s immigrant communities as news of the impending war reached them. Crowds gathered in various locations, such as cafes and street corners, to discuss the events. This activity followed Austria-Hungary’s invasion of Serbia, marking the start of World War I.
Weather Records
The National Weather Service recorded a high temperature of 100 degrees in 1983 and a low of 51 degrees in 1984 for July 28. The highest level of precipitation occurred in 1906 at 2.91 inches, with no snowfall recorded.
July 28, 1888: Baseball Milestone
On this date in 1888, Jimmy Ryan, of the Chicago White Stockings, became the only Chicago Cub to hit for the cycle twice. During a game against the Detroit Black Sox, he had four hits out of six at-bats, achieving a .833 average. Ryan would repeat the feat later against Cleveland in 1891.
1942: Lincoln Park Zoo Incident
Deed-a-Day, Lincoln Park Zoo’s second elephant, passed away after suffering from a stomach ailment. The elephant, presented to the zoo by Chicago Boy Scouts in 1924, died due to ingesting harmful items given by zoo visitors.
1961: Illinois Legal Reform
On July 28, 1961, Governor Otto Kerner signed legislation introducing a new criminal code for Illinois. This development resulted in the state becoming the first to repeal its sodomy law, ceasing the criminalization of homosexual activity from January 1, 1962.
1976: Baseball Achievement
Francisco Barrios and Blue Moon Odom of the Chicago White Sox executed the only combined no-hitter in the team’s history on July 28, 1976. The club has recorded 20 no-hitters, including three perfect games.
1979: Dick Butkus’s Hall of Fame Induction
Chicago Bears linebacker Dick Butkus was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979, his first year of eligibility. Butkus played nine seasons for the Bears, earning seven Pro Bowl selections and recovering 27 fumbles.
1982: ChicagoFest Boycott
On July 28, 1982, Stevie Wonder withdrew from performing at ChicagoFest in response to a call for a boycott by Rev. Jesse Jackson. The boycott protested Mayor Jane Byrne’s appointment of three white members to the Chicago Housing Authority board.
2009: Serial Killer Confession
In 2009, serial killer Brian Dugan admitted to the 1983 murder of 10-year-old Jeanine Nicarico. Originally sentenced to death, Dugan’s sentence was altered to life imprisonment after Illinois abolished the death penalty in 2011.